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.
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