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I am not even sure where to start - this is a delicate situation.  
The community at large needs to be aware of what I believe is becoming a more and more serious issue in our rather small community.  
 
I will keep details as sparse as possible out of respect for families. This is a discussion about what can be done, not what has happened.  
 
The first weekend after school was back in, a young person (14 years old) killed (them)self.  
 
There was nothing in the news, nor media, nor BPS reports. However it rocketed through social media like Snapchat, Kik, Instagram, etc. The kids who knew this person were effectively in a panic - they had seen this person's get deleted before the suicide, but there was no note, no hints of what (they) were going to do - nothing. So of course all the kids who knew this person were in an uproar - they blamed themselves for not seeing this coming, for not being able to do anything, etc. To find this out through social media and gossip was just awful for them all.  
 
The guidance counselors at the high schools were very good with the kids, even going so far as to ensure they had snacks for the kids while they talked, because some of the overly emotional young girls were not eating. But since then I know of three more attempted suicides by kids - two were 14 years old and one was 16.  
 
So what is going on? Are we hearing about this more due to a saturation of social media and online news, etc? Is this actually happening more now or is it just that we hear about it more? As I mentioned, the young person who did commit suicide here - it was no where in the news, while the two young kids who have also killed themselves in the past year in Winnipeg it was everywhere in the news, Facebook pages have been set up for support, etc.  
 
So what is causing these young kids to think their problems are so un-surmountable that this is their only option? There are so many support groups and so much more acceptance for various issues these kids may be facing, LGBT are more accepted than ever, there are so many more places they could go for help.  
 
What do we do to get through to these kids to make them realize this is a permanent thing and there is help out there?  
 
 
I just hope this can start a helpful discussion for people to make sure this does not happen any more - it is bad enough when an adult does this, kids of this age just do not have the mental capacity to make that decision.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Edited by foxtrot11, 2015-11-02 11:11:33

than someone having issues they think they cannot overcome. Sadly these are people who are ridden with depression and not receiving help for that depression. Now combine that with life stresses of a teenager, school, home, bullying, many factors and you have a bomb just waiting to go off. It is usually the silent ones that will commit suicide, they don't talk about it and brag about what they are going to do. The ones that talk about it or write notes are more often the ones screaming for help as they don't want to turn to that route. Taking a course on suicide prevention is a great start to try to realize signs or triggers and to try to intervene before it is too late. I think with all the teen suicides happening in todays society this would be a great course to be taught in schools so friends are aware and can possibly help a fellow classmate out before it is too late. Such a tragedy to lose a life to this disease of mental illness.

I think part of the cause could be what's referred to as suicide contagion or cluster suicides, its a well documented phenomena that can occasionally spread through a school or community.  
 
Psychologists say the cause has to do with the attention that is given to someone who commits suicide, through memorials, media, social media, etc.  
That sort of attention can be extremely attractive to vulnerable individuals, especially adolescents.  
 
The same concept would also apply to some suicide attempts, wanting that attention, without actually wanting to die.  
 
This is actually the reason that media doesn't report suicides, except in special circumstances.

suicide is very sad, unfortunately with all the changes and hormones growing up many teens are vulnerable yet its hard for people to know or see signs in teens, as adults we see teen issues as minor and something that will pass, that is true of even our issues but sometimes people in it have a hard time seeing that  
 
its also common in teens and others for there to be a spike in suicides and attempts after someone they know as commented suicide, im not sure what can be done about these issues, we do try now to offer support for all sorts of issues but sadly some still slip through the cracks, one other thing people can do is take a course called safe talk, it teaches you the signs and what to do if you suspect or someone has said they are going to kill themselves. id recommend everyone take the course

part of the problem is our privacy laws. Agencies should have open records!  
Medical should be able to access all suspected suicidal/mental issues/depression/police records.  
If the decision making people could access a persons history some suicides could be prevent and people may get the help they need!

Here are some helpful links, MDAM can also assist anyone in accessing resources which are free. There is hope and there is help. Please contact me at 204-725-1232 or at connier@mooddisordersmanitoba.ca for further information, the office hours are Monday to Thursday.  
 
http://www.stresshacks.ca/  
 
http://www.thelifelinecanada.ca/  
 
rightbyyou.ca  
 
 

sharon kucher said "part of the problem is our privacy laws. Agencies should have open records!   Medical should be able to access all suspected suicidal/mental issues/depression/police records.   If the decision making people could access a persons history some suicides could be prevent and people may get the help they need! "

Giving Big Brother access to everyone's personal information isn't the answer. There is already enough of a privacy problem in this country, please do not add to it.  
 
The problem is, and always has been, the stigma surrounding mental illness. People are scared to come forward because of how the system and society treats them. Did you know that you can be barred from entering the states if you have ever been admitted to a hospital for mental illness like depression and suicide?  
 
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2011/01/29/canadian_woman_denied_entry_to_us_because_of_suicide_attempt.html

CRP said "    sharon kucher said "part of the problem is our privacy laws. Agencies should have open records!   Medical should be able to access all suspected suicidal/mental issues/depression/police records.   If the decision making people could access a persons history some suicides could be prevent and people may get the help they need! " Giving Big Brother access to everyone's personal information isn't the answer. There is already enough of a privacy problem in this country, please do not add to it.     The problem is, and always has been, the stigma surrounding mental illness. People are scared to come forward because of how the system and society treats them. Did you know that you can be barred from entering the states if you have ever been admitted to a hospital for mental illness like depression and suicide?     http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2011/01/29/canadian_woman_denied_entry_to_us_because_of_suicide_attempt.html "

Society is getting better but there are still many significant negative repercussions for those coming forward. Mental health organizations are taking great steps but, until border agencies, insurance companies, employers etc start to act, the words mean little in actuality.