[Type text][Type text][Type text]

1

Fisher Bourn

3/18/15

Major Story #2

JTC.210

Suicide rates are on the incline in Frederick, affecting students, teachers and loved ones. Many precautions are being put into place from the teachers, counselors and the students in order to decrease suicide tolls.

A Frederick High School alumnus, Ryan Byrne said, “Its on your mind everyday. The suicides that happened in Frederick gave me mild forms of depression. Hanging out with friends and family helped me get through it as well as my faith in God.”

Teachers, students and counselors are reaching out in Frederick to prevent future suicides from occurring after suffering the loss of the three students in November 2014.

Counselor Pedro Linsenmeyer, who graduated from Colorado State University with a masters in counseling gave his insight on suicide.

“We as counselors talk about suicide prevention, suicide intervention and suicide postvention,” Linsenmeyer said. “This is a step-by-step guide we use in order to prevent suicides from happening.”

Linsenmeyer gave an insight as to what the main causes are for suicide in high schools.

“We talk to the students on a individual and systematic level,” Linsenmeyer said. “Systematic involves classroom education on suicide and individual consists of counselors validating the students feelings.”

According to the International Suicide Statistics, over one million people die by suicide worldwide each year. Which doesn’t come as a shock that people around the victim is affected as well.

Jami Revielle, a teacher at FHS said, “Suicides affect more than just the victim; it also hits home with friends and family.”

“When a kid commits suicide, it takes a toll on more than just the person who did it,” Revielle said. “It creates a very solemn atmosphere that brings down the overall good feeling of many of the students and faculty.”

According to Rocky Mountain News, Colorado’s suicide rate consistently tops the national average, which can explain Linsenmeyer’s “Contagion effect.”

“When people commit suicide they create a contagion effect,” Linsenmeyer said. “This means that one suicide could potentially lead to another or more kids suffering from different forms of depression.”

After explaining about how suicide affected more than the victim, Revielle went deeper on what the schools are doing in order to prevent future suicides.

“Schools are starting to start what is called a safety plan,” Revielle said. “Safety plans are designed to help a student who is depressed or has thoughts of suicide to have teachers or adults who know their issues and can help them whenever they need it.”

Linsenmeyer explained that the main causes for suicides in high school are due to impulse concluding that some students did not want to go through with the act.

“The students in high school tend to be more impulsive,” Linsenmeyer said. “They don’t really want to commit suicide but that’s what happens. These students who suffer from suicide all have treatable forms of mental illnesses.”

Suicide doesn’t involve just the teachers. It involves the students as well who may or may not have been close to the individual affected by depression.

Byrne shared his thoughts on the recent suicides that have taken place when he attended high school.

“I believe anyone who is depressed should change their outlook on life.” Byrne said. “You have a choice to either focus on the negative and the positive, and people need to focus on the positive.”

Byrne described as to what the students are doing to help the people who are depressed. “We are all supportive here.” Byrne said. “I always tell people that I am here for them no matter who you are or what your situation is.”

Byrne left the conversation on an inspirational note to anyone who is suffering from depression and is thinking about suicide.

“People need to understand they hurt more than themselves when they commit suicide,” Byrne said. “It’s a bad day, not a bad life.”

Counselor Pedro Linsenmeyer, talks with student Macy Bourn about her day-to-day life at Mead High School. Linsenmeyer likes to check up on every student who needs help with his or her daily problems or just someone to talk to.

Picture by Fisher Bourn

The three pillars in suicide prevention are shown in order to create a functional environment in the school. These pillars include the teachers, students, counselors and the tactics they use in order to prevent future suicides.

Student Suffering From Depression

Students: Create a friendly environment for any depressed students. They also reach out and give their personal experiences with suicides to give perspective.

Counselor: Steps in with the step by step guide of suicide intervention and suicide postvention. They also talk to the students on a systematic and individual level.

Teachers: Implement what is called a safety plan. This surrounds the student who is depressed with adults who are there to assist in any way possible.