MOUNT VERNON — Bullying is harmful and can have some very serious repercussions.
“Bullying is a real issue and the psychological damage has real consequences for the youth in our community,” said Knox County Coroner Dr. Jennifer Ogle.
Ogle said there was a suicide by a middle school student where bullying was involved in Knox County in the last couple years, and the News has learned that one victim of on-going bullying at the Mount Vernon Middle school recently tried to commit suicide as a result of his torment.
The child, whose name is being withheld upon the parent’s request, is back in school and appears to be doing all right, but the mother said she does not want another parent to experience what her family has endured. Frustrated with how school administrators have handled the situation, the parent contacted the News because she “wants to make sure that parents are aware that severe bullying is going on at school and on the school buses.”
The middle school has a zero tolerance policy toward bullying and has policies in place to deal with that behavior, said middle school principal Matthew Cox. He said the school investigates every single situation that is reported.
