Written by an adult who battles with mental health. A message to think about.

- Suicide is the third leading cause of death among adolescents and teenagers, following unintentional injuries and homicide.
- According to a recent survey, one in seven high school students reported they had seriously considered attempting suicide. Nearly one in 14 said they had actually attempted suicide one or more times.
- It’s estimated that half of all serious adult psychiatric illnesses – including depression – begin by age 14.
- Of the teenagers who die by suicide, 90 percent have a diagnosable mental illness at the time of their deaths.

Follow up:

These are a few of the sobering statistics on PBS's Cry For Help website. I caught the last half of this sobering yet hopeful video on Tuesday night. You can watch the video on line. You can also find links to statistics, warning signs and symptoms of mental illness and suicide, hotlines for BOTH teens and parents, and a host of other useful links and and relevant resources.

As one who has dealt with a brain disorder since she was very young, I can speak firsthand how very important it is for school officials, teachers, students, and parents to come together to provide ongoing intervention, support and education surrounding this issue. My parents did not understand my illness and were not supporting me. I am a survivor of a teenage suicide attempt. Thankfully, I had a wonderful music teacher, school nurse and guidance counselor who banded together to convince my parents to get me the help I needed. I am so very grateful for them.

Often it is our school support teams and individual tutors who are the first line of defense and protection for our children. In addition to highlighting the suicide problem, this PBS video also presents a couple of successful models such as STEPS (Screening, Treatment and Education to Promote Strength - http://www.promotestrength.org/ ) and Hamilton High School's "Character Day", adapted from Challenge Day ( www.challengeday.org ). And it is increasingly clear that schools need to take a more active role in children's mental health, as active a role as they play in their student's academic success, especially with the increase in violence and bullying in schools.