This is the second part of a two-part series on teen suicide.



When Paul McCartney of The Beatles wrote the haunting lyrics and music that became “Eleanor Rigby” on the band’s 1966 album “Revolver,” he had no idea the tragic ballad of a lonely soul could resonate so ominously today.

Many music experts say this is not the first time depression and desolation have been addressed with lyrics and musical notes but they do agree it is one of the most powerful messages in music history.

In regards to teen suicide, the song rings more true today than ever before.

Experts say teens who take the road to suicide do so with strong feelings of rejection and hopelessness hanging around their necks. Depression is a major factor in contributing to teen suicide to the point a person at birth could be pre-programmed to a life of battling their demons.

“Much of the time we see the kids at their lowest points when they arrive here,” said Rae Andreacchio, a nurse practitioner with Alliance Health Center in Meridian. “Depression is a very powerful emotion. And when you add that to the fragile mentality of a teenager the problem just manifests itself into an overwhelming feeling of hopelessness. Many times it is more than they can take.”

In order to first address and then begin to combat the ill effects of behavioral problems in teens, many community leaders and experts agree everyone should come together to mount a united and formidable front. As a youth minister for 11 years, Dr. Rhett Payne, now pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Meridian, found himself face to face with the drastic measures teens will sometimes resort to.

“A girl who had cut her wrists was brought into my office one day by her boyfriend,” said Payne. “They had had an argument. Fortunately she hadn’t cut too deeply to hit an artery and the two of them had put bandages on the wounds. We took her to the hospital and she received treatment for the cuts and for her overall condition. That was a clear cry for help on her part.”

It was also clear to Payne that no one sector of society could handle this kind of problem alone.

“Everyone, from the religious community, to parents, to friends of teens at risk, and medical professionals need to work together to avert these tragic incidents,” Payne said. “This problem is too big for just one segment of our community. We need to all work toward giving these young people hope.”

Cindy Dyess, director of community relations for Alliance said they routinely work alongside other medical professional groups and facilities to help out an individual. Along with the Jason Foundation Inc, founded in 1977 by Clark Flatt who lost his 16-year old son to a suicide, information and training is also now available on a wide scale for teachers and educators, parents and teens.

“The most important message I can send to anyone is the fact teen suicide is preventable,” said Flatt, whose JFI headquarters are in Hendersonville, Tenn. “I will never be able to hug my son again but perhaps we can help save your son or daughter or friend.”

Asked who is on the front lines of teen suicide, Flatt said the friend of the confused teen, as well as teachers and educators, are usually the first to see the signs leading to behavioral shifts in human nature.

“You know when your buddy or the person you are dating is having problems. You hear the talk of ending it all. Sometimes you think they are just joking or acting stupid but if you listen real close you may pick up on some clues as to what is really going on,” Flatt said.

According to Flatt, teachers and educators see more of our children than the parents. They also see shifts in behavior a parent may not be aware of. For that reason, much of the information about teen suicide facilitated by JFI is geared toward teachers.

“We have to train the teachers,” Flatt said emphatically. “Teaching other teens is important as well but we don’t want to turn other teenagers into counselors. We just want them to know the signs and to get in contact with an adult so serious professional help can be obtained quickly.”

John, not his real name, is a typical looking 17-year old. Outwardly you would not be able to see anything was amiss. He likes music, dancing, going to movies and hanging out with his friends. But when you dig deeper you will be able to find the inner turmoil he and many other teens are experiencing today.

“I’m not allowed to be a teenager,” John said in a recent interview. “I come from a strong Christian family where my mom and I are always at each other about what I can and can’t do. I feel like she is keeping me from being a teenager. And that makes me act out.”

It was the perception he was missing out on living and a strong presence of loneliness that led to John recently trying to kill himself.

“I was caught with a girl in a group home,” said John. “I liked her and she liked me and we wanted to be together. But we got caught. I was told my mom would be notified and that pretty much pushed me over the edge.”

John tied three dress ties together and tried to hang himself.

Fortunately, John and his mom sat down and decided it was time he needed some professional help. He is getting that help now but he quietly wonders even today if everything will be OK in the future.

“The future? I don’t know what that is,” John said. “I feel like I’m OK right now. I pray to God every day he’ll help me but I still think about suicide. I don’t know what will happen and it scares the hell out of me.”

McCartney must have seen his share of desolated people when he wrote the opening line to his song, “Ah, look at all the lonely people.”



Who to contact:



The Jason Foundation, Inc.

181 East Main Street •

Jefferson Bldg. • Suite 5

Hendersonville, TN 37075

1-800-SUICIDE

1-800-784-2433



Alliance Health Center,

JFI Affiliate Office

601-581-9918



Community Assistance Resource Line

1-877-778-2275





Teen Suicide Statistics



• Suicide ranks as the THIRD leading cause of death for ages 15-24 and FOURTH for ages 10-14.



• Suicide is the SECOND leading cause of death for our college-aged youth, as well as for ages 15 to 19 in many states.



• NHSDA Report / SAMHSA (US Dept. of Health) – In 2000, over ONE Million youth attempted suicide in the U.S. That equates to over 2,700 attempts each day in our nation by youth ages 12 to 17.



• Each week in our nation, we lose approximately 100+ young people to suicide.



• Even though white males make up the majority of completed suicides, from 1980-1995, suicide among black youth ages 10-14 increased 233% and in black youth ages 15-19 suicide rates increased 126%. For black youth in the southern region of the nation, there was an increase of 214%.



• In the past forty years, youth suicide rates have almost tripled. Between 1980 and 1996, suicide rates for ages 10 to 14 increased by over 100%.



• More teenagers and young adults have died of suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia and influenza, and chronic lung disease COMBINED.



• According to the NMHA, four out of five people who attempt suicide have given clear warnings.