Reading the articles in the papers, the responses from some of the psychologists in the school district and the superintendent of the school are almost laughable.
These are educated people and their responses are "It's complex" and "There were clearly issues outside of school". Does that help take the ease off the school district to provide some sort of counseling? Does it make the superintendent sleep better at night to say in a statement that it has nothing to do with the school? Maybe it doesn't, but don't shake it off, offer a solution. TALK about it!
This is becoming a real issue and it needs to be discussed. It needs to be talked about, in schools, in homes, among friends. I don't know why these young high schoolers took their own lives, and I won't pretend to know. And I don't think their needs to be blame placed anywhere. We need to help those that are left behind.
These kids were hurting, confused, feeling alone, possibly suffering from an undiagnosed mental health issue and somehow, someway, someone needs to make connections with these kids. I hope that I always have a strong connection with my sons, I hope that they never feel they can't come to me, I hope they never feel alone and backed into a corner so that their only way out is to take their life.
I pray that I never put over the top expectations on my sons to be star athletes, to be stellar students. If my sons are nothing but average, they will be over the top in my eyes, and I will love them no matter what. I hope that they always know how much their life is valued not only by me but others as well. I hope that if they suffer from a mental illness of any kind that I have the ability to realize this and get them help.
If you have tweens or teens, please, TALK to your child about suicide. Listen without judgement, and be supportive and prepared for a lot of emotions. Helps your child understand their emotions and allow them to FEEL those emotions. Make sure that they have the means to talk to someone, if not you, then someone.
3 comments:
I completely agree with what you're saying. Last year, a boy in my sisters grade stepped in front of a train. We're such a small area that most people know each other some way. I don't know what our school did, but I think they should have done more. I don't know for sure, but what I heard is that they said you COULD go to the counselors and talk if you wanted to. I think that's good except that many people don't know them very well and many people like to talk to people they know well about their feelings and problems. I am very thankful and grateful that I have someone to talk to. I don't know what I would do without her, but not everyone has that and that worries me. Does anybody have an idea to help them find someone that they trust and can talk to?
look at those little faces-adorable!!! happy Belated SITS day!
If our kids don't feel like they can openly talk to us about everything, they'll bottle up things that need discussing. This breaks my heart.
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