The parents of a New York teen who killed herself after being bullied are suing the city and Department of Education, claiming not enough was done to prevent their daughter’s suicide.
Mya Vizcarrondo, who was 16-years-old at the time of her tragic death, endured months of abuse at school, according to the Bronx Supreme Court suit, via the New York Post.
The teen had allegedly been bullied into performing sex acts on two boys at Harry S. Truman High School, after which she was teased and ridiculed by fellow students. The same day—Feb. 28, 2018—she left school early and jumped off the roof of her 34-story apartment building.
She still had her backpack on when her body was found on the sidewalk of the Bronx neighborhood at 2 p.m.
The deceased teenager’s parents allege in the lawsuit that their daughter’s complaints to school counselors about the bullying were not properly handled.
They also claim school administrators failed to notify them of their daughter’s complaints and class absences, according to the New York Daily News.
“The employees of Harry S. Truman had actual notice of the intimidation but failed to intervene,” according to the lawsuit, a copy of which was obtained by the New York Post.
The lawsuit claims the parents were concerned about their daughter’s well-being and that they met with a guidance counselor in Jan. 2018, several weeks before the girl’s suicide.
The parents allege in the lawsuit that school principal Keri Alfano and a member of staff neglected to follow up.
The day before she died, a friend of Vizcarrondo’s went to see a guidance counselor to say she was worried about her, the lawsuit alleges.
The guidance counselor talked to Vizcarrondo that same day but did not inform her parents about the conversation, according to the lawsuit.
“The guidance counselor saw and willfully ignored the signs that M.A. V-R was suffering severe emotional pain and depression as a result of the bullying she was receiving at school,” the lawsuit states.
“The tragic circumstances surrounding my client’s death could have been prevented,” John Scola, the attorney representing the parents, said in a statement.
“We hope that this case will cause the New York City Department of Education to reevaluate their policies and properly train their employees on issues related to bullying so that no student feels so hopeless they feel suicide is the answer.
“We hope that this case will prevent helpless students from taking their own lives in the future.”
The Department of Education released a statement: “This was a tragic loss, and students deserve safe and supportive school environments.
“We recognize the deep impact bullying can have, and schools are required to immediately investigate and address any allegation.”
Suicide Prevention
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.
If you or someone you know is showing signs that they might be considering suicide, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 800-273-TALK or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Texts can also be sent to The Crisis Text Line at 741741.
The best way to help a loved one who seems at risk of suicide is to help them seek out professional help.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, there are many psychiatric symptoms indicating a risk of suicide.
Below are five general indicators to be aware of, as reported by The Epoch Times’ Catherine Bolton:
1. Self-Harming Behavior
One of the clearest warning signs that someone is battling with suicidal thoughts is evidence of self-harm.
This may not always come in a clear form. Visible cutting is usually an easy-to-spot sign of self-harm, but it’s not always done as a cry for help. For some, actions like cutting or other forms of physical self-abuse are done in an attempt to distract from mental anguish by replacing it with a manageable, more distracting form of physical pain. If a loved one is trying to transfer their pain from their brains to their bodies, they may fear judgment more than the risk that self-harm can cause—and in those cases, the self-harm is often hidden.
Keep an eye out for anything that seems physically amiss. If a loved one starts to cover their body with sweaters and long pants, particularly if it seems out of character or season, or they seem to be concealing something, it may be time to have a talk about what’s causing the changes.
2. Anti-Social Attitudes
Suicidal thoughts and a decision to die may not mean that a loved one has stopped caring about others, but that doesn’t mean that they won’t withdraw from their families and friends as they contemplate the end of their lives.
Depression can cause a myriad of mental distortions. As one author wrote, even the periods of time when the “fog lifted” made it difficult to tell whether their depressed state or uplifting state was their true reality; they never knew whether their depression was their mind lying to them or their cheerful periods were all just a ruse.
When a loved one is planning to commit suicide, they often stop spending time with others. That may be due to the exhaustion caused by their depression, but could also be their way of trying to ease the heartbreak that they know their death will cause others. Suicide, as described by patients with depression, isn’t wanting to die—rather, it’s not wanting to be alive anymore. So when someone starts to pull away, try to reach out and keep them engaged. Don’t let them forget about their will to live.
3. Violent Mood Swings
The chemical imbalances in the brain that cause severe depression and suicidal behavior can cause more than just feelings of hopelessness. In some cases, they can also cause periods of mania, so keep an eye out for extreme highs and lows.
Most people associate depression with only anti-social attitudes and sad, withdrawn behavior, but manic-depressive disorders can be just as harmful to an individual’s mental state—and can often cause suicidal thoughts and behaviors when a loved one is experiencing a period of severe lows after experiencing great highs.
If a loved one seems to be acting out of character—spending a lot of money, taking risks you wouldn’t normally expect from them, or bouncing between ideas aggressively—and then going through periods of withdrawal in between, don’t simply assume they’re acting quirky. They could be dealing with manic depression, or they could simply be trying their best to pull themselves out of the depression by aggressively seeking out joy. The chemical imbalances that cause these behaviors aren’t something a loved one can overcome on their own, and they’ll need your help to identify the problem and seek professional help before they harm themselves.
4. Impulsive Actions
Be wary of impulsive choices when a loved one isn’t prone to those kinds of behaviors. There can be multiple reasons that a suicidal loved one starts to act impulsively. Sometimes, it is related to a manic episode, which is always a red flag.
Other times, though, it can be caused by the absence of fear that a suicidal individual experiences. They may want to spend their money before they die, or give someone a gift. They may want to experience things that they had always been too afraid to, or they may be desperately seeking out a way to feel happy again.
Whether a loved one is no longer afraid of consequences or trying to find their way out of the darkness, always keep an eye out for behaviors that appear to be out of the ordinary. If a meticulous planner starts to fly by the seat of their pants, it may be time to sit them down and talk.
5. Reckless Decision-Making
If a loved one starts to drink a lot, take illegal drugs, or participate in other reckless or impulsive behaviors, keep in mind that this can be just as obvious a warning sign of suicidal thoughts as a mopey teenager or locked bedroom door.
There can be other factors that cause someone to behave recklessly, but there’s rarely a good reason behind this kind of change. Even if a loved one isn’t contemplating suicide, they’ll almost certainly benefit from hearing from you if they’re engaging in dangerous, reckless behaviors like this.
Disclaimer: The above information about suicide prevention is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
Epoch Times reporter Catherine Bolton contributed to this article.
