An Oregon teen was taken off life support a week after he attempted to commit suicide by hanging himself from playground equipment at an elementary school. Jadin Bell, 15, was driven to take his own life because he was bullied for being
January 30, 2013

An Oregon teen was taken off life support a week after he attempted to commit suicide by hanging himself from playground equipment at an elementary school.

Jadin Bell, 15, was driven to take his own life because he was bullied for being homosexual, according to his family.

Officials at Bell's school, La Grande High School, said they were investigating reports that Jadin was being bullied at the time that he hung himself.

Hundreds of students had turned out to honor Jadin Bell, a sophomore at La Grande High School, at a vigil last week while he was still fighting for his life in the hospital.

Family friend Bud Hill believes that Jadin was pushed to suicide after being bullied, both online and in person, for being gay.

'He was different, and they tend to pick on the different ones,' Hill told KOMO News.

Jadin was afraid to turn in the bullies...afraid that it would only make the situation worse. He had asked his parents to homeschool him.

'If someone was down and out he would walk into a room and say a couple quick words and everybody would just forget about their problems and smile,' Hill added. 'He just had a gift.'

"Jadin is one of the best people I have ever met," LHS junior Frankie Benitez told the La Grande Observer. "He makes everyone around him feel good all the time."

A close family friend, Jody Bullock runs an adult assisted living home for seniors said that Jadin came over frequently and always made a point of saying hello to her residents and talking with them. Bullock said it is unusual for young people to do this, noting that often young people are afraid of seniors.

“He is an amazing young man who is smart and very social,” Bullock said. “He has a persona and a presence that you want to be a part of,” she said.

“We always knew that Jadin is a special person," said Jadin's mother, Lola Lathrop, "Now everyone knows.”

After the jump, some helpful resources for young people contemplating suicide, their parents, and educators.

The following is a list of helpful resources provided by KATU.com. If you are having thoughts of suicide, please, don't go through this alone. No matter what problems you are dealing with, there is help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can help you find a reason to keep living. By calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255) you’ll be connected to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area, anytime 24/7.

Resources for youth:

Mind Your Mind: A non-profit dedicated to providing reliable information for youth dealing with depression, anxiety, and suicide. The site contains youth-specific resources, tips for coping with mental illness issues, and the personal stories of youth who have experienced and overcome these issues.

Reach Out: A website for youth, by youth, with information on how to help yourself or a friend who is thinking about suicide. Allows youth to share their stories about overcoming depression and suicide in an online, supportive environment.

We Can Help Us: A collection of videos made by real teens who have gone through a variety of different challenges and overcome them. Also allows other youth to share their own stories in a supportive environment.

The Trevor Project: A website dedicated to helping LGBTQ youth dealing with depression, anxiety, and suicide. Also operates a 24-hour crisis hotline, 1-866-4-U-TREVOR.

The Jed Foundation: A resource for college students containing information about depression and anxiety among college students, and information about how to get help at school.

Metanoia.org: An online resource that offers information about how to find and contact a therapist, and how to make sure your therapist is right for you. Also offers resources for connecting to a therapist online for 'e-therapy'.

Teen forum on suicide being held in Battle Ground

Resources for parents:

Association for Behavioral Cognitive Therapies: Offers information for parents about childhood mental health issues and advice on finding the best treatment for you and your family.

Lok-It-Up A campaign to promote the safe storage of firearms. Offers advice on how to safely store firearms and prevent teen firearm suicide.

ASK Campaign: A website dedicated to gun safety. Information about firearm deaths and tips for preventing your children from gun violence.

Resources for Educators:

Evergreen Education Association: The Evergreen Education Association is holding a "Diversity and Social Justice Conference" in February with a session that will focus on suicide prevention.

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