Yesterday, Donna Witsell the mother of 13 year-old Hope Witsell appeared on the Today Show talking to Meredith Vieira about Hope’s suicide.
Just 11 weeks ago, Florida teen Hope Witsell took her life because she was being bullied and called a slut after she sexted her boyfriend with a topless picture of herself.
Not only did she get attention from her school, but that of a high school nearby. Her classmates bullied her incessantly to the point that Hope could no longer bare the torment.
Similar to Jessie Logan who also committed suicide in 2008, Hope lived a bullying nightmare. While this was only the second known case of suicide being linked to sexting, many teens have used suicide as an alternative to the pain of being bullied.
Teens must be educated about the consequences of sexting.
44% of boys who receive sexual images from girls will forward the information. This is considered to be child pornography when sexting images of someone under the age of 18 and criminal charges can be made.
While there sexting laws exist, it all depends on the age of the kid.
Parents and schools must be educated in this area and schools can be held accountable if the sexting is being spread around the entire school.
Tragically it’s too late for Hope and Jessie, but it isn’t for other teens.
Teens think that they are invincible and that their serious actions do not have consequences. But they do and often the consequences are serious.
And nothing is that bad that anyone should even consider taking their life.
We send Hope and Jessie's family our heartfelt condolences. No parent should have to endure the pain of their child committing suicide and for sure no child should have to endure the pain of being bullied.
For more information visit http://www.loveourchildrenusa.org and http://www.stompoutbullying.org
If you found this article of interest, please subscribe to my page by going here and clicking the Subscribe Button at the top of the page.
Click here for more articles
Click here to subscribe to my articles
Comments
Teens have to realize "Suicide is a permanent solution, to a temporary problem" Parents should inform their kids this. And kids show know this. It saved me...
Welcome to the modern f**cking world. It's only going to get crazier. Trust me. That said, my heart goes out the the girl and her family. Bullying though has been around for a long time and just shows the shallowness of people. Not much more to say.
It's so sad for this whole family. I think technology classes should also include safety and I don't just mean being careful on the internet.
I know its not a fix but several of these cases might be avoided if the young person didn't have a cell phone to begin with. Maybe I am just a hillbilly but my kids won't get a cell until they are driving. They are suppose to use it for emergencies only. Some kids seem to use these modern conveniences for all the wrong reasons.
i think that it is very sad to hear about the death of the girl :(.........i hope that this will not happen again....:P tori and casey!! <3
it is saad about the death of the girl ,:(
i think that this is sad and poeple should not do this
it is true that sexting is wrong and it is true that if she did not have a cell phone to begin with that she would have never sent the picture but no matter what this teen should not have been bullied, this simply coulda been avoided if parents and teachers stepped in RIP
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!