'We should be very worried.' Coroner alarmed by 5 suicides of kids 14 and younger in last year.
Lexington Herald-LeaderJan 18, 2019
Ginn said the suicides included a 10-year-old
Of the
The five cases are unrelated, said Ginn, although all five children died by suicide from hanging, he said. Ginn said he has not yet confirmed a report that one of the children was bullied.
"It's alarming because of their age and the method, the hanging," Ginn said. He noted that some problems that are minor to adults can be major to children. Local officials are trying to sort out the factors that preceded the deaths. There is no pattern among race and gender, Ginn said.
Physicians, mental health professionals and other local officials said the suicides among younger children point to a community problem and that prevention requires awareness from everyone in the children's lives.
"We should be very worried to have this many cases, but we should not be hopeless," said
There are resources and programs available, Pollack said, but people in
On Friday, Winburn Interim Principal
"We feel that it is critical to share the cause of death so that families can have open, honest conversations with their children," Hale wrote. The letter included tips for talking to children about suicide, including assuring them that the death of their classmate was not their fault. Hale's letter also included places to go for help.
Earlier, while not mentioning that suicide was the cause of the deaths, principals at
Another child belonged to several clubs, had a love of books and math, a unique sense of humor and an infectious laugh. The third child was known for the joy they "brought to learning everyday," their principal said.
"When a child completes suicide it is natural to look for an underlying cause, but the answer is rarely simple," Deffendall said.
The local cases mirror a state and national trend. In
In a statewide survey, the percentage of sixth grade students who said they had attempted suicide, made a plan to attempt suicide or seriously considered suicide in the past 12 months had all increased from 2014 to 2016, that report said.
Nationally, the
What are local officials doing in the aftermath of the child suicides? Ginn said that as in all child deaths, the recent suicides are examined by the
The school district's crisis response team typically goes to the affected schools to help with grief counseling. The teams stay as long as necessary.
"Each case is unique," said Deffendall. "Losing a student is one of the worst things that can happen to a school community and our entire district pulls together to help."
In the letters to families, school officials offer guidance from experts about signs that their child may need additional help to process the loss of a classmate. All
Age-appropriate lessons are also given to elementary students. As part of the district's recent Comprehensive 10-Point Safety Investment Plan, every school will soon have a new curriculum focusing on social and emotional development, Deffendall said.
Recently, the district has hired 28 mental health professionals to work with elementary-aged students, so that the student to staff ratio at elementary, middle and high schools is now 350:1. The goal is to have ratios of 250:1 at all three levels. Middle and high schools students will soon receive comprehensive health assessments which recognizes that physical health and mental health are intertwined.
Also, Deffendall said the district is impressed by the results that the
School officials want to replicate Omar's model in
While the district increases services at schools, there must be a commensurate increase of resources in the community, Deffendall said.
"Our families have limited options when their child needs a higher level of care ... local agencies often have a wait list," she said. "We have made referrals and seen it take weeks for children to get the help they need. Where do families turn when their child is in crisis? Who provides care when school is not in session?"
"The need is so great. Resources from schools, community health services and the private sector are all stretched beyond what they can provide," Pollack said.
Increasingly children are under pressure to do well in school, said Pollack who serves on local and state child fatality review teams. LGBTQ students have an even higher risk of suicide, she said.
Local professionals are recommending that families should talk to their children about what they are doing online, especially whether they are playing games or are on sites that make references to suicide. Also, they say that families should make sure that children don't have access to items or materials that they could use in suicides.
Families can provide a support system, assuring children they can tell them anything without fear of punishment, Omar said. He recommends frequent family dinners and time frames at home where phones and electronics are put away so family members can communicate with children.
Omar said children in the 10 to 14 age group often don't understand the finality of suicide.
While mental illness can be a factor in suicide with young children, it is not a contributor in about one quarter of suicides in people under 15. In some cases, something simple happens on a given day, Omar said. "Somebody yells at them or calls them names and they think their world is over."
Moving to a new school or getting suspended for the first time can be a major issue for some children, Pollack said. Omar stressed that for the vast majority of young kids, "if they feel that the parent cares, if they feel that the teacher cares, the counselor cares, the church people care" and their peers care, suicide can be prevented.
Need Help?
If you are experiencing a crisis you can call the bluegrass. org 24-Hour Help Line at 1-800-928-8000.
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