Overdose tragedy of schoolgirl, 14, bullied because she was poor
A SCHOOLGIRL of 14 killed herself j ust days after writing a heart- breaking note describing how she was being teased for being poor, it emerged yesterday.
Ashleigh Bowes, who suffered from anorexia and depression, took an overdose of prescription drugs.
Just a week before she was found dead, the teenager had written about how she had been reduced to tears by hurtful comments her friends had made about her condition, her mother and their wealth.
She wrote: ‘It’s nothing to joke about. Words kill...’
An inquest heard that teachers and staff at Fallibroome Academy in Macclesfield, where Ashleigh was a pupil, had no idea she was being picked on.
But her psychiatrist told the hearing that the youngster believed she was not as popular or attractive as her peers and was worried some of their banter was directed at her and was ‘bitchy and critical’.
After an argument with friends, Ashleigh wrote in a journal: ‘You were so rude the other day. SO RUDE. When I left the park I cried... Depression hurts. Anorexia hurts. It’s nothing to joke about. Words kill...
‘Taking the p*** out of my food and my mum. We are poor. We can’t have the big brands like you do.’
Eight days later, on August 30 last year, Ashleigh was found dead in bed by her mother, Sue Bowes, 43, at their £ 180,000 home in Macclesfield, Cheshire.
Police discovered she had made a five-minute video selfie on her mobile phone just hours earlier in which she appeared confused and was holding the pills in her hand saying: ‘Should I or should I not.’
The inquest in Warrington was told that Ashleigh’s problems began in October 2013 when she told her mother that voices in her head were ‘telling her not to eat’.
She visited her GP and a month later was referred to rehab clinic The Priory for treatment for an eating disorder and depression.
In February 2014 she was prescribed fluoxetine, more commonly known as Prozac, an antidepressant which the NHS warns carries an increased risk of suicide, especially for under-25s.
Her psychiatrist Claire Evans said: ‘Ashleigh did say she felt as if it was directed. She did say the girls at school were very bitchy and critical. She had fleeting suicidal thoughts … but had not made any plans to take her own life.’
For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 08457 909090, or go to www.samaritans.org.