Holly and Phil reveal bullied teen who wanted to commit suicide is in a ‘back on track’ thanks to This Morning
The show has since launched its own be Kind campaign to crack down on bullying after being inundated with horrific stories
THIS Morning fans were left delighted as Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield revealed a boy who had been subject to horrific bullying was "back on track" thanks to the show's support.
Opening today's programme, Holly read out a letter from the lad in which he thanked viewers for their kind gifts.
Last November, his mum left the show hosts in tears as she laid out her turmoil and admitted her son wanted to take his own life.
It read: "You support and encouragement has made me realise not everybody is bad in the world.
"You all helped in giving me the hope and encouragement I needed so badly.
"I am now in a better place mentally and attend education part time.
"I really feel I am almost back on track and the future feels much brighter.
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"Without everyone's support I would not be alive."
He then urged other youngsters in a similar situation not to keep their feelings hidden, and instead seek the help of more than one adult.
He rounded off with: "I couldn't image it could get batter but it has, it really has."
It comes as Holly and Phil launched This Morning's Be Kind anti-bullying campaign to help save lives after tragic stories of children committing suicide after being bullied.
Last week, they spoke to another parent in a similar situation.
Speaking to a woman who went by the name of Mary, she revealed her heartbreak at trying to get help for her 11-year-old son.
She said: "He's been a victim of bullying for over a year, he's being punched and kicked daily; he's come home with strangulation marks on his neck to the point that he said he just wants to die.
"He's been trying to hurt himself, he tried to run in front of a lorry than cross the road to school because he said it would be easier to die than go to school."
Phil asked what the school said about it and she replied: "We've contacted the school, we've contacted the education, the head master said it was like banging his head off a brick wall because he didn't have the support of the parents of the bullies."
Agony Aunt Deirdre then said: "I know I often sound like I'm school blaming but the first thing is to keep a record, work out every single mark and scratch, photograph it so you have really solid evidence. Go back to the school and say this isn't good enough, your son is really at risk here."
Phillip said he could hear the "desperation" in her voice and was clearly upset about the situation.
He said: "There are all sorts of legal restrictions but something like that where a school is so inactive, you should be able to name and shame them and say 'Sort yourselves out because you're going to lose an 11-year-old under a lorry if you don't do something about this'.
"It's only after something like that happens that you hear 'We've put measures in place to make sure this never happens again'."
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.
Later in the show, Phillip and Holly reached out to a boy who had been bullied so much that he's afraid to leave the house.
After his mum Joanne tearfully described his torment, Phillip asked if her son wanted to talk to them himself.
The teen said he's a Doctor Who fan and Phillip invited him to spend the day on This Morning.
Phillip also said he would "talk to the BB" about getting him a day on the Doctor Who set.
The teen was very excited by this and viewers were overwhelmed by the gesture.
One wrote on Twitter: "#ThisMorning @Schofe wet eyes for me.. God bless him you've spun his life round and given him a path."
Another said: "@Schofe @hollywills @DrRanj please update us on how 'Joanne's' son is doing when you meet him #ThisMorning I know you can help him #BeKind".
A third said: "So much love for #Thismorning with helping people who are getting bullied. They're even contacting the schools. This makes me happy."
Someone else added: "It only takes one person, one tiny moment in time, one simple act of kindness to change a persons whole life! Well done #ThisMorning #bekind."
Viewers also heard from a girl's grandmother who told how she is partially blind and her classmates bully her by tripping her up and taking away her cane.
Dr Ranj advised anyone with similar problems to approach to board of governors at the school to help the situation.
- This Morning airs weekdays from 10.30am on ITV.
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