Kids, 9 and 11, ruled suicides

[LeighAnn]

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

Two children have killed themselves by hanging in the past two weeks in Northeast Philadelphia, sparking worries of a burgeoning trend and sending authorities scrambling to identify and help other kids at risk of committing suicide.

A 9-year-old boy hung himself by a belt from his top bunk bed last Friday, while an 11-year-old girl strangled herself with a scarf on May 4, said Capt. John McGinnis of Northeast Detectives. A 13-year-old city boy also hung himself in mid-March, Philadelphia Medical Examiner Sam P. Gulino said.

<snip>

McGinnis said police already have visited schools in his division to counsel students against suicide. But he urges parents to be vigilant.

"Suicide in my mind is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. It's beyond belief that young kids would even think about it," McGinnis said. "It's up to the parents to teach the children that all problems are temporary; there's life after the problem."

Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20100514_Kids__9_and_11__ruled_suicides.html

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More about this sad trend at the link

[Th1onein]

1. Strange, this cluster popping up, isn't it?

We are drugging our children into killing themselves. How much do you want to bet that these kids have been "treated" for depression and are on some kind of anti-depressant, particularly of the SSRI variety? I'd lay good money on it.

[Lost4words]

5. I dont think they see a future, I'd bet its not SSRIs but stress!

[Divine Discontent]

15. I believe many are on meds, yes. It's so super sad! :( And people have to realize they need to

make kids lives less stressful. Kids like this don't need tons of organized activities and stress. Maybe a group or two affiliation, but nothing more, and a sport or music, not all 4 things or 6 or more, as some kids are constantly busy with their activities instead of being kids.

But, I agree with you - I would say many were on SSRI's... I also would keep kids away from violent imagery on TV/net/MP3s.

[Leftist Agitator]

2. I have an idea.

If they don't talk about it, maybe the problem will just go away.

[NewJeffCT]

3. Wow, that is horrible

What would prompt a 9 year old to even think about taking their own lives? That is so tragic.

[RaleighNCDUer]

9. Kids are being raised by television, particularly now when the economy

demands that both parent either are working or looking for work, and what do they see on TV?

Terror, terror, fear, fear, catastrophe, catastrophe.

There's times I feel like it myself, and I've got 50+ years of experience telling me that the world is cyclical, good times will come back, and there's more than storms looming on the horizon.

[glinda]

13. Unfortunately just look at the planet and it's lack of future for young people. I blame the

Governments and the Corporations for their myopic view and their selfish control over our destiny.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

4. pre-teens and teens are so emotionally vulnerable and can be very fragile

Some folks do not realize how precarious the emotional state of these kids can be.

[coffeenap]

6. Yes! And many adults simply cannot comprehend

that 9 and 11 year olds today are treated simultaneously as innocent children and little adults. This is nothing like the 70s, 80s, or even early 90's. The world these kids live in, and the only one they know, is one most adults don't truly try to understand.

[grahamhgreen]

7. Were they on Prozac, Benzodiazepam's, or any other "psychiatric" drugs?

[Odin2005]

8. Anti-Med FAIL.

[BlueIris]

11. I love you, Odin.

I may, seriously, name my firstborn child Odin. Srsly.

[1monster]

10. A similar incident happened here a couple of years ago. It was not ruled a suicide because

apparently there is a game to get "high" being played by middle school students.

The kids strangle themselves in order to get an oxygen starved high. They do not intend to kill themselves, but are sometimes unable to stop the strangulation process before it is too late.

This is a very dangerouse game being played by children who don't understand the possible consequences. Parents need to be aware of this "game" and to make sure their children know that they are playing Russian Roulette. There may be only one bullet in the chamber, but sooner or later, that bullet will be up if they survive the first "game" and continue to play.

[marshall]

12. I can't imagine the desperation that accompanies strangling onself

With hanging it's over with one movement, but strangling takes time and energy. I can't imagine having the strength to strangle somebody else, much less myself.

[demigoddess]

14. it said the police were lecturing the students on not committing suicide

I think a better tactic would be a mother who has lost a child or someone who tried to commit suicide and came back from it.