Stop Kids from Killing Themselves

The bullying epidemic in our nations’ schools demands a solution before any more lives are lost.

Sloan Oliver | March 25, 2026

Last month, 12-year-old Ava Little committed suicide.  Apparently, she did so because she was being chronically bullied at Byron Middle School, Peach County, Ga.

According to Little’s family, none of the school’s anti-bullying measures or guidelines was implemented, even as “other students targeted her over and over again.”  The bullying began in fifth grade and intensified this year.  According to Paige Day, Ava’s aunt, her parent’s tried to get the school to intervene, but Peach schools were “consistently underwhelming.  They failed her 100%.”

The Youth Peace and Justice Foundation — an organization dedicated to ending cycles of violence among youth — is calling for a full review of Peach County Schools’ bullying policy.  They are calling for the Georgia Board of Education to review bullying prevention and student mental health intervention policies for Byron Middle School and the district.  They claim that what happened to Ava is not an isolated incident and that systemic change is needed across the school district.

According to Brandy Little, Ava’s mother, last week, another Peach County middle-school girl, and a friend of Ava, tried to commit suicide.  Fortunately, she failed.  I will echo Brandy’s questions and ask what actions are being taken to address the bullying in Peach County schools.  Are the ones who bullied Ava still at it, bullying others?  Is anyone being held accountable?  There are always several sides to an issue, even a suicide.  However, the fact remains that a beautiful little girl is dead, and we are left to ask why. 

Suicide contagion is the term used to describe “copycat suicide.”  According to psychologists, copycat suicides tend........

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