Lucy Alexander, whose 17-year-old son Felix took his own life in April 2016 after years of bullying, says she still stands by the open letter she wrote six months after his death. The letter, originally published in a local newspaper, was later picked up by national media and resonated with hundreds of parents who contacted her.
A Decade of Grief and Purpose
Felix, the youngest of Lucy's three children, was a bright and funny boy who began experiencing low-level bullying around age 10. By 13, the bullying had become both face-to-face and online. He was excluded in the playground, had his games bag stolen and shoved in the showers, and faced constant unkind messages on sites like Ask.fm.
By 14, Felix had developed OCD and severe depression. Despite seeing a psychotherapist, his suffering continued. He changed schools after his GCSEs, and for a time seemed happier, but seven months into his new school he took his own life.
The Letter's Impact and Ongoing Advocacy
In her letter, Lucy appealed to children to be kind always and to report bullying. She also urged teachers to look out for signs of struggling students and parents to monitor their children's online activity. The letter received hundreds of responses from parents sharing similar experiences.
Lucy now works with children's mental health charity Place2Be, speaking in schools about safe social media use and kindness. She believes support must be preemptive, not reactive, and that schools need to take more direct action on bullying, keeping families informed.
Reflecting on the decade since Felix's death, Lucy says she will never feel complete again but has found purpose and hope. She remains committed to preventing other families from experiencing such a tragedy.
