After girl’s death by suicide, Utah lawmaker is on a mission to stop bullying
Dec 10, 2021, 5:36 PM | Updated: Aug 28, 2023, 8:56 am
Image of 10-year-old Izzy Tichener, used at a moment of silence held by the Utah Jazz on Nov. 12, 2021, in honor of the child who died by suicide.
Live at 10:35 a.m: Dave & Dujanovic look into why kids don’t report bullying.
SALT LAKE CITY — It’s estimated one in five kids in Utah are affected by bullying and more than half of students witness it daily. Cyber-bullying is a monster that needs to die. One Utah lawmaker is putting on her suit of armor to bury bullying forever.
Calvary Baptist Church in Salt Lake City is hosting a conference Saturday between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to defeat bullying after the death of Izzy Tichenor, a 10-year-old autistic girl who died by suicide on Nov. 6, 2021 after allegedly being bullied by classmates.
State Rep. Sandra Hollins spoke with Inside Sources host Boyd Matheson about the “Bullying Stops Here” event.
Izzy attended a school in the Davis School District. The Department of Justice recently completed an investigation of the district, which stemmed from reports of Black and Asian students experiencing racial harassment.
Move it forward
Hollins said the “Bullying Stops Here” conference was developed by Dr. Jacqueline Moses, who is an educator and has experienced the harm done by bullying as a teacher.
“Dr. Moses wanted to do something, and so this was the result of her wanting to do something to address bullying in our schools,” Hollins said.
“This is an example of — it’s one thing to mourn. It’s one thing to remember. It’s another thing to take actions and try to move the country forward,” Boyd said.
Cyber rescue
Hollins said she will be joined by Rep. Steve Eliason at the Saturday conference, along with teachers who will be discussing the mental health aspects of bullying, the rights on parents of a bullied child and the Utah Safe App.
Eliason will be “teaching parents and kids how to download that app and how to also use that app. So that if they are bullying or they are having mental health issues they are able to immediately reach out for help,” Hollins said.
On bullying and racism, “We all have to step up [because] injustice anywhere or to anyone is injustice everywhere and to everyone,” Boyd said.
“If people are coming after my child because they’re different, and you stand by and allow it to happen, you can best believe they’re going to be coming after your child sooner or later sometime in their life,” Hollins said.
For more information or if you need to speak with an expert, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.
Inside Sources with Boyd Matheson can be heard weekdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on KSL NewsRadio. Users can find the show on the KSL NewsRadio website and app.
