December 2001 / January 2002 Edition

Teenagers and Suicide   In the last school year, a 12 year old seventh grader at Thomas Jefferson Middle School died of gunshot wounds, apparently self-inflicted.    Looking back on the tragedy, Fair Lawn Police Detective Derek Bastinck told Fair Lawn News that ‘we are lucky to live in a town with good schools and counselors.  There are a lot of avenues where kids can reach out and speak to counselors and teachers.‘  He said 'the close relationship between the schools and the police averted another tragedy (like a copycat suicide)'.      Fair Lawn News checked to see if teen suicide is an unusual phenomenon and what parents should know about it.   According to the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of suicide among 10-14 year olds has more than doubled in the past twenty years. "Although suicide among young children is a rare event, the dramatic increase in the rate among persons aged 10-14 years underscores the urgent need for intensifying efforts to prevent suicide among persons in this age group."   According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death for persons between the ages of 10 and 14. " It is important to take the subject of suicide seriously. It doesn't seem right that a teen-ager - who has lived for such a short time - would choose to die. But adolescents who can't get over their depression sometimes do kill themselves."    According to the pediatricians, youth suicide rate has risen recent years, because:  · It's easier to get the tools for suicide (Boys often use firearms to kill themselves; girls usually use pills);  · The pressures of modern life are greater;  · Competition for good grades and college admission is stiff; and  · There's more violence in the newspapers and on television.   Warning Signs According to the  American Academy of Pediatrics    If your teen-ager has been depressed, you should look closely for signs that he or she might be thinking of suicide, such as:  · Dramatic personality changes  · Withdrawing from people  · Acting like a rebel in an unexplained and severe way  · Changes in eating or sleeping habits  · Appearance changed for the worse · Giving away prized possessions · Writing notes or poems about death · Talking about suicide, even jokingly   For more information, see http://www.aap.org/visit/suicideinfo.htm         What Do You Think?: Send an e- mail to editor@fairlawnnews.com or post a message on the Fair Lawn News Discussion Forum.