by Roanoke, VA – The tragic death of 10-year-old Autumn Bushman has sparked a heartfelt plea from her mother, urging parents to carefully monitor their children’s nighttime phone use. Autumn died by suicide on March 21 after having used her phone in her room just before her death.
Her family alleges that Autumn faced bullying at school, a factor they believe contributed significantly to her emotional distress. This heartbreaking loss has brought attention to the dangers of unsupervised phone access, especially late at night, and the impacts on young children’s mental health.
The Heartbreaking Story of Autumn Bushman
Autumn Bushman, a student at Mountain View Elementary in Roanoke, Virginia, was reported to have been bullied at school despite the family’s complaints to the school administration. The family recalls her stress and emotional pain as she desperately asked to stay home from school due to the bullying.
“She deserved to live life, and I will never see her go to a homecoming or prom,” Summer Bushman, Autumn’s mother, said. “I’ll never see her get married or in a wedding dress. And that’s really difficult.”
The Roanoke County Public Schools released a statement expressing sorrow and support but emphasized that privacy laws limit the details they can share.
Meanwhile, the Roanoke Police Department closed the case in July, confirming no criminal charges were warranted after their investigation.
Nighttime Phone Use and Vulnerability
According to records and a recent report, Autumn was using her phone in bed moments before her suicide. Her mother said Autumn insisted on keeping her phone at night because she needed the alarm to wake up each morning.
“I had questioned that a couple of times, and she fought back and said, ‘Mom, I need my alarm,'” Summer recalled.
A Virginia Tech study cited in a report highlights a crucial link between late-night screen use and increased emotional vulnerability in young people, particularly those experiencing bullying.
- Most overdoses and suicide attempts occur late at night, often during or after screen use.
- Both prescription and over-the-counter medications were commonly involved, underscoring how easy access to pills can contribute to attempts.
- Late-night hours are a period of heightened emotional vulnerability for youth, combined with social media immediacy and medication availability.
Abhishek Reddy, a professor at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, warned, “It is pretty dangerous for bullied children to have their phones with them at night.”
He advises prohibiting phones in bedrooms, encouraging good sleep habits, and restricting medication access.
You can read more about the study and Autumn’s story here: People.com.
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A Mother’s Call to Action for Parents
Summer Bushman has urged parents to be vigilant about their children’s phone use and social interactions online.
- Regularly check your child’s phone to ensure kindness in both directions—whether your child is being kind or being targeted.
- Monitor nighttime phone use to help protect emotional well-being.
- Restrict access to medications that could pose risks if combined with moments of vulnerability.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, or substance use problems, help is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988 or chatting at 988lifeline.org.
What Can Parents Do Moving Forward?
This heartbreaking tragedy shines a light on the importance of parental oversight, especially concerning the emotional health of young children navigating school pressures and social challenges.
By setting boundaries around technology use and fostering open conversations about bullying and mental health, parents can make a profound difference.
What do you think about this discovery? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
