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Suicide is an exceptionally challenging and painful topic to discuss. There are countless heart-wrenching stories of individuals who believed that ending their lives was their only way out of their struggles. When the victims are children, the grief and sorrow we feel are even more intense. This list explores some of the most shocking reasons behind these tragic events and the sorrowful stories of children, some as young as 6 years old, who took their own lives.
10. Ryan Halligan
On the evening of October 7, 2003, John and Kelly Halligan's world was shattered when they discovered that their 13-year-old son, Ryan, had taken his own life by hanging.
Devastated by the unfathomable tragedy, Ryan's parents tirelessly sought answers, wondering why their son, who had always been a kind and joyful boy capable of bringing happiness to others, felt so hopeless that he resorted to suicide. His death remained a profound mystery to everyone who knew him.
Between the fifth and seventh grades, Ryan faced relentless bullying from his classmates, which eventually caused him to express a deep fear of returning to school. His parents suggested the logical course of speaking to the headmaster, but Ryan, fearing it would only worsen the situation, opposed this idea. Instead, Ryan decided to learn how to fight and began using his newfound skills to defend himself, which seemed to alleviate the bullying for a while.
However, unknown to his parents, the harassment continued online. Ryan faced cruel comments about his sexuality, and even his girlfriend participated by telling her online friends that their relationship had been a joke. Overwhelmed by this torment, Ryan saw no escape and tragically took his own life at just thirteen years old.
9. Tyler Clementi
In the summer after graduating high school, Tyler Clementi chose to openly discuss his sexuality. Although it was a challenging period for him, Tyler was able to begin his university journey with a sense of hope and excitement.
Things appeared to be going well for Tyler, who displayed remarkable talent as a violinist and was invited to join an orchestra with mostly older students. He also started dating men. His college roommate, Dharum Ravi, respected Tyler’s desire for privacy, and Tyler entered what seemed to be a happier chapter of his life. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to Tyler, Ravi had secretly set up a hidden camera in their room and began recording intimate moments between Tyler and his dates. Ravi shared the footage with his friends, and it quickly went viral, leading to relentless public mockery of Tyler.
Crushed by guilt, shame, and a profound sense of betrayal, eighteen-year-old Tyler took his own life by leaping from the George Washington Bridge. Ravi was sentenced to thirty days in jail for bias intimidation and invasion of privacy.
8. Beth Wilkinson
Beth Wilkinson, a seventeen-year-old girl from the UK, had long struggled with mental health issues. During her toughest periods, she resorted to self-harm, and at one point, attempted suicide. Fortunately, local police intervened in time to prevent a tragedy. Four years before this incident, Beth had received support from the Community Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. Their involvement deepened after her suicide attempt, but despite their efforts, it wasn't enough. On the night of December 18, Beth's teacher, Eileen Flanagan, received a chilling phone call from her.
Beth called Eileen to express gratitude for her attempts to offer Beth a more hopeful outlook on life. During the call, Eileen heard the sound of wind in the background, which, coupled with Beth’s emotional tone and her history of mental health struggles, prompted her to ask where Beth was. Beth confessed that she was standing on the other side of the rails at the Humber Bridge. Despite Eileen's best efforts to comfort her, Beth ended the call after informing her that a police officer was approaching.
The officer, according to reports, pleaded with Beth, saying, "Please don’t do this in front of me," as part of his training. Tragically, despite his efforts, Beth jumped into the water below. It wasn’t until May 24 that a fisherman found her body on a nearby shore.
7. Leelah Alcorn
On December 28, 2014, Leelah Alcorn ended her life by stepping into the path of an oncoming truck. Prior to this tragic act, she had scheduled a post on her public Tumblr to be published after her death.
In her final message, Leelah wrote, "My death has to mean something." She shared her painful journey as a young transgender woman, recounting her desire to live as a woman, a request that was rejected by her Christian parents, who saw it as an affront to God. The post struck a chord with thousands, who shared it widely to raise awareness of her heartbreaking story.
After Leelah's death, her mother continued to refuse to use female pronouns when speaking about her daughter, instead insisting on calling her by her given name, Joshua. Furthermore, she prevented Leelah's best friend, who had supported Leelah's decision to live as a woman, from attending the funeral.
Leelah's tragic death sparked a powerful movement, giving many transgender individuals, both young and old, the courage to speak openly about their gender identity. Additionally, the widespread sharing of Leelah’s final message on social media helped many people, who had previously been indifferent to transgender issues, to understand them more deeply.
6. Samantha Kuberski
At just 6 years old, Samantha Kuberski became one of the youngest recorded cases of suicide.
After being sent to her room following an argument with her mother, Samantha was later found to have taken her own life by hanging herself with a belt attached to the bar of an unused crib. Before going to her room, Samantha had told her family that she intended to end her life. However, due to her young age, many questioned whether Samantha truly meant to commit suicide or if it was an unfortunate accident. The debate over whether a 6-year-old could fully understand the concept of suicide remains unresolved.
Although it is extremely rare for anyone under the age of 15 to die by suicide, there have been cases where children below this age have been prescribed anti-depressants. Research has shown that depression can manifest in children as young as 3 years old.
The true reasons behind Samantha's tragic decision may never be fully understood, but the event remains an unimaginable loss for her family and friends.
5. Evan Ziemniak
Another heart-wrenching case involves 12-year-old Evan Ziemniak, who took his own life in March 2016 by hanging himself after enduring relentless bullying at school.
Despite Evan's parents raising concerns about the bullying with the school multiple times, the harassment persisted. Evan's grandmother remembered him telling her about being stabbed with pencils and shoved on the school bus. She strongly believes that Evan’s decision to take his life was a desperate escape from the constant bullying, as his home life was stable and filled with love, with no major family conflicts or issues.
Evan enjoyed the typical interests of a 12-year-old, such as playing the popular game Minecraft. He was also passionate about the Civil War and collecting antique coins. To everyone who knew him, Evan was a polite, kind-hearted boy with a bright future ahead.
4. Ronan Hughes
Ronan had sent images to the gang after receiving pictures of a girl he believed he was communicating with. Three nights before his death, Ronan confided in his mother about the situation. She reviewed the exchanged messages between Ronan and the gang, where Ronan had pleaded with them not to send the images, emphasizing that he was 'only 17.' After taking the issue to the police, the lone officer on duty claimed there was little he could do about the situation.
Ronan's mother holds the authorities' lack of support responsible for his suicide. She believes that had the officer promised to involve an IT specialist promptly, her son might still be alive today. On the day Ronan took his life, he told his mother that a friend had received links to images from a stranger, which she had not opened. Fearing her son's reaction, Mrs. Hughes hurried home, only to find that Ronan had left a suicide note on the kitchen counter. She later discovered his body in a field behind their house.
2. The Kingsley Suicides
From June 2018 to February 2019, the small Michigan town of Kingsley was shaken by a series of three teenage suicides. While the deaths were not connected to one another or to any other local events, they had a devastating impact on the families, friends, and the entire town. In a community of just 1,700 residents, three young lives were lost forever: 16-year-old DeAnte Bland, 14-year-old Kayden Stone, and 14-year-old Shaelynn Pobuda.
The first day after school ended for the summer, DeAnte Bland was grappling with the grief of losing three cousins—one to liver failure in 2017, another in a car accident the same year, and the last to suicide just a week before school ended. A few months earlier, DeAnte had confided to a friend that he didn’t want to live anymore. The friend reported his concerns, and DeAnte’s parents sought counseling. After an especially difficult night where DeAnte vented his frustration, his mother thought he would be alright. The next day, DeAnte was found dead in his room.
Tragedy struck again on the last day of summer vacation in September 2018. While DeAnte struggled in school, Kayden Stone thrived, achieving straight A’s and mastering several languages. Kayden dreamed of attending an Ivy League school, and his love for debate led him to discuss politics and religion. In 2017, he embraced religion and was baptized. Though he was independent, Kayden sometimes got into trouble, resulting in his parents grounding him. After they confiscated his phone, he stormed off. Kayden was later found dead in his bedroom, with a wooden cross he always wore resting atop his suicide note.
In February 2019, tragedy struck once more. Shea Pobuda’s life began with hardship. Abandoned by her mother and never knowing her father, she was adopted by her grandparents at the age of four. Shea, much like Kayden, was a good student but different in her extreme shyness. Her passions included reading and singing in the school choir. On Super Bowl Sunday, while her grandparents enjoyed the game in the living room, Shea attempted to take her life in her bedroom. She confessed to a friend on Instagram, "I almost just (killed) myself, but I’m scared to do it." Shea described her existence as painful both mentally and physically, a sentiment shared by a friend who later informed the authorities. Tragically, sometime between 8:48 p.m. and 5 a.m. the following morning, Shea ended her life.
IMPORTANT: If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This service is free, available 24/7, and confidential, offering support, information, and local resources to those in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, as well as their loved ones. Alternatively, you can text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741. This text message service is available 24/7 to provide immediate assistance from a trained crisis counselor.
2. Bart Palosz
After completing his first year as a sophomore at Greenwich High School in Connecticut, Bart Palosz took his own life with a family-owned shotgun. Friends of the 15-year-old reported that Bart had endured years of bullying due to his physical appearance and Polish heritage. He was ridiculed for being tall—standing at 6 foot 3 inches (190 cm)—and for his Polish accent. Despite these challenges, his friends remembered him as somewhat awkward in appearance but with a kind and gentle heart, a young man who connected more easily with adults than with his peers.
Despite the efforts Bart's family made to address the bullying, including frequently informing the school, Bart continued to endure mockery from his peers. He was a very quiet person and didn't exhibit outward signs of distress. While his family and friends were aware of the ongoing bullying, Bart’s tragic decision to end his life still came as an immense shock to everyone who knew him. It was a loss no one had seen coming.
1. Kenneth Weishuhn
Kenneth Weishuhn had once been known as a joyful and well-liked young man. However, everything changed when he decided to openly share his sexuality. After coming out, Kenneth became a target for bullying, not only from his peers in school but also from students in his older sister’s grade.
Tragically, Kenneth ended his life by hanging on April 15th, 2012, at just 14 years old. His mother was deeply affected by his loss but found herself torn between seeking justice for her son and taking action against those who had contributed to his suffering. While she felt the need to hold someone accountable and stop the cycle of bullying, she also struggled with the idea of taking another child away from their parents.
