Youth Suicide Prevention

[crabcake]

Each week, an average of two young people commit suicide in Washington state. Each week, another 20 youth make suicide attempts that result in hospitalization. One out of 4 high school youth acknowledge seriously considering suicide. 39% of 6th graders reported feeling ‘depressed or sad MOST days in the past year.

Alarming I cannot fathom a child thinking like that.

Youth Suicide Prevention Program

 

[Suz]

Alarming I cannot fathom a child thinking like that.

Youth Suicide Prevention Program

but are they comunicating with us who have 'been there done that'...............

 

[crabcake]

Whattayamean Suz?

 

[vraiblonde]

I cannot fathom a child thinking like that.

Really? It makes perfect sense to me. At that age, teens are going through a lot of changes that they're not emotionally mature enough to deal with. They're being introduced to drugs, sex and any number of new and confusing situations. They're also at a heightened emotional state.

Chaperone a middle or high school dance sometime - there is ALWAYS a group of girls bawling in the bathroom because someone talked to someone's boyfriend or got dumped or feels bad for dumping someone else. Not sure about boys but I'll bet they go through the same thing, maybe just more quietly.

So it doesn't surprise me in the least that some of these emotional creatures, who think EVERYTHING is the end of the world, would try and kill themselves.

 

[crabcake]

Really? It makes perfect sense to me. At that age, teens are going through a lot of changes that they're not emotionally mature enough to deal with. They're being introduced to drugs, sex and any number of new and confusing situations. They're also at a heightened emotional state.

Very good points! I hadn't thought about that.

When I said that (can't fathom ...), I was imagining hearing my DQ say those things ... and picturing it at her age. I'd be absolutely crushed if I heard my child say those sorts of things ... that she wanted to kill herself or felt unloved.

 

[vraiblonde]

I'd be absolutely crushed if I heard my child say those sorts of things ... that she wanted to kill herself or felt unloved.

She may not say them, but she'll probably think them in some way or another. When she's a hysterical teen, just keep her busy. Keep her grounded but don't belittle her problems, no matter how silly they may seem.

My daughter will come home all upset because of some boy or a fight with a girlfriend. I just hug her and say, "This seems like the end of the world right now but, I guarantee, in 10 years you won't even remember that kid's name, let alone that they hurt your feelings when you were 13." Or I'll tell her a story about some mean girl who made me cry when I was young, and how she's a fat depressed housewife now with a grubby husband and a passel of snotlip kids. That always perks her up.

 

[sunflower]

Its a very sad thing and sometimes you never know that the child is thinking about doing it... People dont understand this issue unless they have witnessed this first hand and the stress it can bring into ones life.....

 

[Wickedwrench]

She may not say them, but she'll probably think them in some way or another. When she's a hysterical teen, just keep her busy. Keep her grounded but don't belittle her problems, no matter how silly they may seem.

My daughter will come home all upset because of some boy or a fight with a girlfriend. I just hug her and say, "This seems like the end of the world right now but, I guarantee, in 10 years you won't even remember that kid's name, let alone that they hurt your feelings when you were 13." Or I'll tell her a story about some mean girl who made me cry when I was young, and how she's a fat depressed housewife now with a grubby husband and a passel of snotlip kids. That always perks her up.

No doubt that you have given her something to look forward to. Living well is always the best revenge.

 

[Hello6]

Living in Washington state would be enough to make anyone want to kill themselves, least that's what I've been told.

 

[vraiblonde]

Living well is always the best revenge.

Amen.