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AVON – Students at Avon North Middle School have become targets of cyberbullying.
Parents fear that this will lead their child to harm themselves.
Avon Community School Corporation launched an investigation and police identified the young account holder claiming responsibility.
Wesley Scott knows full well how serious cyberbullying can be.
Scott’s son, Hudson, was 14 when he committed suicide.
He says Hudson fell into a deep depression after being constantly bullied by his peers.
“He felt it was a world he didn’t want to be a part of anymore. The constant hatred and judgment conveyed by others, ”explained Scott.
Several students at Avon Middle School North are now facing cyberbullying.
Parents say a social media account posts photos of students with derogatory comments and rumors.
“Children don’t always have the knowledge or the actions to take. They can feel really alone and isolated in these situations, ”said clinical social worker Jennie Voelker.
Voelker is a clinical social worker at the Community Health Network.
She says cyberbullying is more common than people think and points out that there are things parents can watch out for.
“Parents are their children’s experts. They know when their behavior changes or their mood is different, that’s when you can ask for our professional support, ”Voelker said.
Voelker stresses that it is important for parents to step in and have conversations.
“Really take the time to listen to their child’s experience, their comments. This is not a conversation to have in a busy public place. It’s a conversation to have in private and to have time to really listen to what is going on with your child, ”Voelker said.
The school district encourages parents to report any accounts used to bully their child.
For helpful resources on cyberbullying and talking with your child, Click here.
