Hey, crime sad listeners, welcome back to another episode of Crime Salad where we talk true crime.

My name is Ashley.

And I'm Ricky.

And before we begin, we want to provide a content warning for this episode.

Because today, we will be discussing a very sensitive topic

that surrounds bullying and suicide and its devastating impact. These topics can be incredibly

difficult to hear and may be triggering for some listeners. If you or someone you know is struggling,

please remember that help is

available. You can reach out to the suicide and crisis lifeline by calling or texting 988 or visiting

988 lifeline.org for support. You are not alone. Please love yourself. You most definitely belong, even when

sometimes it feels like you don't. And feel free to skip this episode or end this episode at any

moment. Bullying is a heartbreaking reality that affects kids worldwide.

And in some cases, its impact can make one feel hopeless, causing depression.

It can bring on an overwhelming wave of anxiety and really have lifelong effects.

And in more extreme cases, it can even bring on thoughts of suicide or,

sadly, committing suicide. A devastating experience for families, as they now will always question,

what more could I have done? Bringing on guilt and a desire to make a change.

Kids can be cruel at a young age, and as we know it, even adults can be. And it seems like over

time, bullying has evolved, extending its reach beyond the schoolyard or around the local town

to the world of online harassment,

where individuals can hide behind their screens and really say or do whatever without any real

consequences. Statistics show that an estimated 160,000 children skip school every day because of fear, an alarming reminder

...