BRENTWOOD, Lengthy Island (WABC) — A mom on Lengthy Island is on a mission to ensure no mum or dad goes by way of the ache she felt and nonetheless feels. Her daughter tried to take her personal life after she was continually bullied in school.
Shortly after that try, her daughter died.
Her mom is working to assist teenagers deal with bullying and psychological well being points.
Bernice Simmons, 16, recorded a video shortly earlier than attempting to take her personal life.
“She woke me up and he or she’s like ‘I am so sorry, and I used to be like ‘What’s flawed?” and he or she reduce her face. She reduce her arm, she had reduce her abdomen,” mentioned her mom, Sheree Sibilly Simmons.
Her mom then rushed her to South Facet Hospital the place she advised the employees she was being bullied in school in Brentwood each in individual and on-line.
“Ninth grade was tough. She got here residence – she was complaining that she was being bullied and I actually did not assume it was that critical, nevertheless it was for her,” she added.
Shortly after Simmons’ suicide try, she died of an unrelated pulmonary embolism.
A number of years after her dying, a youth suicide prevention middle opened in Riverhead, making it the primary on Lengthy Island.
Calming music is one type of remedy at Rise Life Providers, providing coping and self-esteem-building workshops to at-risk youth from as younger as 5 years outdated to 24 years outdated.
This system is usually simply as highly effective for the instructors.
“My grandmother tried suicide. She really shot herself nevertheless it was unsuccessful. Simply coming right here, it has form of been therapeutic for me as effectively,” mentioned employees member Winter Landmann-Herd.
“That is the place we make the magic work for the people that we assist,” mentioned Chief Operations Officer Jeanette Permenter.
Permenter gave Eyewitness Information a tour of the prevention middle.
“After all, health is likely one of the greatest issues you are able to do to launch stress,” she added.
Greater than 50 youths are enrolled with packages operating anyplace from three months to over a 12 months.
The companies are free by way of state funding to assist minorities and low-income households battling psychological well being.
Sibilly Simmons shared her story simply days after Fb founder Mark Zuckerberg apologized to oldsters on Capitol Hill who misplaced their youngsters to suicide.
“It is not truthful for me to say it is your fault – it is not. It was my fault as a result of I missed the signal,” she mentioned.
One 12 months after the middle opened, Governor Kathy Hochul prolonged the funding from a million the primary 12 months to now a complete of 5 million for the primary 5 years.
If you’re battling ideas of suicide or anxious a couple of buddy or beloved one, assist is obtainable. Name the 988 Suicide and Disaster Lifeline by dialing 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or textual content TALK to 741-741 or go to 988lifeline.org/ totally free confidential emotional assist 24 hours a day 7 days per week. Even when it feels prefer it, you aren’t alone.
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