A Child only 10 years old in Atlanta killed himself because he could not handle the pressure of being called gay! He was constantly being bullied. There has got to be "Better Days Ahead". What are we doing wrong in our school system, our family, churches and communities? Thinking back on my friends and I at 10 years old, we only wanted to go outside and play. Children do not play outside anymore, its all about computers, wii, video games, etc.

Congress need to pass a law against bullying, just like they did for stalking. We as a nation need to pay closer attention to our youth, because they are our future.

There are warning signs, we just have to be more aware of what is going on in our children's lifes! The economy is bad, we are so worried about everything, but our children. Parents are sad because they don't have money to pay bills, buy children what they want or need, the nation is sad! Our children are feeling the sadness. Please, Please take time out of your busy schedule, give one child some of your time.....remember it takes a village!

• Prior suicide attempt
  
• Co-occurring mental and alcohol or substance abuse disorders
  
• Family history of suicide
  
• Parental psychopathology
  
• Hopelessness
  
• Impulsive and/or aggressive tendencies
  
• Easy access to thal methods, especially guns
  
• Exposure to the suicide of a family member, friend, or other significant person
  
• History of physical or sexual abuse
  
• Same-sex sexual orientation (only been shown for suicidal behavior, not suicide)
  
• Impaired parent-child relationships
  
• Life stressors, especially interpersonal losses and legal or disciplinary problems
  
• Lack of involvement in school and/or work (”drifting”)
  
• Is there some way that family or other adults can identify a young person at risk?
  

Yes, people can be educated about the warning signs of suicidal behavior. Some of the key risk factors to look for are listed above. The single biggest risk factor is serious current suicidality, either suicidal ideation with intent to commit suicide, or a recent attempt. Other warning signs include (abstracted from AACAP Teen Suicide Fact Sheet):

• Change in eating and sleeping habits
  
• Withdrawal from friends, family, and regular activities
  
• Violent actions, rebellious behavior, or running away
  
• Drug and alcohol use
  
• Unusual neglect of personal appearance
  
• Marked personality change
  
• Persistent boredom, difficulty concentrating, or a decline in the quality of schoolwork
  
• Frequent complaints about physical symptoms, often related to emotions, such as stomachaches, headaches, fatigue, etc.
  
• Loss of interest in pleasurable activities
  
• Not tolerating praise or rewards
  
  For adolescents who are already receiving psychiatric treatment, family psychoeducation may be an effective approach to help parents and family members to understand better the problems of their adolescent. The goals of such education are to increase awareness!

We must be there for our children. Let us stop the bullying and teen suicides in our nation.

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