Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield launch This Morning’s Be Kind anti-bullying Campaign to help save lives after tragic stories of children committing suicide after being bullied
The TV hosts have joined forces with families of children affected by bullying
HOLLY Willoughby and Phillip Schofield have launched This Morning’s Be Kind anti-bullying Campaign to help save the lives of young victims.
The TV hosts joined the families of victims, before offering key advice following recent powerful interviews.
Holly and Phil will kick-start the campaign on today's show, after 17-year-old Felix Alexander's mum Lucy, and 14-year-old Megan Evans' mum Nicola Harteveld shared the tragic stories of how their children committed suicide after being bullied.
Viewers and their children will then be able to watch these stories on the , so they can understand the importance of speaking out if they're targeted themselves.
After launching the campaign on air, Holly and Phil will join agony aunt Deidre Sanders, psychotherapists Nik and Eva Speakman and Dr Ranj to continue taking calls and giving advice to concerned parents or children.
Phillip said: “I think the interviews we did with these poor mums will live with me forever. The stunned grief was heartbreaking. Two lovely young people who, because of bullying felt they had no other option but to take their lives and by doing so, destroy their families.
"If you're feeling like this PLEASE talk to someone, share how you feel, there is always a solution if you open up. I'm 100% behind this campaign. I hope we can save young lives and show the bullies how catastrophic one tweet, one snapchat or one text can be.”
Holly added: “We really want this to help children, their families… and even bullies themselves to realise what they are doing.
"It’s fantastic that so many schools have already asked to show our interview to pupils. How much better would the world be if everyone was just that bit kinder to each other?”
Meanwhile mum Lucy revealed the importance of viewers getting behind the campaign, adding: "
“I am so happy to support the This Morning Be Kind campaign as I want parents, teachers and children to all think about what they can do to help raise awareness of bullying and supporting each other. We all have a choice in everything we say and do, and we can choose to be kind, it really is that simple.”
While Nicola said: “This Morning's Be Kind campaign will save many, many lives. I think it is phenomenal that bullying and the devastating effects it has are being exposed in schools. So many are affected each and every day by bullies who do not realise the torment they put their victims through and how overwhelming that can be.
"Children need to understand there are consequences to their actions and be aware of the devastating toll it takes on lives."
Viewers were overwhelmed by the campaign and it had reached almost 20,000 pledges at the time of writing.
People took to Twitter in their droves to praise the campaign and appealed to others to share the pledge.
One wrote: "#Thismorning Well done with the Be Kind campaign. We as parents & schools must take responsibility to protect our babies, stop the bullies!"
Another said: "Well done @thismorning Raising Awareness of Bullying IT NEEDS TO STOP ".
A third added: "I hope every school across the country shows the video. I wish there had been support like this when I was bullied #BeKind #ThisMorning".
- This Morning's Be Kind campaign will launch Wednesday, March 15 at 10.30am on ITV