Reilly Howard,14, was playing with a 13-year-old boy from Florida he met through a game when the kid told him he needed to tell him something.
Reilly says the boy opened up to him, crying and admitting that he was considering hurting himself that night. He stayed on the phone with him for two hours and encouraged him to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
When Reilly’s parents got home, he told them what happened and they called the police, who went to help the 13-year-old home. Now the East Hampton Board of Education is recognizing Reilly for saving a life while playing a video game.
Reilly says he hopes other kids will recognize the huge impact they can have on others. "Some think 'I'm just a teenager, who is going to listen to me'? But people will, and you can have impact. You just have to show up, and talk to people and listen and I think that message needs to get out there".