April 1, 2004

Dear SCS Families, 

As you may have heard, two young teenagers in Vermont committed suicide this past week.  Earlier this year, a teen in Essex Jct. committed suicide as well.  These are horrible tragedies which immediately make one think if there was anything that could have been done to prevent these young people from taking their lives?

There are no easy answers to why certain children commit suicide.  Communication during the upper elementary and middle school years is crucial because we all know adolescence is often a difficult time for everyone.  Those contemplating suicide often confide and discuss their plans with a friend.  Children need to know that if they want to really help a friend in need, they can’t keep secrets or make deals to conceal a friend’s suicidal thought or plan.  Young people may think they can be a counselor and/or they don’t want to be disloyal to their friend.

Some warning signs of a depressed child are: marked personality change, loss of interest in pleasurable activities, substance use, general and unusual rebelliousness, change in sleep and/or appetite, excessive irritability, and withdrawal from family and friends.  The following websites have compelling information on teen depression and suicide.

• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, "The Depressed Child"

• National Mental Health Information Center , "Major Depression in Children and Adolescents"

• National Mental Health and Education Center, "Depression in Children and Adolescents" (Adobe Acrobat PDF format)

• National Association of School Psychologists, "Save a Friend: Tips for Teens to Prevent Suicide"

We do know the Internet played a role in at least two of these suicides.  Your child may be able to access very dangerous websites even when there are “parental controls” on home computers.  If you have parental controls on your home computer, please know they are not foolproof.  Please take an active role in your child’s computer use.  We DO NOT recommend students have access to the Internet in their rooms or in places where you or an adult cannot supervise exactly what your child is doing. 

In the middle school we continually discuss the dangers of the Internet and instant messaging but that is definitely not enough.  Please talk to your child about Internet safety and take a look at the history of sites your child has visited.  It is not uncommon for children and teens to know more about the Internet than their parents.  Please be aware that your child may know how to erase their history, (also known as “deleting cookies”) so no one can see the websites they have visited.   The following websites have helpful information for parents on Internet safety.

• For Parents, A Family Guide Book

• Online Safety Guide from GetNetWise

• Computer Misuse by Young People, by Ryan Patrick Halligan

These incidences were atypical in many ways.  However, they serve as a reminder of the importance of maintaining open and on-going communication with children and setting clear boundaries within the context of a nurturing and supportive relationship. 

If you have any concerns about your child, or someone else, please contact your school counselor:

• Rachel Luks, ext.202

• Lynn McDonald, ext.120

• Vicky Wideman, ext. 103

You can also contact First Call, a 24-hour emergency hotline for children and families in Chittenden County 864-7777.