Copy Cat Suicide

I read in the news today that hundreds of high school students in Woodstock, Ontario (population of 38,000) walked out of school in protest of how the schools have dealt with 5 suicides in the past year by people under the age of 19 (I'm assuming not all students).  The students believe school authorities should be doing more to prevent these suicides.

I'm left wondering exactly what the schools should have done.  Apparently they put up posters telling students to speak to their guidance counselors if they had suicidal thoughts.  Should they have done more and what more could have been done?  My belief is that the students who protested have no idea what caused those 5 young people to take their lives and no understanding that, if someone is hell bent on committing suicide, they won't even ask for help.

There is a phenomena where people will attempt or succeed in committing suicide as a copy cat reaction.  It's as though they never really thought of it before but now think it's a good idea to fix their problems.  It never, ever is!  What may be breaking you down one day might not even exist the next day, month, or year.  There is light at the end of the tunnel.

So how does a little city like Woodstock stop the youth suicides?  They should talk about it but not dramatize it.  It might be time to post some messages reminding people that death is forever...you don't get to be welcomed back, alive and healthy once more, by loving family and friends.  And remind students that previous suicides that gained much attention and publication in the past are pretty well forgotten today.  Life for the rest of us goes on.

I'm not making light of what may cause a teenager to commit suicide because I know how deeply their emotions go.  I also know that, if we add drama such as student protests, it could lead to more copycat suicides.  Photos of the protest show students hugging each other in abject sadness and some on their cell phones.  Are they really sad or is this an attention grabber?  It's hard to tell any more.

The stark reality of youth suicide is that it's permanent and a waste of a precious life that could have become a happy one in time.  A copy cat suicide is the most tragic of all.

I don't think the schools or churches can do more than they have done to prevent anyone from taking their lives prematurely.  It all comes down to individual responsibility.  Reach for help when you know you're in trouble...that's the best you can do.