[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.