Schools

Terra Linda Suicide Should Alert Teens, Parents, Friends

Counselors brought into school following the death of a 15-year-old girl.

The tragic death of a 15-year-old Terra Linda High School girl on Saturday is a reminder that teens can be especially vulnerable to suicide.

Linda Allen, director of suicide prevention and community counseling at Family Services of Marin, said it's important for parents and friends to listen to their intuition when they have a feeling someone might be experiencing thoughts of suicide.

"People should look for changes in behavior," said Allen, a family therapist. "It's difficult with a teenager because teens are enamored with death and goth-like things."

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Families learned about the Terra Linda suicide Monday when principal Lars Christensen issued a letter, telling the community that the girl had apparently taken her own life.

He said counselors and psychologists will be stationed in the library throughout the week to assist students who are having emotional difficulty following the girl's death.

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Christensen said in the letter that the unidentified girl had many friends and acquaintances. 

"With this tragedy, we anticipate that some students may experience feelings of confusion, frustration and sorrow," Christensen wrote. "We believe that it is important that students be encouraged to discuss these potential feelings and emotions with a mental health professional."

Allen said it is important that a suicide does not become glamorized at a school. 

"It's not going to cause a healthy teen to decide to do it but it could cause someone who is marginal to flip if they see a person get lots of positive attention," Allen said. "It's difficult for schools because you want to give the kids a chance to grieve."

Parents, teachers and friends should notice if a teen seems depressed or stressed. Often, a child who is thinking of suicide will talk about how things will be better after a particular day, will give favorite possessions away or make arrangements to get their affairs in order.

Allen said kids sometimes tell a friend that they are thinking of taking their lives and make them promise not to tell anyone.

"It may make the friend mad (if they tell) but it's better have them mad than not to be here," Allen said, adding sometimes suicides are impulsive, making prevention all the more difficult. 

She said relationship breakups, bullying, issues with sexual identity and trouble at home often lead teens to suicidal thoughts.

The Family Service Agency of Marin at 555 Northgate Drive also offers in-person and telephone grief counseling services. Reach them at 499-1195. Their suicide prevention and crisis hotline is 499-1100.

Anyone with questions about counseling at Terra Linda High can call 492-3100.

 


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