A small community in Des Moines, Iowa has been rocked by the suicide of a teen who was subjected to intense bullying at Southeast Polk High School for being gay and of mixed race, but sadly his tragic death was not an isolated incident, the Huffington Post reports.
Alexander "AJ" Betts Jr. was just sixteen when he took his own life on Friday night, and his mother, Sheryl Moore, while devastated, is set on preserving his memory and beginning her own mission to help those struggling with similar issues in his honor. Not only will his organs be donated to help save others, his story has inspired Moore to take action and educate others.
"It must have been really horrible, if my son got to the point where he would hurt my husband, my daughters and I to take his own life," Moore told KCCI News 8. "Several people who are gay or lesbian teens told us that AJ saved them from committing suicide when they were feeling desperate, and I really hope, for AJ's sake, that we can stop it, so that maybe, even if we can save one more life from bullying, that would be a success."
A string of four suicides of teen boys within seven months in 2008, followed by one in 2009, roused the local community into action, as adults frantically called for a task force and study on the growing so-called "suicide culture" among teens and young adults.
Moore was by her son's side from the time he entered the hospital following his suicide attempt to the time he was wheeled away.
"It's the most painful thing I have ever been through in my entire life," Moore told the Des Moines Register. "I would not wish that on my worst enemy."
Although the high school's president did not confirm that Betts was bullied, as he has has no evidence of any incidents, Steve Pettit did confirm that the staff, who take bullying "very seriously," and counselors are on call to support grieving students and those in need of someone to talk to during this difficult time,
"We are bringing in support staff to assist students and just honestly listen to them," Pettit said. "Anytime you lose somebody, especially a young person, it leaves a mark on a lot of people."
Betts' mother Moore said that her son came out as gay about a year and a half ago, one of the reasons he was bullied. She explained that though he had recently gotten his braces off and he "liked the way he looked," his sexuality and mixed-race ethnicity made him a target of ridicule among his peers.
Moore told the Des Moines Register she wants to educate more teens about the power of words and how much pain they can inflict, just as her son would want her to do. "He spent his entire life trying to make people feel good," she said.
Click here to see a photo of Alexander "AJ" Betts Jr. and read the full interview from his mother, Sheryl Moore.
Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or visit stopbullying.gov. You can also visit The Trevor Project or call them at 866-488-7386.
