Dr. Phil

Bullied to Death (8x130)

Air date: Apr 08, 2010

The suicide of 15-year-old Phoebe Prince has rocked the Massachusetts town of South Hadley and shined a spotlight on the increasing problem of school bullying. How many more young people have to suffer in silence at the hands of bullies? The alarming rise in the number of teens taking their own lives is leaving parents desperate for answers. Could you be missing cues that your child is in trouble? Do you know what is happening at your child’s school? This is a call to action for parents, teachers, students, school administrators, coaches and anyone who is charge of the care of children ” bullying must be stopped. The Phoebe Prince Tragedy Parents and family of 15-year-old Phoebe Prince say she was tormented for nearly three months with verbal abuse and threats of physical harm that eventually led to her suicide in January. They believe teachers knew and did nothing. Educator and author Barbara Coloroso shares what she learned on her visits to Phoebe’s high school. And, hear from the Prince family spokesperson, Darby O’Brien. Dashed Dreams Patricia, 15, says she knows what it feels like to be bullied and harassed. The taunting and the threats began because Patricia was dating a senior boy. When her best friend, Brittne, 18, came to her aid, the bullies then turned on her. Their families took drastic action to keep their girls safe and paid a high price. A Cry for Help Recently, Dori’s 13-year-old daughter wrote a three-page suicide note because she was tired of being picked on. Hear an excerpt from the heartbreaking letter. And, Dr. Phil talks with the mother of the troubled teen and the superintendent of her child’s school district. Safe Schools Improvement Act Eleven-year-old Carl Walker-Hoover was told he had to eat lunch with his bully every day for a week to work things out. Carl couldn’t imagine it and took his own life. His mother, Sirdeaner, is working to sponsor a federal anti-bullying bill. A Bully’s New Weapon T