Survey: 1 in 6 Washington teens seriously consider suicide
PORTLAND, Ore. – New numbers out of Washington state show 1 in 6 teenagers have gone past the tipping point and seriously considered suicide.
The state of Washington surveys kids every year, and the newest results show that 8 percent of eighth- and tenth-graders tried to commit suicide within the last year.
The number 1 in 6 kids thinking about suicide means that more than 100,000 kids between the ages of 12 and 17 seriously considered it within the past year.
More than 1 in 4 teenagers said they felt so sad or hopeless for two weeks in a row they stopped doing their usual activities.
"This is a critical issue I think for our area," said Pastor Scott Waite of Manor Evangelical Church in Battle Ground, Wash. "We need to address it somehow. I mean our kids are struggling. Do we care enough to do something?"
He said even with his small congregation, there have been a couple of kids within the church who've struggled with depression and thoughts of suicide.
He's holding an event Saturday starting at 5 p.m. at his church to help parents and grandparents cope with these issues.
The Battle Ground School District has had seven students commit suicide within just the last two years.
Statewide numbers for young people between 10 and 24 years old show that suicides have been trending up over the last dozen years. It's the second leading cause of death for young people. Accidents are the leading cause.
I'm think it's the continuous dreary, rainy weather. Â These kids face all the same problems other kids face but the difference could well be the grey, dreary weather of the West Coast.
It is better to follow the Monsanto diet. Work's faster .. Go gmo's ... Eat fresh corn.... Monsanto ends world hunger......nobody left...
Obviously, we need to BAN suicide!
@Umhal lol
bbatwpe (baby boomers are the worse parents ever)
Hmm, that means that nearly 1 out of 10 have actually tried to commit suicide? That is a very, very statistically high number. How many kids did they survey? What is the margin of error? How diverse is the sample?
Clearly suicide is a major issue among teens, however these statistics of actual attempts seem too high to be believable.
@WhenCowsAttack twss
@the rover @WhenCowsAttack The warthog sounds stupid? Time was standing still? Teens will slobber sideways?
Translate?
@the rover @WhenCowsAttack nyjtm
loltmop
(laughing out loud to my own post)
@WhenCowsAttack btfyggmab
(but the fact you're guessing gived me a boehner)
@WhenCowsAttack jr, itcttws)
just remembered, its the classic thats what she said)
@WhenCowsAttack ifa
(i forgot again)
@WhenCowsAttackÂ
Hahaha!
iabtgtelttosdbempm (ive always been to great to even let the thought of such destructive behaviour  enter my pristine mind)
wtftntggjapissemfpbify (what the eff, they need to get good jobs and pay into social security ensuring my full promised benny in five years)
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@feral What if we take time to talk to someone. Put down our phone, open our eyes, and turn our head. It is amazing what you can see when you pay attention to things. It is not the states job to monitor children, if anything it is the parents job.
@feral lol
Make suicide a felony
@Phuzz lol
@newguytopdx Â
The first thing to do when contemplating suicide is DON'T.Â
The second is seek help. Call 911 if you have to.Â
@Paul yhsnamb..aymb? isgfidi (you have same name as my brother, are you my brother? if so, go for it...do it)
@Paul @newguytopdx A better resource than 911 is 800-273-8255.  The suicide prevention line offers a lifeline for any time you may be struggling with managing the issues in your life.
@Paul @newguytopdx Calling 911 when you're suicidal is a huge mistake and will only lead to a negative outcome.
@axpman lol
@axpman @Paul @newguytopdxÂ
Especially if one of the responding officers is Roscoe Rules.
Most teenagers feel like killing themselves at one time or another. It's a difficult time making the transition from child  to adult. And with the media and social networks there is just too much going on most of the time.
I really miss the simple days when families were together for dinner and spend time together on the weekends.
Those days are gone and won't be coming back for a long time if ever.
@RalphCramden Sadly, most people (parents or not) do not take the time nor have the time to notice anyone else around them. They are so busy that anything not related to their own well being or productivity is ignored or not registered by their sense, thus anyone who may be looking for help is usually not receiving it. Sadly, the final step for most, when contemplating suicide, it the mind set that it will never get better and there is nothing that they can do to change, or is there anyone who will care.
@Willow
Life is just too busy just to keep above water. When I was growing up we had a lot of down time and spent time with family and friends at homes rather than bars, restaurants, or parks. It was a much slower life and less stressful.
I moved here to Portland from South Florida about 6 months ago and I constantly think about suicide daily ... I had to also see a therapist and pills to try to combat depression ... Never in my life have I had to deal with severe depression until now --- The winter here and adjusting to the culture/hipsters/area has been the hardest thing I have ever experienced... I'm sure people will comment back saying what they always say --"move back!"..."go away!"..."deal with it or get lost!"..."you sound like a loser"..etc -- but all in all this work relocation has been the hardest thing to ever happen to me... I now sit here in my apartment (alone) on a Friday night heavily drinking (not ever a norm for me) and just lay around .... I use to run and be fit back in FL but I just haven't felt comfortable around the people (nor have they been respectful to me when I say hello or try to make friends) ... Please to anyone reading this -- please be welcoming to transplants ... Some of us are just trying to experience what you have to offer but it has been incredibly hard here to get into a group of friends (especially the pdx downtwn/pearl/nw/mississippi/hawthorne crowd)...Every day I feel I'm getting closer and closer to having the courage to eventually end it...
@newguytopdx I'm sorry you feel the way you do.  Looks like you probably picked one of the worst times of the year to move here!  I've visited southern Florida and can't even begin to imagine how people live there!  (Weather forecaster in MIA:  "Looks like we're in for another soaker, folks, and I don't mean from the sky.  Have deodorant handy.  We've got a high of 85 with a wringing wet humidity of 135%." <-- at least that's what it sounded like to me!  Ick!  Of course I've lived here all of my life so I know the difference between partly cloudy and partly sunny and when to grab an umbrella -- which the true natives hardly ever do especially in East County, lol).
Anyway, back to being a bit more serious, the only way to be accepted is to reach out. Â Take a class. Â You're working, I presume. Â Do any of your coworkers share your interests? Â Like someone mentioned running, there are a LOT of meet up groups just for running all over the place. Â Volunteering can also do wonders (volunteermatch.org). Â Support a local cause or business and you'll not be turned away!
I'm sure you know alcohol won't help your depression in the slightest -- only making it worse. Â Sit the bottle down and go out and BE in life. Â I know it sounds so much easier than it is (my husband has depression). Â The more you try to get involved, the more you'll feel accepted. Â Don't forget to smile at people! Â They'll smile back (most of the time).
I've visited several places in the US and, while I know I'm kinda partial to the northwest, I find that they can be very welcoming (as long as  you're not from California although some of that issue seems to have passed, too).  Although I was surprised that the people in Miami seemed pretty darn accepting, too.  I suppose California, and, maybe, Phoenix, have been the harsher areas for me where I just didn't feel accepted.  But I love New Mexico!
My husband and I go to sci fi, anime, and steam punk conventions. Â Whenever we're with "our people" it is really refreshing to just be able to be yourself (hey, I can use BIG words there and people understand me). Â They are what mentally help me feel connected with other people just like (or pretty close to) me.
The best thing you can do for yourself right now is to just get out of your four walls and simply enjoy being. Â This place and the people here are beautiful -- if you give us a chance. Â In the meantime, I wish you well in your recovery and exploration of your new home. Â If you really, seriously need help, call the crisis intervention line at 800-273-8255.
@newguytopdx Honestly, you're looking in the wrong places here. The urban scene anywhere in the Northwest is really, really poor, socially speaking. You say you used to run in Florida, so I take it you're athletic? Get fit again and join some kind of outdoor club -- there's plenty. Start hiking with people. They'll let you in if you really want to be a part of a trek. Â
Something tells me this is the best route for you. But, yes... I lived in Arkansas for 10 years. Grew up here. IN Arkansas, people are just so nice and welcoming. Too bad that's the only thing I liked about the place.
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@feral You are like that last person someone thinking of suicide should talk to. No offence, I still like you, am just saying.
@TreeWizard @feral iamytdarabn (its a must you two develope a raport and be nice)
"It didn't."
So why did you bring out your jump-to-conclusions mat?
"Suicide should be illegal..."
And what would be the most effective way to punish a corpse? Â
"...thoughts of suicide should be considered a thought crime."
Wouldn't such a law discourage someone from seeking professional help?
@feral Where in my post did I say you were insensitive?
@feral I hope he does come back. Newguy's post sounded like a cry for help, and reaching out is one of the most important things we can do to help a fellow citizen, even if he is a stranger. You and I don't know it, but our words may have a direct impact on saving a life and sparing others the guilt, loss and suffering that happens when someone ends their own life.
@feralGive the newguy every opportunity to unburden his troubles and ventilate his feelings. You don't need to say much or baby him, and there are no magic words. If you are concerned, your words and manner will show it. Give him relief from being alone with his pain; let him know you are glad he turned to us. Patience, sympathy, acceptance. Avoid arguments and advice giving. If you're not in agreement, then go elsewhere. Some of us care and hope he comes back to talk about his pain.
@feral There's a myriad of reasons that causes a person to be suicidal that has nothing to do with Vitamin D or fatty acid deficiency:
@feral Did you just call me a fairy?
@feral @TreeWizard I am right 98% of the time, and I don't wish it. I know it.
@feral @TreeWizard That isn't always the case. Who said anything about babying. by the way, are you hitting on me?
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@feral lmfao
@newguytopdxÂ
Do you have a plan? Â Are you seriously thinking of hurting yourself? Â Because, if you are, I hope you would consider telling someone...I mean, someone who can't come over and have coffee and talk it out.
@newguytopdxÂ
should have read "CAN come over...." Â Oy.
@the rover @DiogenesÂ
You felt the need to use an acronym for that very short sentence? Â ayadi? (are you a drooling idiot?)
@Diogenes  ayanf?  (are you a nuerotic freak?)
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@feral itmdiwsnhmmpia (i told my doctor i was suicidal now he makes me pay in advance)
@newguytopdx It takes time to get used to Oregon. I was born here and I still find myself saying wtf. You are living in downtown?