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Friends say 14-year-old killed herself over bullying

After a bullied and harassed Davenport teen killed herself, some are calling on the Quad City community to launch a dialogue on the topic of teen suicide.

A 14-year-old Davenport girl killed herself after being bullied by other kids at school, and some are calling on the Quad City community to launch a dialogue on the topic of teen suicide.

"I think it's a wake-up call. We need to figure out where kids are coming to despair. I think with teen suicides, we are in a crisis mode," said Joyce Morrison, the Director of Program Development at Vera French Community Mental Health Center.

Alice Schmitt was a freshman at Davenport West High School. On Wednesday, April 2, she posted a tearful photo of herself on Facebook, saying "with all the depression. Good night."

Two days later, she was dead.

"She hung herself from her bed with a scarf," said her friend, Kellsey Foor, 19, of Davenport.

"I know she was bullied at school. Calling her names, telling her a bunch of hurtful things. But she blew it off, basically because she always kept a smile on her face and didn't let anybody see her hurt," Foor said.

This week, a new Facebook page called "Make a Change. The Alice Schmitt Movement" was launched by Foor and two other friends, to create awareness about bullying and its consequences.

"I started it because there are so many people nowadays who are committing suicide because of bullying. We don't want anyone else to go through the pain her family is going through and all of her friends are going through. We've got to do something," Foor said.

Five days before Alice Schmitt killed herself, a 12-year-old girl from the nearby Pleasant Valley School District took her own life. At least four adolescents committed suicide in Scott County over the past year.

Go to the Facebook page for Make a Change, the Alice Schmitt Movement - click here.

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