A sad story unfolds in our town

[MerryPoppins]

A high school Freshman at my son's school committed suicide yesterday. She was only 14 years old. She was struggling in school this quarter and had had a fight with a friend. We hear that she told her friend she ought to just shoot herself. The girl had no clue she really would, so she didn't report it. Now that poor friend will live with the guilt forever.

My heart is breaking for this girl, her friends and for her family. The student body is very shook up. The "mom" in me wants to make it all better. :-(

DS is talking about starting the Yellow Ribbon Project in our town, if the school will agree to it. It helps teens find a way to reach out when they are in trouble, rather than take this tragic path.

Just wanted to share the sad story.

 

[debster812]

Oh how horrible. I want to make it all better too.

 

[grinningghost]

That's a sad story alright. I hope the teenagers can turn this into something positive and deter others from choosing suicide.

 

[DisMNagain]

Been there, done that...the little girl who killed herself in our situation was a sweetie that we had brought with us to Disneyworld 2 years prior.

We loved her like our own, but sadly, I'm at a loss as to how to TRULY prevent events like this.

I send off my prayers to your community. Scary stuff and not always preventable, sad to say.

 

[Boots]

That is so very very sad. I have never heard of the yellow ribbon project but it sounds like a wonderful thing to do!

 

[helenabear]

That is so terribly sad to hear My heart goes out to all who are hurting because of this now. I have never heard of the yellow ribbon project either, but hopefully it can help other teens in the future.

 

[nativetxn]

How very sad. What a mature son you have to want to try to find a solution to this problem of troubled and suicidal teens.

 

[MerryPoppins]

I read about the Yellow Ribbon Project in one of the Chicken Soup books. The project, in memory of a teen in Colorado, is based on printed cards that kids can carry with them. If they are ever feeling desperate and contemplating suicide they don't have to think of words to express their situation. They can present the card to any teacher, minister, doctor, etc and they will know that the teen is crying out for help. Part of the plan is to also educate the community that this can happen and prepare them for the time that they might receive a card.

It sounds simplistic, but the yellow ribbon people claim it has helped over 1000 teens. I figure anything that helps even one child is worth the trouble. You can see one of the cards at their site

http://yellowribbon.org/Cards.html

 

[December99]

How very sad indeed. The Yellow Ribbon project has just taken shape on our college campus in conjunction with several of the counseling centers here on campus. A very good project indeed!!!

 

[newmousecateer]

Merry

How terribly sad this is.

How wonderful that your son wants to start such a worthwhile cause in your town.

 

[JulesMom]

That is SO sad

 

[gina2000]

My heart goes out to your community.

 

[Kitty 34]

What a sad story.

 

[supercarrie]

So sad. A guy I had classes with the last two years killed himself about a month ago. It devastated the whole school...he was such a sweetheart, and it was such a shock. I will keep your community in my thoughts.

 

[vickyBaby]

Eros Darling

 

[Pooh93]

That brings tears to my eyes. My senior year a boy in our class committed suicide after a football game. Sad thing was that he had the gun at the football game and nobody took him seriously.

 

[Dan Murphy]

That is so very sad, Melissa. My heart goes out to her family and friends. I think most communities, sadly so, are visited by tragedies as such. We lost a young man while Vince was in HS. God bless him in his passing. My prayers are with them.

 

[NHAnn]

It is truly tragic when someone is in so much pain that the only way they see out of it is suicide.
And the effect on those left behind can be staggering too. I'm sorry for the loss and pain in your family and comunity.

 

[mickey65]

Such a sad story Your community will be in my thoughts.

Eros, I hope one day you will come to understand the Universe and not be so synical of others.

 

[Wishing on a star]

The gift of God is eternal life, it is not His will that any one should perish.....