Hospitalized for suicidal ideation

Jayne O'Donnell and Marina Pitofsky USA TODAY Published 6:47 AM EST Dec 13, 2018 The death by suicide of a nine-year-old Alabama girl this month has drawn attention back to the alarming increase in suicide by youth, and to the question of whether bullying is playing a role. It was at least the third death by suicide this year of a child younger than 12 who had been harassed by peers. Mental health professionals say bullying can be a factor in a child's decision to attempt suicide, but is typically one of several. "There is not a causal link between bullying – either being victimized or being a perpetrator – and suicidal ideation and attempts," says University of Florida psychology professor Dorothy Espelage, lead author of a 2013 study on bullying and suicide. "It is one potent predictor of suicidal ideation and attempts, (but) it’s one of many." The family of McKenzie Adams, who was black, told the Tuscaloosa News that the … [Read more...] about McKenzie Adams: Bullying a factor in child suicides but complicated

opinion Rekha Basu Des Moines Register Published 7:55 AM EST Nov 21, 2018 Nikolas Cruz told a detective an "evil" voice in his head ordered him to burn, kill and destroy. The 19-year-old is alleged to have shot 17 people to death in February at the Douglas high school in Parkland, Florida. Months earlier, after his mother died, Cruz had tried to overdose on pills. Previously he had tried to drink himself to death. He had a history of killing animals. Clearly, something was very wrong inside him. So the school's security officers were doubled to 18 and resource officers were armed. More security cameras and classroom locks were installed. Then calls were made for arming teachers, prompting a reaction from the state teachers and school counselors union in Iowa. Calling that ridiculous, Jean Hessberg, a spokesperson for the Iowa State Education Association (ISEA) said, "The issue is how to get help for the student before they become … [Read more...] about ISEA enlists NY first lady for help with kids in mental health crisis

Meredith Newman Delaware News Journal Published 2:22 p.m. UTC Jun 15, 2018 When Cyndi McLaughlin heard about the deaths of fashion designer Kate Spade and celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain last week, she thought of her nephew Sean, a tinkerer who loved to fix motorcycles.  She thought of her brother Jerry, an outdoorsman who was the quietest of her three siblings. And she thought of her son Jeremy, a teenage boy who loved horror movies. Especially the bad ones. In the span of 17 years, McLaughlin's son, nephew and brother shot themselves. First it was Jeremy in 2001 at age 15 then Jerry in 2013 at age 55. Sean took his life in April at age 27.  "All three had different stories in terms of their struggles," McLaughlin said. "In the end, I guess they couldn't see past that really dark time." Last week, when news broke of Spade and Bourdain killing themselves just days apart, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that suicide rates are rising … [Read more...] about Her son, nephew and brother died of suicide. She wants more people to talk about it.