Goodrich – Students learned April 12 about the death of a Goodrich High School sophomore, 15.
Grand Blanc Township Police Captain Gary Alford stated Tuesday the student’s death was due to suicide.
School staff remain available for student counseling.
There are better alternatives to suicide, say experts.
Gerda Weisman Klein, a holocaust survivor who spoke to Goodrich High School students in October 2003, was awarded an Oscar and an Emmy for the Home Box Office documentary, ‘One Survivor Remembers? based on her book ‘All But My Life?.
Klein spoke to students about the horrors she and 2,000 other women were forced to endure during the World War II German occupation of Poland. When the group was finally rescued, only 127 survivors remained.
‘In camp…we were all together, all hungry, cold, hot, lonely, guarded by electrified barbed wire, and yet there was no suicide,? Klein said.
‘What a magnificent tribute to the spirit of young people preferring life to death.?
Urging students to cherish their own survival, Klein asked, ‘What do you do with your memories? What do you do with your loss??
‘Write down the things that trouble you, put the date on it and put it in an envelope for six months.
‘You will be amazed at the things you’ve written. Some you will have forgotten. There is a marvelous life waiting for you.?
Audrey Hill, M.D., is a child psychiatrist with the Genesee County Community Health Department.
Hill encourages friends of students who may be contemplating suicide to let counselors or parents know.
Parents often fear talking about suicide aggravates problems.
‘If you’re suspicious, it’s okay to ask,? she said. ‘As protective as we are as parents of our children, children are frequently that protective of parents, and they don’t come to you because they don’t want you to become overly concerned or upset, they may be fearful of disappointing you.?
Although it may be difficult to differentiate between normal mood swings and abnormal behavior, Hill encourages parents to err on the side of caution and explore possible problems, seeking counseling if necessary.
Although it’s preferable to help someone who is planning suicide in person to facilitate intervention, a skilled hotline counselor may also be of help.
Call the Genesee County Suicide Prevention Hotline at (810) 257-3740.
A list of Michigan support groups is available at http://www.suicidology.org/associations/1045/files/Support_Groups.cfm#MI.

Warning signs

Abnormal behavior that may
signal a need for help
‘Change in eating, sleeping habits
‘Withdrawal from regular or
pleasurable activities, family and friends
‘Violent actions, rebellious
behavior, or running away
‘Drug, alcohol use
‘Unusual neglect of personal
appearance
‘Marked personality change
‘Persistent boredom, difficulty
concentrating, decline in
schoolwork quality
‘Frequent physical symptoms,
often related to emotions, like
stomachaches, headaches,
fatigues, etc.
‘Not tolerating praise or rewards

A youth who is planning suicide
may also:
‘Complain of being bad, or feeling
rotten inside
‘Give verbal hints: I won’t be a
problem much longer, nothing
matters, it’s no use, I won’t see you again
‘Put affairs in order, unexpectedly
cleaning room, giving or throwing
away favorite possessions
‘Become suddenly cheerful or
seeming relieved because of
making a decision after a
period of depression
‘Show signs of psychosis,
such as hallucinations or
bizarre thoughts
‘Threaten or talk about suicide

Source: American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Go to http://www.aacap.org/publications/factsfam/suicide.htm.