9-Year-Old Commits Suicide

[Ian David]

Grief counselors were on hand at a Lewisville ISD school on Friday after a fourth grade student apparently killed himself on campus yesterday. It has been a painful day for most at Stewart's Creek Elementary School, as they have processed what has happened. They got a real-life lesson they had no choice but to get. That is that suicide is one of the leading causes of death for school-age children, and most vulnerable of all are boys, ages 10 to 14.

It is hard to believe that elementary school students could even contemplate suicide, let alone commit it. But the reality of a nine-year-old boy hanging himself in the nurse's bathroom cannot be ignored. "It's just sad. I can't imagine what would make a nine-year-old boy feel this way," said Stephanie Rodriguez, the school's PTA treasurer.

She said she told her son Lewis, 9, that if he ever feels bad that he must either talk to her or his father. School officials said the boy was in the office all day on Thursday, asked to use the bathroom, and was checked on twice. The third time he was checked, he was found unconscious.

"We do know that this incident is not related to any form of bullying," said Lewisville spokeswoman, Karen Pemetti. Experts warn there are often warning signs before someone does commit suicide, such as talking about suicide or death, talking about feeling hopeless or guilty, pulling away from family and friends and self-destructive behavior.




More:
http://globalgrind.com/channel/news/content/1329039/9yearold-Colony-boy-dies-in-apparent-suicide-at/

[Obamanaut]

1. Some responses at this slightly earlier DU thread.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7573081

[EnlightenedOne]

2. Wow

There's just too much hate in this world. Very, very sad.

[revolution breeze]

3. This is such a sad story

I have a 9-year old daughter and her biggest worry is whether she and her friends are going to play jump on the trampoline or ride bikes after school.

[dionysus]

4. odd how this article say there was no bullying and the other article linked in the OP does...

:(

[bdamomma]

5. how sad.

[havocmom]

6. School seems more interested in CYA than dealing with a problem to prevent more of same

http://kdka.com/national/Boy.Hanged.Self.2.1442854.html

Many now struggle to understand exactly how this happened. Friends and those who knew the boy said that he was often teased. "He was just bullied too much," Blackwell said. "Some of the things that people would say were harsh."

Doesn't quite reconcile with words of school spokesman:

http://globalgrind.com/channel/news/content/1329039/9yearold-Colony-boy-dies-in-apparent-suicide-at/

"We do know that this incident is not related to any form of bullying," said Lewisville spokeswoman, Karen Pemetti. Experts warn there are often warning signs before someone does commit suicide, such as talking about suicide or death, talking about feeling hopeless or guilty, pulling away from family and friends and self-destructive behavior.

Really? Really, Ms Pemetti? And "we do know this...." How? Do "we" know the boy or what was going on at the school?

Pure speculation on my part, but guessing "friends and those who knew the boy" probably know more about the facts than a spokesperson who probably had comments run by school district lawyer before they were disseminated.

[no_hypocrisy]

7. I can't imagine how horrible it must feel to be that alone and alienated.

Living was hell for this boy in his mind.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

8. very sad

:(

[Odin2005]

9. OMG.

:cry:

[closeupready]

10. What was the boy teased about? That he was gay or did he stutter?

I think it's important to know.