One of my students committed suicide

[jackio Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close jackio]

If you want to feel productive and be truly helpful, research suicide support groups in your area, and give the information to the parents. When my husband committed suicide about a year and a half ago, the support group was the place that was most helpful. Regular grieving groups won't do it: a suicide is a very different death than a car accident or an illness. There is a horror, and perhaps guilt, aspect that isn't there in other types of death. The parents need to know that they didn't know because he didn't want them to know. The leader of my local suicide support group lost his son to suicide 20 years ago; they had dinner together the night before the son chose to shoot himself the next afternoon. They need help, and they need suicide specific help. It was a very healing place for me. I was to a shrink a few times, but they didn't KNOW the horror. The support group is just regular folks sharing their pain with people who understand the immense tragedy of the situation. My heart goes out to all who knew this child because they will never be the same.

Thank you for these words of wisdom. The support staff at the school have been giving resources to the students, families and staff.
I am sorry for your tragic loss.

[jackio Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close jackio]

I brought this thread up to my wife, a teacher. She is in a small private school.

She said that in her 10 years at her present school, one student died from 'the choking game'. Official Choking Game Awareness site (Pass out, Gasp, Choking Game)

One young teacher from France was diagnosed with cancer. He was engaged shortly before he found out. He went back to France...and died.

Remember how easy we had it growing up? I really believe that the 'walking up hill both ways through the snow' life that we may have had is nothing like what some kids have now with bullies and peer pressure. It is tough to be a kid, and tough to be a parent.

Our middle schoolers were playing that choking game awhile back. Thank God no one died.

Our school dr. has an interesting theory. We have many students out of school on home instruction for psych issues like anxiety, school phobia, etc. The MD said this is the 1st generation who did not have to face adversity growing up. In the past the generations had WWI, WWII, the Great Depression, Vietnam, etc. This generation had never had to use their coping skills because they never had big problems. The economy was good, there was peace in the world, and their parents fought their battles for them if needed. Enter 9-11, war, economic downturn and we have people who do not know how to draw on resources learned through experience. There is extreme stress, and this is being passed down to their children who also have never learned how to deal with stress.
I'm sure there are other reasons out there, but this intrigued me.