Bullies

Specialties School

Published

School: Boy, 8, Who Killed Himself Never Said He Was Bullied | NBC Chicago

Just read this article and it breaks my heart in a million pieces. I know that bullies have always existed, but somehow it seems worse now a days. Curious what other nurses, especially school nurses, think.

Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

At the end of the day we need better education and better facilities when it comes to getting the help. My son was in one that got high reviews, but he wasn't doing better in there either after the first week, in fact the ball was dropped a lot and at one point he wasn't getting better he was getting worse, but then you have to battle insurance and the push to D/C even when the patient wasn't ready. Me being well versed in this area and having a lot of experience with it, I wasn't pushing for him to leave or in any kind of denial. Some of these kids are learning even more stuff from the other kids in the unit that might have issues far more severe. It's overall just a frustrating situation.

This was so much further than bullying, this was assault. How heartbreaking! :'(

Specializes in Psych, Peds, Education, Infection Control.
Some of these kids are learning even more stuff from the other kids in the unit that might have issues far more severe. It's overall just a frustrating situation.

Oh, I don't deny that's a factor, too, sometimes...one I find frustrating as a nurse for this population. And don't get me started on the insurance companies. I've had so many situations where a kid gets on a new med with us, is thriving, insurance denies the med, and they end up right back with us when they're forced to go back on the one that wasn't working...or go without...

I did not blame the parents. The article states he hung himself with a neck tie. I was wondering where am 8 year old gets ideas to commit suicide as they cannot possibly grasp what that means.

6/7 is considered the "age of reason", yes an 8 year old can/does understand death.

Specializes in School nursing.

The school nurse was called to the "fainting" scene and thought it was just that? Sorry, something is missing here. I am a school nurse and this seems so very odd.

And yes, kids are impulsive. They cannot see the future as well as an adult can and cannot reason a time where they will feel better. They don't think of long term consequences. Suicide is the 3rd leading case of death for children 10-14 and the 2nd leading cause of death for ages 15-34. (CDC Link: https://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/pdf/leading_causes_of_death_by_age_group_2015-a.pdf)

I've seen SI more than I wish in the school setting. We take it very seriously. But parents, especially loving parents, can be at a lose what to do/how to help. Support is key. But even with all the support out there, things happen. This poor boy and family; I'm not certain they got the support they obviously needed.

Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Oh, I don't deny that's a factor, too, sometimes...one I find frustrating as a nurse for this population. And don't get me started on the insurance companies. I've had so many situations where a kid gets on a new med with us, is thriving, insurance denies the med, and they end up right back with us when they're forced to go back on the one that wasn't working...or go without...

Yea we ran into that too. I mean these meds alone take weeks to truly start working to even know if they are helping but insurance is pushing for d/c right away. My son was on one med and he was not feeling like it was helping and it was making him feel worse, when talking to him he flatly said that although he didn't feel like he did that day we found him, he still felt very resolved that he would rather just be dead. The next day they try a new med and he didn't report any problems and so they recommended discharge. I was like Seriously??? 2 days prior he still felt like he was meant to die. But they were getting to the point where they had to D/C or change him to resident.

The entire system is frustrating and it doesn't look like there is any end in sight.

Specializes in School nursing.
Yea we ran into that too. I mean these meds alone take weeks to truly start working to even know if they are helping but insurance is pushing for d/c right away. My son was on one med and he was not feeling like it was helping and it was making him feel worse, when talking to him he flatly said that although he didn't feel like he did that day we found him, he still felt very resolved that he would rather just be dead. The next day they try a new med and he didn't report any problems and so they recommended discharge. I was like Seriously??? 2 days prior he still felt like he was meant to die. But they were getting to the point where they had to D/C or change him to resident.

The entire system is frustrating and it doesn't look like there is any end in sight.

Getting an inpatient peds psych bed can also be hard, unfortunately. There aren't enough of them...sigh.

How does an 8 year old know how to commit suicide or what the heck the consequences of doing that are? Where are the parents?

You're kidding, right?

As for Mom, she's probably at the funeral parlot.

I'm not blaming the parents. I'm asking where this was learned. An 8 year old should not be on social media.

Where did I blame the parents may I ask? You people certainly infer a lot on this site I noticed.

Social media? The deceased child was assaulted and battered in a bathroom by a savage young punk.

Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Getting an inpatient peds psych bed can also be hard, unfortunately. There aren't enough of them...sigh.

Believe me, I understand. That wasn't the problem with my son at this point. That was the issue when we had to spend the 2 days in the Peds ER.

I work ER so I was well prepared on what to expect and the whole process and I knew from experience that Peds were even harder to place. Thankfully my Hospital had an amazing Peds ER and I knew all the residents and had multiple residents that would come done and talk to my son and check on him. Heck one of the residents snuck her little dog in to cheer him up while we waited for a bed.

Me being well informed on everything on both sides, as the medical professional and on the family side helped for sure. I wish there were clear cut answers and solutions that were easily attainable..

Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

Many here have noted with amazement how an 8 year old even thinks about the concept of suicide. It's all over the internet as this sort of dramatic and final solution to life's problems. Working with kids I will tell you that 6,7 and 8 year old are far more sophisticated thinkers than one would believe. The internet tends to make kids appear smarter younger but it also opens suggestible minds to concepts they may not be ready for. There is really no reason for anyone under the age of 15 (High School freshman) to have internet (social media) access.

Just my two cents.

hppy

Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.
I am glad to hear that everything is doing better, for this incident it definitely sparked back up PTSD issues I already had, it got so bad I couldn't walk into my front door and right past his room without picturing him there hanging. *

I feel like soul-sisters, I had the same images. Thanks for sharing, sometimes it can feel like I am the only one with such a tragedy.

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