Asher Brown – Age 13
Asher Brown as a 13-year-old eighth grader at Hamilton Middle School just outside of Houston, Texas. Asher was bullied at his school beyond his ability to cope and he took his own life once he hit the breaking point by shooting himself. He was bullied for being small in stature, for being a Buddhist, for not wearing “designer clothes”, and for appearing gay.
The parents say they complained to the school, but the school says that no such complaints were made. CNN’s Anderson Cooper did a piece on Asher and interviewed his parents just days after his suicide. The piece is titled: “Bullied to Death.”
I was at the suicide prevention walk this year and I saw his mother I believe carrying his picture.
I broke down for the first time during that whole event when I saw his mom and his picture.
It was painful to be there as my own family menber has been suicidal, I have in my past and a friend lost his close friend as well to suicide. However, seeing his picture made me realize how real this was.My daughter had attempted to hurt herself first before telling me:
she wanted to no longer exist because of her father.
She is not bullied at school, but her biological father is a bully, and had done some very bad emotionally damaging things this past year to her beyond my control (we are not married and rarely speak- he did this when at his own mother’s house who make excuses for him) that pushed her over the edge.
I am crying as I sit here writing this. I am just so sorry for your loss is what I wanted to say that day. I wanted to hug the mother that day, but was afraid I would lose it.My heart goes out to her and all others who have lost someone to bullying and/or suicide.
Thank you for taking the time to share this story so others may learn.