Family urges action from school after daughter is bullied: 'She said she wanted to be dead'

CHICAGO (Fox 32 News) - A local family is urging their school district to take action on bullying after their daughter was injured by a fellow student at school. The constant abuse has led to the girl expressing suicidal thoughts.

Nine-year-old Jamyah Jackson attends Strassburg Elementary in Sauk Village. She has a cut by her eye and says it hurts to look around. She was punched repeatedly, she said, by another girl who has been a frequent bully.

"It makes me sad and mad because I don't know what I did wrong to them," Jamyah said.

Her mother, Amber Walker-Jackson, says she reached out to the media about the bullying her daughter has endured since first grade because she felt like she had nowhere else to turn.

"My husband and I asked for a parent meeting and the principal said that it was pointless, those were his exact words," mom said.

She says her request to meet with the other girl's parents was denied, until she was called to the school one morning because the other mother wanted to meet with her.

"We get to the school and they tell us they didn't want this meeting to happen basically because they were afraid we would fight," mom said.

FOX 32 reached out to Community Consolidated Schools District 168 and was told by the superintendent the district could not "speak on specific student issues."

The superintendent also attached the district's guidelines on how they provide support to bullied students including parent meetings and counseling for students. Walker-Jackson said that hasn't happened.

She said her daughter received a mental evaluation this week and was given a note by the doctor to stay at home until she feels safe enough to attend school again.

"She's tired of kids picking at her and she wanted to, she said she wanted to be dead," mom said.

If you or a loved one is feeling distressed, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The crisis center provides free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, seven days a week to civilians and veterans. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Or text 741-741.