Sharing and healing publications

So, Why ask Why?

Comments Posted on Oct 01, 2009 Posted by Tim Jackson

SO WHY ASK WHY By : Tim Jackson

Survivors can't stop asking why-at least for a while. Margaret Atwood describes a survivor's incessant search for answers:

Curiosity is not our only motive: Love or grief or despair or hatred is what drives us on. We'll spy relentlessly on the dead. We'll open their letters. We'll read their journals. We'll go through their trash, hoping for a hint, a final word, and explanation, for those who have deserted us -who've left us holding the bag, which is often a good deal emptier than we'd supposed. The search for clues to help them understand propels survivors to ask, "What could they possibly have been feeling or thinking that made dying seem like the only opinion they had left?"

What Caused Them To Choose suicide?

The Holidays-Suicide Myth

Comments Posted on Oct 01, 2009 Posted by Dan Romer

The HOLIDAYS - SUICIDE MYTH By: Dan Romer (Dec. 2008)

One of the more persistent myths about the end-of-year holidays is that suicides rise during this period. According to a recently completed analysis of news reporting during last year's holiday period, there was renewed repetition of this myth in the newspaper reporting. Despite the sizeable drop that occurred during the preceding holiday period in 2006, newspapers displayed a surge in both the number and proportion of stories that supported the myth.

The analysis today by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) shows that about half of the articles written during last year's holiday season that made a direct connection to the season perpetuated the myth. That represents a statistically significant increase from previous holiday period when less than 10 percent supported the myth.

Youth Suicide

Comments Posted on Oct 01, 2009 Posted by administrator

Youth Suicide

Suicide is a serious public health problem that affects young people. For youth between the ages of 10 and 24, suicide is the third leading cause of death. It results in approximately 4500 lives lost each year. The top three methods used in suicides of young people include firearm (46%), suffocation (39%), and poisoning (8%).

Deaths from youth suicide are only part of the problem. More young people survive suicide attempts than actually die. A nationwide survey of youth in grades 9-12 in public and private schools in the United States found that 15% of students reported seriously considering suicide, 11% reported creating a plan, and 7% reporting trying to take their own life in the 12 months preceding the survey. Each year, approximately 149,000 youth between the ages of 10 and 24 receive medical care for self-inflicted injuries at emergency departments across the U.S.

School District Responds to Suicides

Comments Posted on Oct 01, 2009 Posted by Kathleen Moore

School District Responds to Suicides: Officials Asking Parents to Watch for Signs of Depression

By Kathleen Moore

For three months, Schenectady High School officials kept quiet the suicide deaths of two students and attempted suicides by two others. But when a third killed herself and another tried but was saved —the school said silence had become more dangerous than publicity.

Just days after telling a reporter that any discussion of the recent suicides would lead to more children killing themselves, the school district suddenly reversed itself Tuesday and sent home a letter to parents, baring all.

In it, they implored parents to watch for signs of depression in their teenagers and seek help immediately if any symptoms of depression surfaced.

"We're trying to get the information out there to get these kids help," Superintendent Eric Ely said. "It's a scary proposition. You don't want to publicize these things because they can and do lead to copycats and clusters. In a school district neighboring my own in my past, I've seen eight successful suicides in one year. I've seen large clusters."

July 2009

Comments Posted on Jul 01, 2009 Posted by Sharing and Healing

GRIEVING NOTES

By Al Vigil

Everyone —each and every person, will experience grief in their lives. The irony for suicide survivors is that the grief will take place in life because someone you loved chose to end their own life.

Sometimes grief is described as work. It can be a process. It can become a journey —whatever description is used, everyone will go through it. Grief is an inescapable part of being alive. It may not seem fair, but it is real ...and it always brings change.

Change that is a multi-faceted response to loss. The feelings and emotions brought to you are numbness, disbelief, denial, despair, sadness, and loneliness.

Sharing and healing publications

So, Why ask Why?

The Holidays-Suicide Myth

Youth Suicide

School District Responds to Suicides

July 2009

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