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Parents of teen who killed herself speak out to help youth survive bullying

Parents of teen who killed herself speak out to help youth survive bullying

The family of a Winnipeg teenage girl who took her own life this spring is hoping a new website and Facebook page will help other youth who are dealing with bullying and cyberbullying.

The family of Samantha Mason, 15, said she was an avid musician who loved to express herself through art. She killed herself in May after years of bullying at school.

"Shortly after Samantha passed away we found a note on her phone and it said, 'goodbye' and it said 'I hope people remember me.' So I guess that's what we hope her legacy will be is that people will remember her and that through her death people will change the way they act," said Brad Mason, Samantha's dad.

NeedHelpNow.ca just launched to provide support for young people who have had sexual videos or pictures posted on social media without their knowledge or permission.

The campaign was influenced by cases like Mason's and that of Rehtaeh Parsons, a Nova Scotia teen who took her own life after being bullied when a sexual video of her was circulated online.

Several schools across Canada, including Oak Park High School in Winnipeg, joined in assemblies on Tuesday to learn more about the dangers of cyberbulling and the new website.

"Be strong and ride it out," Brad Mason, Samantha Mason's father, told the group at Oak park.

"No one here is less than someone else. No one here is greater than someone else," Diana Stewart, Mason's mom, added. "Don't give up.... Nothing about you today will be the same tomorrow."

In honour of Samantha's death, the Masons have created "Samantha's Story," a community Facebook page for sharing stories, resources and to give to youth struggling with bullying.

Noni Classen, the director of education with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (CCCP), said teens are not prepared to handle when sexual images of themselves surface online.

"Cyberbullying is extremely serious and the kids we are hearing from are in extreme distress," Classen said.

Cyberbullying on the rise

The CCCP said over the past five years, youth in crisis have been reaching out on national tipline cybertip.ca. Classen said the organization has witnessed cyberbulling reports jump by 10 per cent in that time.

The website will give advice on things like how to get images pulled down and how to deal with peers if cyberbullying has ensued as a result of pictures being circulated. Classen said youth will also be consulted on how to reach out to adults and authorities to file formal reports.

Beyond resources offered through the website, Classen is imploring youth to help curb the harmful sharing and promoting of cyberbullying online. When they witness it happening, youth need to do their part by not "liking" or "favouriting" hurtful messages and by being allies to peers who are being exploited online, Classen said.

Need Help Now has started the #ChangeTheStory hashtag to let youth know they have the power to change hateful posts and turn them into messages of hope.