Articles
Classes teach ‘first aid’ for mental health crisis
“Are you thinking of killing yourself?” “Have you made a plan?” “Have you thought about how you would do it?” Esther Amagoh had just finished asking a classmate several questions like those when she raised a hand to ask one of her own: “If they answer yes to all of the questions, what do we […]
Bullying And Suicide: The Dangerous Mistake We Make
Tyler Clementi killed himself in 2010 after his roommate at Rutgers University filmed him kissing another man. Phoebe Prince, a 15-year-old girl who moved to the U.S. from Ireland, killed herself the same year after being bullied by high school classmates in Massachusetts. Fifteen-year-old Amanda Cummings from Staten Island made headlines early this January when […]
Understanding suicide complex, confusing task
Understanding a suicide is a complex and confusing task, most always driven by a strong desire to rationalize the death in some way, experts say. Too often, society is quick to judge, tossing it off as a selfish act, but many people don’t understand the deep suffering that someone who has committed suicide has endured, […]
Many Suicidal Teens Make First Try Before High School
About 40 percent of young adults who’ve attempted suicide made their first attempt before high school, which suggests that suicidal thoughts and behavior may begin much younger than previously believed, according to a new study. As part of an ongoing survey, University of Washington researchers asked almost 900 young adults, ages 18 or 19, about […]
Expert: Stigma Often Keeps Depression ‘Hidden’
The stigma attached to depression can lead many people to stay quiet, and many times the symptoms of depression aren’t immediately apparent – which can keep people from seeking the help they need. Professional counselor Yvonne Thibault, who is helping FOX 4 staff cope with the suicide of meteorologist Don Harman, says that many times […]
A Will to Live
Sitting in her parents’ furnace room with a rifle propped between her legs, Natasha Jones wanted an end to the beatings from her father, the pressure from her mother to be thin and the constant bullying at school. She wanted to die. “I literally thought my parents hated me,” said Jones, whose name has been […]
Dealing with death in a school community
Recently in the span of a few days, my 19-year-old daughter at Michigan State University was grappling with the news of two untimely deaths — one, an acquaintance, and the other, the close friend of an acquaintance. Both deaths appeared to be suicides. It was two separate cases, two very different circumstances. The suicide aspect […]
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline answers 3 millionth call
Through its national network of 150 crisis centers, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK/8255), provided help and hope to its 3 millionth caller this week. Since its inception in 2005, the Lifeline has seen a steady increase in calls and now answers more than 2,200 calls per day. The Lifeline, sponsored by the Substance Abuse […]
Teen suicide, a huge issue in Arizona: One mother shares her loss
A Valley mother is sharing her story of loss during Teen Suicide Prevention Week. A shocking statistic is that more than 10,000 teenagers in our state will attempt suicide this year. It’s a fact that puts us 7th in the nation for suicide among our youth. Kimberly Tocco of Scottsdale knows the pain of that […]
Mother urges people to talk about suicide
Jeanna Dawson didn’t want to talk about it at first. Now she won’t stop. Dawson urges everyone to talk openly about suicide, knowing all too painfully it’s a huge, but hidden, problem in the region. Suicide can affect anyone, any family — just like her own. Her daughter Mariah Simcoe-Dawson was 15 when she died […]
