Camélia was in her final year. If the investigation for “search for causes of death“continues, the Meaux public prosecutor’s office has opened a second investigation for”school bullying leading the victim to suicide“.
Indeed, according to the first elements, the young girl would have suffered mockery and rumors from December 2025. Despite an alert to the school management, the situation had not improved. On the day of the tragedy, Camélia was even summoned by the head of the establishment, an interview which, according to her family, would have sent her away.to his own share of responsibility in the facts“.
A process of destruction invisible to adults
School bullying is violence that takes place over time. As Hélène Romano, doctor in psychopathology at CHU Henri Mondor, explained to us in a previous article: “It is a process which aims to intentionally hurt, and which takes place over time. It can be exercised from one individual to another, or more collectively from one group to another.
The most difficult thing for those around them is that this suffering is often hidden. “Bullying happens behind the backs of school principals. When you are a victim, you can have an attitude that shows nothing. The child puts on a shell, he armors himself” specifies the expert.
How to spot warning signs in your child?
Because they are often ashamed or afraid of reprisals, adolescents rarely confide spontaneously. “People who are harassed almost never speak at the time of the incident (…) This is due to the mechanism of harassment which takes away their voice.” underlines Hélène Romano.
It is therefore up to parents to be attentive to changes in behavior. Several symptoms can alert you:
- Physical disorders: sleep disorders, back pain, stomach aches, unexplained fatigue or agitation;
- Change in behavior: unusual tantrums, disinvestment in school or a sudden drop in grades;
- Social isolation: This is the most convincing sign. “A bullied child is a scapegoat, and the group will gang up on him, ignoring his difficulty in a tacit agreement…“continues the specialist.
What should you do if you suspect harassment?
The first instinct is to break the silence, but tactfully. Dr. Romano advises approaching the subject in a roundabout way so as not to upset the teenager. “I learned, I heard that there were situations of harassment, and I was wondering if in your high school…“. The objective is to create a space of trust where the child does not feel judged.
Once the dialogue is established, here are the steps to follow:
- Contact the establishment: Make an appointment with management to explain the facts in detail;
- Seek allies: Contact a “student ambassador” or a trusted adult within the school (nurse, head teacher);
- Use emergency numbers: Contact 3018 (national anti-harassment number) if the establishment’s response seems insufficient or too slow;
- Find medical support: The family doctor or school psychologist can help the child come out of the state of shock.
Protecting adolescents and restoring their self-esteem
Getting out of bullying doesn’t stop when the bullying ends. The victim must relearn how to trust others. It is essential to dedicate time to your child and value him in an environment outside of school, such as a sports club or family activities, in order to integrate him into a “healthy” group.
As the Camélia affair tragically reminds us, the response of institutions must also be firm, to avoid other tragedies of this kind in the future.