Back when I was in High School (the 80's), I didnt fit in very well. I fell in between several cliques, never being accepted by any one of them. I felt lost and at one time, I remember, I thought about suicide. I was never really very serious about it, not because I gelt alone, but because I knew it would crush my family.
Today, I just learned that a local high school student attempted suicide im the school bathroom. Fortunately someone found them and got help immediately. This is not the first local suicide or attempt.
In high school, what I could not have known, was that almost all of the friends I have today are people I met in college or after. At high school reunions, those same people who were mean or simply wouldnt give me the time of day, now are interested to hear about my life and are genuinely happy to hear things are good in my life. They have grown up and are no longer only interested in themselves.
My point being, a high schooler has no idea how much life is ahead of them, or what it holds. But, today it is way too common to hear about suicide in our teens.
We need to have dialogue with our young kids and the communities to try and stem this tide. If our children are our future and they have no hope, what is our future going to look like?
I most certainly don't have the answers, but there are a lot of smart, caring people out there. I am just hoping to start a conversation and keep it going. It is heartbreaking to hear these stories.