NEWPORT, Vt. -
Bullying isn't a new issue.
In fact, it continues to be a growing problem. So much so, teens are taking their own lives in higher numbers than ever before.
One Newport, Vermont teen recently came close to ending his life.
Fortunately he reached out to his mother before it was too late.
In a special report, we took an in-depth look at the issue and didn't find any one specific trait that victim's are targeted for.
It seems that far too many people share the same story. And after having the opportunity to meet with several families, it became clear that kids are bullied for being too fat, too skinny, too tall, too short, gay, straight, they all seem to attract harassment. And for one young man, it's for something different.
Meet Jamie Mills, he's a junior at North Country Union High School. Jamie has friends, a supportive family and like most American children, he heads off to school every morning.
But Jamie's days don't just involve learning, they also involve physical and mental abuse. "They stare at me, throw stuff at me, make fun of me," Mills said.
Mills was diagnosed with autism and turrets, and that makes him a target.
"It's not just Jamie, it's not just kids with special needs, it's kids with different race, different ethnicity, anyone who's different is singled out," Karen Marino, Mills' mom said.
Just months ago was a very dark time, the bullying got so bad, Mills thought about taking his own life. "It hurts," he said.
Finally, he confided in his mother, who contacted the school.
Marino says officials assigned a para-educator to shadow Jamie's every move, but she doesn't think that is enough. "Essentially what he has is a bodyguard," Marino said.
And Jamie agrees that he still doesn't feel safe at school.
The Marinos aren't the only family we found dealing with this problem.
Karen Marino found comfort in Lori Christopher, mother to a 19-year-old with down syndrome. She went through a similar struggle, but her daughter was bullied online, specifically in a myspace message. It read, "Kids like her should have been killed at birth." The students involved in that incident faced school suspension and even expulsion.
The North County Supervisory Union Superintendent acknowledges that bullies exist, but says his district is taking a hands on approach to stop them. Teachers are trained on what to look out for and more importantly, are taught not to ignore it. "One thing we stress is diversity, understanding others, everybody's different and to get along," Dr. Robert Kern said, Superintendent of the North Country Supervisory Union.
Teachers have new help in this fight.
Vermont lawmakers recently passed a bill that allows teachers to discipline students for things that happen outside of the classroom, not just in it.
"There is a question of whether or not Vermont law is adequate," Senator Richard McCormack, (D) of Windsor said.
Senator McCormack isn't alone. The Springfield School District Superintendent says the policy is unrealistic. "It's a real stretch to think we have that kind of capability, or man power," Dr. Frank Perotti said.
One thing we all agree on, more change is needed.
Every school in Vermont must adopt the new bullying prevention plan within the next eight months. As for Jaime, he learned suicide wasn't an option and says every day, he's getting more strength to stick up for himself.
"I say this is me and you guys shouldn't be making fun of me, because I am who I am," Mills added.
It's obvious that bullying is a problem everywhere and we understand that it can be scary for parents who are worried about their own kids.
There are some signs to watch out for, if you're at all concerned your child is a target:
* Personal belongings are damaged or missing
* Unexplained physical injuries
* Socially isolated/has few friends
* Fears everything associated with school
* Takes long-way to school
* Bad grades
* Withdrawn/depressed
* Loses appetite or begins to overeat
Even if any of those look familiar, it's often hard to know what to do.
Before contacting your child's teacher, the schools say to ask questions:
* Who is the bully in your class?
* Who bugs others on the bus?
* If a friend were being picked on, would you help him?
* How would you handle it if someone wanted to pick on you?
And, we understand that still may not be enough, so if you know of someone who may be at risk of suicide, please direct them to one of these resources:
Cyber Bullying:
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/
Vermont, New York and New Hampshire Suicide and Crisis Hotlines:
http://suicidehotlines.com/vermont.html
http://suicidehotlines.com/newyork.html
http://suicidehotlines.com/newhampshire.html
Vermont Department of Health:
http://healthvermont.gov/family/injury/suicide_prevent.aspx
Suicide Prevention Lifeline:
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Prevent Bullying:
http://www.dosomething.org/issues/school-violence?gclid=CL7a1_H4g7ACFQjf4Aodfi82jw
