Suicide in teens

[peewee]

It ain't a fun topic but this is one where we as fathers need step and start speaking with our children. We have lost three in the central MS in the last month. Prayers sent for families and friends of these children.

[NyssaAquatica]

Most recent was an 8th grader. Absolutely horrible.

[SB]

I agree. Suicide in general is hard to understand. I have known too many people that have been impacted by suicide directly or indirectly.

[hillhunter]

I can't imagine the pain and some of the questions those parents have that will never be answered. Teen years are tougher than most want to admit. The need to feel accepted, not wanting to be bullied, or pressure from others to succeed or excel.

This may not apply here, but i don't know if it's gotten worse or it's just more widely known since we are in the instant Information Age, but social media as it pertains to bullying needs to be curbed. It's bad enough when it goes on at school, but at least used to a kid could get a break from it at home or with other friends at times. There are countless platforms to be used, i.e. Facebook, Snapchat, etc, that make it hard for a kid to outrun it any more.

My son is 20 months old and I don't want to know the challenges that lie ahead.... I don't know what would hurt me more, to find out he was the kid being bullied or he was the one doing it. I guess all I can do is pray and try to raise him right.. sorry for the long reply but this is the kind of stuff that keeps me up at night. I will surely pray for those parents tonight.

[mshunter77]

I can’t even imagine how hard it is for someone to lose a child much less to suicide. I know I would probably drive myself crazy wondering where I went wrong and what I could have done better. Yes I agree social media can spread so far that it could really embarrass someone and ruin their lives. I have talked to my teenage daughter multiple times about not bullying people and even encouraged here to at least be courteous to those that are targets. Her being bullied has never been an issue and I don’t think she has ever really bullied anyone. Now my three year old is the one I am going to have to watch. She is already the alpha at day care, so much so that they skipped her an age group to hopefully help with it but it has not. She still runs the room full of 4 year olds. Went to pick her up one day and she was sitting in a chair with another kid fanning her with a book.

[leadsthebest]

I just lost a good friend to suicide. It sucks beyond belief. I am more pissed than anything right now. I can not imagine what his kids, parents and family are going through. It's tough. My heart goes out to any family that has to deal with this.

[peewee]

I can't imagine the pain and some of the questions those parents have that will never be answered. Teen years are tougher than most want to admit. The need to feel accepted, not wanting to be bullied, or pressure from others to succeed or excel.

This may not apply here, but i don't know if it's gotten worse or it's just more widely known since we are in the instant Information Age, but social media as it pertains to bullying needs to be curbed. It's bad enough when it goes on at school, but at least used to a kid could get a break from it at home or with other friends at times. There are countless platforms to be used, i.e. Facebook, Snapchat, etc, that make it hard for a kid to outrun it any more.

My son is 20 months old and I don't want to know the challenges that lie ahead.... I don't know what would hurt me more, to find out he was the kid being bullied or he was the one doing it. I guess all I can do is pray and try to raise him right.. sorry for the long reply but this is the kind of stuff that keeps me up at night. I will surely pray for those parents tonight.

You hit it dead on the head with social media. After my daughter uvt wreck my wife discovered real quick how freaking crule 7 & 8 graders can be by trashing her for hurting friends. We let her keep her phone but all social media now gone from the phone. There has always been bullies and there always will be. Hell, I was a mean little $#!+ when I was growing up but back in the day once a parent caught us we got our ass beat, and it may not even been our own parents, it everyone was just fine with that. Unfortunately times have changed and it can be a tough world for the young kids. Many kids are carrying stress that adults cannot handle. I see it with my own kids. I couldn't imagine going through school nowdays. My fourth grader is struggling in school. I told my wife last night to bring up the test. It kinda pissed me off. Fourth grader tackling geometry with algebra mixed in on a multiple multiple question test. I was like WTF. I guess as long as the Districts keep getting A ratings on test GPA's don't matter.

[420 racin]

Hell, I was a mean little $#!+ when I was growing up but back in the day



Not to make light of the discussion, but you are still a little $#!+.

However the suicide thing is bad, I have had my room mate back in the day when I lived in Hattiesburg kill himself, and my older brother found him hanging in our living room and my good friend I meet at State found his little brother in his driveway.. shot himself. I don't think there is a single one of us that hasn't felt the sting of this epidemic, but I don't know the answer, but I do know that the social media $#!+ has alot to do with it as well as the pussification of the society in general.

[peewee]

Not to make light of the discussion, but you are still a little $#!+.

Appreciate the kind words

[missed mallards]

Hell, I was a mean little $#!+ when I was growing up but back in the day



Not to make light of the discussion, but you are still a little $#!+.

However the suicide thing is bad, I have had my room mate back in the day when I lived in Hattiesburg kill himself, and my older brother found him hanging in our living room and my good friend I meet at State found his little brother in his driveway.. shot himself. I don't think there is a single one of us that hasn't felt the sting of this epidemic, but I don't know the answer, but I do know that the social media $#!+ has alot to do with it as well as the pussification of the society in general.

I don't know the answer neither. Won't lie and say I haven't thought on it, but made it through. With that said, the best thing I learned about myself is that I had a little grit, and that the good lord had other plans. Still don't know them, but am enjoying the search.

Social media, tv, neighbors... the list of outside sources can fill up this forums bandwidth. The thing is, outside sources will always, and I do mean always, be there to knock you down. Kids these days, and my own included, are in a 'fast' world. to explain further, everything is at their finger tips, and everything is quickly fixed. It's almost that kids/adults haven't a clue as to how to fix a life problem. Again, Grit, is something I've been focusing on lately simply due to the fact you need to know what you can do. And, in times of doubt, what you didn't know what you can do. This came about after my little girl wanted to go hunting. I used her lack of grit to teach a lesson and realized, there are more lessons to be learned. I've always set her up for the best possible outcome. Great, she gets to achieve something. I've been setting her up with obstacles in her path. I mean tuff, make you pull up pants and scratch your head obstacles, and have realized she needs that more so than an easy "Good Job". Earn it, fight for it, dig! Life's not handed too you or easily searchable in Google. With that said, open communication must be had. Problems just don't go away, and in times, a simple ear can catch a hint. A hint of a problem, a concern, a thought. If something ain't "Right", don't dismiss it. Open barriers to allow help. With the meds, groups, activities, and so on... finding help is out there. Sometimes you just have to hunt for it!

3 things I'll Add.
1) Seek God
2) Seek within yourself
3) Surprise yourself and get going!

You can blame social media if you want, but as Peewee just eluded too, you can turn the $#!+ off! Managing that stress is something that needs to be taught also (I've got the ulcers/BP/health related issues because of it). My stress is taking it's toll!

I will say I have been affected, and my wife more so than I. I often find times that the past of those mistakes/acts linger. I wish I could just tell everyone it gets better, tuff it out, and you'll grow. Sadly it's always a little too late. Prayers for those families!

[peewee]

I remember when you came back to the forum and posted you had been in a depressed state for about 6 months. My heart dropped b/c I remember how we lost a great member/friend of the forum. I think you have a good point about everything being so easily given to kids now days and how folks need to find their grit.

Last night my daughter stated after my wife and I were recalling old memories that she doesn’t have any cool memories like that. We did some stupid stuff, paid our stupid tax, learned from it and moved on.

[CAPT MIKE]

My plan has been to love them like crazy, teach them about the almighty, teach them to respect those in authority and show them consequences when they don't, watch them (daughter/son 7 and 9) like a hawk, stay involved, stay connected and keep them in church regularly surrounded by people who will pour encouragement and hope into them. And then bring them hunting and fishing of course.

If we could all follow commandment #1 ( Love your neighbor as you love yourself). We could beat this stuff. I will do my best to teach my kids to honor that.

I've lost a few childhood friends in this way (later on in life); but now it seems to be occurring a lot sooner. I can't imagine the added pressure of social media on teens. I plan to watch that closely and possibly eliminate it if need be. Seems like a tool that may be a bit too powerful for the very young. I'm not looking forward to it. I would love to hear of anyone's success in dealing with this.

As some of you already mentioned, I will join you in praying for those affected families. I'm extremely grieved to hear of this. I will also be praying for the rest of us parents and our children. I pray that no one would have to go through that.

Thanks to the OP for bringing this to everyone's attention.

[farmboy]

To the top.

[Wyatt545]

Being a police officer i see this firsthand. It’s not only teens, but Young adults, seniors,... I have been an officer going on 19 years and have definitely seen a significant increase in attempts as well as successful suicides. What’s hard is dealing with the survivors trying to comprehend the pain of their loved ones under their noses. Lots of self blame and regrets.

[Rice]

There's a pretty solid correlation in the increase in suicide and the increase of being diagnosed with a learning disability. The truth is we take kids and feed them speed and keep them flooded with dopamine then they grow up and stop taking it and there is such a chemical imbalance it leads to major depression. But that would hurt phrama profits so that will never be called out.