Suicide of Hamed Nastoh

Hamed Bismel Nastoh (December 18, 1985 – March 11, 2000)[2] was a Canadian high school student who committed suicide by jumping off the Pattullo Bridge due to bullying.

Hamed Nastoh
School portrait of Nastoh
Born
Hamed Bismel Nastoh

(1985-12-18)December 18, 1985
Abbotsford, British Columbia,[1] Canada
Died (aged 14)
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Cause of deathSuicide by jumping
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
NationalityCanadian
EducationEnver Creek Secondary School
OccupationStudent
Parent(s)Kirim Nastoh
Nasima Nastoh

Early life

Nastoh was born to Afghan parents in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. Hamed Nastoh attended Enver Creek Secondary School in Surrey, British Columbia, along with his brother Abdullah.[3] Nastoh was described as a smart student who liked horror movies, reading, dancing and music.[4] Nastoh, then 14 years old, was bullied in person.[5] In a note he mentions to his parents that high school was terrible for him, everyone in his school would call him "gay", "fag", "queer", "four-eyes" and "big-nose" because his average grades were above 90 percent.[3][6][7][8][9] He left a suicide note saying “I hate myself for doing this to you,” he wrote to his parents. “I really, really hate myself, but there is no other way out.”[4]

The Nastoh family lived on 143rd Street in Surrey, around 10 kilometres away from the Pattullo Bridge, which spans the Fraser River and links Surrey and New Westminster.[4] At 5:00 pm, Nastoh's mother, father, and younger brother, David, went outside to hang out with a neighbour. Hamed and his older brother, Abdullah, were home during the night. One hour later, Abdullah took a shower. Hamed put on his new Tommy Hilfiger jacket, slipped out, and made his way, probably by bus, to the Pattullo.[4] When Nastoh arrived at the Pattullo Bridge he killed himself.[10][11]

Investigation

When Abdullah got out of the shower, he realized that Hamed had disappeared. He phoned his parents, and their father, Kirim, rushed home to investigate. On finding the note, he phoned the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.[4] Hamed didn’t give any hints about how he killed himself, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police searched around Nastoh's home.[4]

The day after, police found his body in the Fraser River, just south of the Pattullo Bridge. He wore a blue Nike backpack filled with rocks to weigh himself down.[4] According to the coroner's report, "They were unnecessary." Hamed Nastoh died from blunt trauma after his eye hit a rock in the water at around 108 kilometres per hour.[4] The only noticeable mark was a minor scratch on his nose.[4]

A week before his death, Hamed had attended a suicide awareness talk at Enver Creek Secondary School, given by a mother who had lost her son. In his note, Hamed wrote that he'd given his parents a “hint” when he mentioned that the speaker had said that suicidal people give hints.[4][12]

Aftermath and impact on schools

Homosexuality issues high school course

Hamed's suicide from the Patullo Bridge made the Government of British Columbia to introduce the Grade 12 Homosexuality issues course. This course was developed in 2007 and is considered an elective course for Grade 12 high school students.[13]

This course was meant to prevent a trial in court before the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal, which made the agreement to listen to a gay couples complaints that secondary schools in British Columbia are blameworthy of prejudice by not talking about sexual identities as how the curriculum expects.[13]

As a comeback, the Liberal Party of Canada agreed with the Government of British Columbia in developing this course, which discusses the topic of tolerance, especially how it relates to sexual identities, ethnicity and race. However, the course will not be mandatory in 37 secondary schools in British Columbia that represent over 8,000 students.[13]

Hamed Nastoh’s Anti-Bullying Coalition

Hamed mentioned in his suicide note for the reader to go to all the secondary schools in Surrey. He wanted other students to know that all forms of bullying can have a bad impact on the victim. Listening to his message, Nasima formed Hamed Nastoh's Anti-Bullying Coalition,[4] to raise awareness of bullying in elementary and high schools, and help parents of children suffering from bullying. Nasima has presented Hamed's suicide note and story to numerous Canadian schools in Abbotsford, Hope, Mission, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey, Vancouver and Whistler.[14]

His mother states her message is clear and simple: "Suicide is not the solution." Using her son’s suicide note to show how much he suffered in high school before committing suicide, Nasima hopes to give support to teenagers and the community and assure them they are not alone. Nasima said, "Seek help. If you don't talk about it nobody can hear," noting that children and teenagers are afraid of having discussions about being bullied if they notify their parents or teachers. Nasima says that Hamed Nastoh's Anti-Bullying Coalition has given her confidence to overcome her agony and misery.[14]

See also

References
  1. "I lost my son to bullying A mother's voice speaks out.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved 2018-04-14.
  2. "I Lost My Son to Bullying: A Mother's Voice Speaks Out", Teaching & Learning
  3. "School teasing blamed in Surrey teen's suicide | CBC News". CBC. 2000-03-17. Archived from the original on 2018-08-14. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  4. "Fatal Bridges - Vancouver Magazine". Vancouver Magazine. 2008-10-01. Archived from the original on 2018-02-24. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  5. Short, Donn (2013). "Don't be So Gay!": Queers, Bullying, and Making Schools Safe. UBC Press. ISBN 9780774823265. Archived from the original on 2018-05-22. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  6. Ray, Mark A. (2003). The Scoutmaster's Other Handbook: A Practical Guide to Managing a Troop, Maintaining Your Sanity, and Making a Difference. M. Ray. ISBN 9780965120739. Archived from the original on 2018-03-25. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  7. Fanny Kiefer (2011-02-23), Studio 4 with Fanny Kiefer: Nasima Nastoh on bullying and her son's suicide.Part 1 of 2, archived from the original on 2018-05-21, retrieved 2018-05-19
  8. "The suicide note". Xtra. 2001-02-21. Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  9. "BULLYING KILLS". Archived from the original on 2013-05-11. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  10. Nastoh, Nasima (2004-01-01). "I Lost my Son to Bullying: A Mother's Voice Speak Out". Teaching and Learning. 1 (3). doi:10.26522/tl.v1i3.98. ISSN 1703-2598. Archived from the original on 2018-03-25. Retrieved 2018-03-25.
  11. Marengere, Darry. "Gay Ottawa Now! - BC Teen Suicide Aftermath: Conflict Ensues Over Prevention". www.gayottawanow.com. Archived from the original on 2018-05-22. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  12. Fanny Kiefer (2011-02-23), Studio 4 with Fanny Kiefer: Nasima Nastoh on bullying and her son's suicide. Part 2 of 2, archived from the original on 2018-05-21, retrieved 2018-05-19
  13. "A mother's six-year saga of sorrow". Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  14. "School teasing blamed in Surrey teen's suicide". GEOCITIES.ws. 2000-03-17. Archived from the original on 2018-08-14. Retrieved 2018-08-14.
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