Bullying results in pain, depression and may even cause people to lose their will to live.
A heartbreaking video is going viral and it has brought the issue of bullying once again to the forefront of the minds of most people.
Throughout the video filmed by his mother Yarraka Bayles, nine-year-old Quaden cries out and says that he wants to take his own life because he gets bullied every day about having Achondroplasia, a form of Dwarfism.The bullied boy was deluged with help messages after his mum shared his video on social media.
He asked his mother, ‘ Give me a rope I’d want to kill myself. ‘
At the time of posting the video has over 17 million views and it raised the question of what are the devastating consequences of bullying
Quaden and his family got encouragement and support from Australian sports stars and friendly strangers from all over the globe.
With many promising gifts and affection, an Instagram page has been set up for the young boy and the page and has been bombarded with messages of encouragement.
Quaden’s family thanked all of those who helped in uplifting their morale and said, “‘ Quaden Bayles’ family would like to take this time firstly to thank everyone for the overwhelming show of love and support from so many people from all around the world”.
‘ Because of the huge volume of messages, we are unable to reply to everybody at at this time, as we need time to review as a family and would like to ask that the media respect the wishes of the family, do not make calls and talk to First Nations Media, for now’. They further added.
Quaden was photographed with Aboriginal All Stars player Latrell Mitchell, who had been wearing a South Sydney Rabbitohs jersey for the 2020 season since signing with the club. Mitchell is teammates with Uncle James Roberts, of Quaden, who is also part of the All Stars Indigenous team.
On Thursday the All Stars squad shot a video for the schoolboy, letting him know they were on his side. Mitchell said: ” Hey Quadey … I just wanted to wish you all the best, brother we know that you are going through a difficult time right now but the boys are here”
The video was seen in America and Brad Williams, a comedian, initiated a fundraiser to get Quaden and his mother to Disneyland.
More than $130,000 has already been collected, and plane tickets have been donated by Fiji Airways. The comic has specified that any remaining money will be donated to charities which are anti-bullyingand anti-abuse.
The messages of Quaden’s encouragement are now coming even as far away as the US and Europe. ‘ I want you to know that there are a lot of people helping you and Quaden here in Texas, ‘ said one individual.
Ms Bayles publicly shared the video on Twitter, in an effort to raise awareness of the effects of bullying.
She said at the beginning of the five-minute clip: ‘ I just picked up my son from school, experienced an incident of bullying, called the principal and I want people to know this is the consequence of bullying. That is what bullying is all about.
‘ I have some good advice but I need more, I want people to understand how damaging it is to us as a family, ‘ she said.
He told the Courier-Mail Quaden last year when he was just six he first tried to kill himself three years ago.
I was so exhausted. I really didn’t believe he’d even know what or how at the age of six,’ she said.
The mother, an activist for Aboriginal rights, said her son has made multiple attempts to take his own life.
She further told, “‘ I clarified to him that once you’re done, there’s no escape, you’re gone forever, but he’s still attempting”.