A book to “raise awareness about harassment”. Two years after the death of her son Lucas, Séverine Vermard decided to make her sentence a “fight”. Victim of homophobic school bullying, Lucas ended his life on January 7, 2023. He was only 13 years old. The high-profile case then left its mark, revealing the extent of the discomfort linked to academic bullying in schoolyards.
At the end of December, almost two years after the events, the administrative investigation concluded that Lucas was indeed the victim of harassment even if the homophobic dimension was not mentioned in the report. On the judicial level, four teenagers were convicted at first instance of harassment, without the link with Lucas’ suicide being established, then were acquitted on appeal. The prosecution and the family appealed to the Court of Cassation.
Read on the subject > Suicide of Lucas: the National Education investigation confirms “acts of harassment”
Séverine Vermard therefore published this Wednesday January 8 “Lucas, symbol in spite of himself”. She testifies for HER.
The testimony of Séverine Vermard, Lucas’ mother:
“My name is Séverine Wermar, I am the mother of Lucas, who died on January 7, 2023 in Golbay, following the school harassment he suffered.
Lucas was a happy, radiant little boy, full of life, ambitious, empathetic, attentive to others, always there to know how we were doing. He was really the boyfriend we wanted to have, he was the little boy everyone would have dreamed of having, because he was always sweet-talking, always caring, a real ray of sunshine.
I blame my son, but I understand him. You have to have the mentality of a warrior to endure everything he has suffered.
What led to his death was the school harassment he suffered, the insults, the mockery. In one year, it was a descent into hell, it was immediately the target. And I don’t know why it was him and no one else. Lucas was 13 years old when he died.
Read also > More than one student per class on average victims of school harassment
I blame myself because I didn’t know how to help him. I blame the institution, I blame the teachers, except one. The CPE, the principal, were not listening. I called several times and was told yes, it would be fixed. No summons from the parents, no sanction, no summons from Lucas, from myself. So yes, I blame them. And that, on the other hand, I will not forgive.
I blame my son. I think being mad at him is part of grieving. It’s also a way for me to keep him close to me. The last few days, he didn’t call me for help. And I’m angry that he let me down, that he let his brother and sister down. At this time, we are suffering, but I want it, but I understand it. You have to have the mentality of a warrior to endure everything he has suffered. My hero, it is not for the action he made, but for having suffered everything he suffered.
My (other) children manage to keep me alive
Two years after Lucas left, after his death, it’s complicated. I cry about him every day, that’s undeniable. Every day I send a flame snap. It’s silly, but I hope that one day he’ll open them and say “I love you, mom”, even though I know that’s not possible. This is the link that I still have materially with him.
What helps me stand and fight is the fight, the writing of the book that keeps Lucas alive. My (other) children manage to keep me alive, because they do. They are my strength, they are my pillars, like all the people around me, like my family, my friends.
The association that I decided to create was immediately obvious, because I immediately wanted to help people who are victims or who know victims, or even harassers who need help to get by. get out. The association is called LUNA, freedom, unity, non-harassment. We intervene in schools and even in businesses, we can intervene, because it’s not just school bullying, it’s all types of harassment.
There is always someone who will be there to listen to you
As soon as someone needs help, we are there and we intervene with great pleasure. We really need to teach them the harm it can do. We are not here to point fingers at them. Even the harassers, we are there to help them get through it, because a harasser, most of the time, is someone who is doing badly. It’s to feel stronger, because maybe he’s also experiencing injustice on his side, maybe he’s really at his lowest and we really want to help them.
The message I want to send is love yourself already. Especially if you feel bad, harassed or anything, talk about it, because there is always someone to listen to. There is always someone who will be there to listen to you. There are so many tools to help you. Above all, don’t do the irreparable. »
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