Ep 7. "Cyberbullied after My Son's Death"
- October 10, 2014
In the twelfth season of the popular TV show Dr. Phil, episode seven deals with a rather sensitive and emotional topic – cyberbullying. The episode, titled "Cyberbullied after My Son's Death," highlights the harrowing story of a mother who lost her son to suicide and faced vicious cyberbullying afterward.
The episode starts with the mother sharing her grief-stricken story with Dr. Phil. She explains how her 18-year-old son ended his life after being bullied online. Following his death, she found herself relentlessly bullied on social media, causing her immense pain and emotional trauma.
Dr. Phil displays a clip where the mother explains the relentless bullying she faced after her son's death. She recounts how anonymous trolls called her house and left abusive messages. They commented on her social media pages, saying crude things like, "you deserve it, your son deserved it too." They left mean comments saying how she failed as a mother for not being aware of the abuse.
Dr. Phil highlights how crucial it is for people to be aware of the situation and the effects of cyberbullying; it can break someone down and cause immense mental anguish. The grieving mother is the perfect example of how such hurtful actions can harm a person.
In the show, Dr. Phil features interviews with psychologists and experts, who provide useful information on how to deal with situations like cyberbullying. They provide tips on how to use technology to track and report online abusers.
The episode can be useful for family members who have suffered a loss and have gone through or are going through cyberbullying. The experts on the show suggest that it is imperative to involve law enforcement agencies when faced with such vile situations. The experts also emphasize the importance of cyber-safety, where family members can protect themselves and their loved ones by setting up privacy controls and filters to ensure a safer online experience.
Dr. Phil empathizes with the mother, and through her time on the show, she receives counselling and learns that there are people who care and understand her situation. It's a touching and moving episode that showcases the power of community and how crucial it is to seek support when going through difficult times.
The episode ends with various resources for people struggling with cyberbullying, including National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Crisis Text Line, and National Domestic Violence Hotline to name a few.
