Group organized to help kids choose life over suicide
BATTLE GROUND, Wash. – A family nurse practitioner, and mom, concerned with recent news of teen suicides in Battle Ground is giving kids a voice.
She started a teen suicide task force where teens get to talk to kids their own age, and everything from bullying and depression to anxiety were the topics at Wednesday night's forum, which was packed with teens.
They listened as very brave teenage girls shared their own stories and spread positive messages to their peers.
Katlyn Viers is a 17-year-old senior at Union High School and Meredith Thompson is 16 and is a sophomore at Summit View High.
They both have similar heart-wrenching stories. Katyln said she was called "Fatlyn" every day in the 5th grade and Meredith was bullied and had trouble with having good relationships with people.
Katyln said 7th grade was hard but by the 8th grade her depression had gotten worse.
"I never got help with my depression," she said. "So it kind of took over, and I tried to kill myself freshman year."
Meredith said advice that it would simply boil over didn't help.
"I would get physically sick, because I didn't know how to express any of that. I would keep it all in, and I would make myself sick," she said.
On Wednesday, they were brave enough to share their stories among their peers, because they believe teens need to hear it from other teens.
"When you're a teenager and you listen to adults they're like, it gets better, but yeah, you can't relate to what I'm going through," said Katyln.
With support from loved ones and a plan, like Katlyn graduating early, they hope to help others now.
"To realize that it does get better, because for me, it got better," Katlyn said.
"You just can't give up,” Meredith said.
At the forum they were handing out bracelets that read "ALT" for Ask. Listen. Tell. when they see another teen in trouble. And they also had bracelets that read, "Choose Life."
The group is meant to be positive, teaching kids how to choose life.
I did attend this meeting and was so glad I did, I can relate to these kids who are bullied and I do agree with one of the previous posters that unfortunately there will be bullies no matter how old we get, We just as parents need to educate our kids the importance of believing in yourself and people bully because they have the problem not the one being bullied, The sad thing is that I went home a talked to my kids and realized we have all been the ones who have bullied, even if we don't say the crude comment to the  person but we are there, and we laugh or smile and think its funny, we are just as bad as the one doing the actual bulling, I know I have done this and I know most people have especially in High School. I wont deny that, I encouraged my kids that they need to always intervene if they witness a peer getting bullied in anyway, and I explained to them , that could make a world of difference to that child knowing they have their back, We as adults need to be doing that same thing in our everyday lives. this Program is wonderful for our youth, I think it will be very helpful to them although I think Social Networking has really played a huge part in how bad the bulling has gotten, I think god growing up I didn't have the Social Media, our youth was mean enough, add a Social Network to it, I couldn't imagine how bad it would have been in the 80's, my prayers go out to all the youth today that they are able to just, learn to not take so much to heart, I understand completely how hard that is for a teen, But if they could just learn this in someway, we all have it bad or had it bad in the past, someone always has it worse then you, and no matter what its is , You are not alone in it, we all (even Adults) have these feelings of depression, anxiety, low self esteem, but you know what? We teach ourselves how to cope and realize life is a blessing and we make it what it is, We were all built strong we have the power within us to do so much, I had a terrible child hood horrific to be specific but I had to get out of my situation, I did this alone and it wasn't easy but I did it, I knew where I wanted to be in life and worked my but off to get there overcoming so many obstacles our kids can do the same and with these forums they don't have to be alone, thank you to all the supporters of this cause, thank you Beth Walton and Katie Pence, Thank you to the brave young ladies who shared their testimonies.
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Big warm THANK YOU to these people for getting this going. Wish it had been around when I was younger.
It DOES get better, to all you out there who can't imagine that the dawn will come again. It will. REALLY. It WILL.
It is great that people are in our community trying to make a difference. If you are interested in doing more to reduce suicide, please contact us at www.afsp.org and the Oregon or Washington Chapters would love to discuss what we are doing and how you can help.
"'When you're a teenager and you listen to adults they're like, it gets better, but yeah, you can't relate to what I'm going through,' said Katyln."
Ah, nothing like the wisdom of teens who are sure that no one has ever gone through anything like what they are going through now. While I think something like this is just fine, what I am really worried about are the coping mechanisms that are being taught to today's young people.
The fact is, bullying doesn't actually get better, you just learn how to deal with it better. You think being called "Fatlyn" while in the 5th grade was the worst thing ever because you had no frame of reference. You think being bullied while in middle and high school is unbearable because you only have about a 12-14 year grasp of time. As a young person being harassed verbally and physically, life seems like an ever-shrinking cage because you have an extremely limited ability to move into and out of situations.
As an adult, you certainly have more freedom, but the bullies in the work place and elsewhere won't just call you names or intimidate you. They will get you fired. They can cause you to lose your house. They can destroy your relationships with friends and family. And they can do it without you ever knowing who did it or why. You know those bullies all around you while growing up? They don't change just because they are adults. They simply become more devious and cruel.
Learning how to cope with a**holes is an actual skill that you need to learn, because you will be dealing with them your whole life. If you think high school is like a shark tank, wait until you get a job in a place in which every person's success is another person's failure. You will see stuff that would give your teen mind nightmares.
My long winded point, as someone who was bullied when I was young and who has successfully navigated some of the most notoriously competitive workplaces imaginable, is that talking about this issue is important, but if it stops there it has failed. if young people people are not taught how to learn to adapt, survive and overcome this kind of stuff then they will never make it as adults.
Talking about it and assuring other young people that they are not alone is a fine first step. As adults, who actually have been through more than you teens can imagine, if we don't teach them how to cope with bullying we have failed them terribly.
I really admire these teens who are finding the courage to share their stories with other teens in an effort to help them... Â I can't help but think that the people with the best chance of reaching at-risk teens are those in their own age group, who have gone through similar experiences... Â Somehow, especially with a teenager, talking with an adult just isn't the same.
I also agree with another poster who said that they hoped this program wouldn't be turned into a "formal" program; the informal structure they have now, IMHO, will be much more successful without a lot of adult interference and rules/regulations...
I wish these young people all the success in the world..! Â
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I have found that when topics are discussed people realize that others feel the same way and no longer feel so alone. I am happy they are responding positively to such sad situations. Hopefully more schools will adopt similar programs.
Kudos to these teens and the parents who are empowering them to be a positive influence to those around them. If they only save one life it's all worth it. I always enjoy reading of people trying to make a positive impact in the lives of others who are struggling. Our children today deal with a world that becomes more and more complex. As parents we often believe we have a handle on things and too many times sadly enough we're proven wrong. I applaud these young women for having the courage to tell their story in the hopes of helping other teens.
PS. Try to ignore the bickering between the senior citizens below. Proof that you don't have to a teenager to act like one.
I'm thankful to see so effort and support being extended to these teens. One of my best friends daughter is a student in Battleground and was friends with one of the teens who committed suicide. They've been hit very hard in this community. I've witnessed first hand the anguish and sorrow that's taken place in the aftermath. The more students that step up and offer friendship and support, the less suicides we'll see. I also appreciate the parents that have come forth to share the warning signs they missed. Hindsight is 20/20 and if you can give other parents a heads up, you're doing a service to all. Thank you.
By the way, not to sound superficial after my serious post below, but both these girls are extroidinarily gorgouse. I say that in the spirit of a simple compliment and it's true.
 @Bill Preston ~  They certainly are lovely girls, both of them..!   And it sounds like they are as beautiful on the "inside" as they are on the "outside"..!  Â
@Bill Preston Sometimes all it takes is for someone to be told they are "extroidinarily gorgouse" to turn their lives around.
Dont covet junk and crap, excersize, eat pretty good, dont waste money, unplug yourself (except for music), do a nice thing for someone, give simple compliments---and after all that, know that finding someone who really cares may not be able to show it, which is frustrating-but frankly the world doesnt revolve around you unless someone truly loves you. in my case it's one of my children...and at times i'm not sure about him.  so I have adapted and am very happy.
@Bill Preston Is your full name Bill S Preston Esquire?
@Oregon7812  Lol , I had to google that name to see he was a character in the excellant adventure....but actually as I was making up this phony name I simply thought of the musician. most famously remembered for his hit ".outta space" baybee! In fact I think i'll go to you tube and crank up that little diddy right now!  Thoughts & Prayers.
As an adult that struggled with suicide ideation as a teen, it warms my heart to see these ones stepping up and proving there is something else out there. Good for you! and Thank-you!Â
On another note I really dislike KATU's format where they are walking around the set. It's really annoying all the different things they are trying to get viewers.
 @RalphCramden Your comment certainly adds to a conversation on preventing teen suicides.  But then I guess a TV news set is more important to you than something so petty as depression/suicide.  Rolling my eyes here, Ralph.Â
This comment has been deleted
 @Dr. Rawdog  @Sundowner  @RalphCramden Soup is here, if you know how to read between the lines of his avatar. He just isn't here so much but I saw him posting not so long back.
@Sundowner And I actuallly don't care if you've noticed what I notice. So THERE!
@Sundowner @RalphCramden @Dr. Rawdog Thats constructive
 @RalphCramden  @Dr. Rawdog I don't "dance" for you, Ralph.  I've commented back and forth to you for over two years.  I call you out every time I feel like it when you're being a hypocrite.  As for "an online persona who has a fake name and isn't even a real person", didn't you say something very similar way back when to Soup?  It WAS him who called you out so much, wasn't it?  I seem to recall at that time the "isn't even a real person" stuff got a bit ugly.
 @Dr. Rawdog  @RalphCramden High five on the win, buddy!
 @oodathunked I can only speak for myself.  I actually don't care what you've noticed.
@RalphCramden @Dr. Rawdog @Sundowner I've noticed the same
 @Dr. Rawdog  @SundownerÂ
I love it. You have nothing constructive to say so you attack an online persona who has a fake name and isn't even a real person.
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The interesting thing is that I can get you to dance and do it often. Many of my comments are designed to do exactly that. While you don't fall of it all the time you do fall for it much of the time.
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This is an interesting psychology lesson.
 @SundownerÂ
Evidently you didn't read my other post. You don't like me so anything I say will be wrong.
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But guess what? I really don't care what you think. This makes posting to my posts a total waste of your time and a lesson in futility. Since you don't seem to get that I guess it has to be explained to you.
 @RalphCramden @Dr. Rawdog I'll admit it here Ralph.  My computer is set up to read the latest comments first.  I got as far as yours and right after my head spun around I started typing.  So I'll cut you this much (thumb/pointy finger about 1/4" apart) slack.
it DOES get better.
 @ClaireQ816Â
Sometimes just sleeping on it changes perspective. When I was a kid I felt the world was crashing down around me and after a good nights sleep things seemed much more manageable.
This is good stuff. It is free, didn't cost much and is very positive. Peer pressure does work and these brave kids speaking out will have a positive impact.
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Keep it up and whatever you do don't make it an organization. Once that happens the effectiveness will go away.
When reporting on suicide, it is important to include resources. For help anyone can call 1 800 SUICIDE or 1 800 273- TALK (8255)
I am impressed by these young adults, they are a great addition to the world, and I'm happy that they chose life. What they are doing is very admirable, and I wish them the best of luck in helping others choose life and bringing awareness to the impacts of bullying.