Youth Suicide In How To Kill A Rock Star

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In the novel, How to Kill a Rock Star, by Tiffanie DeBartolo, an exchange between two

characters on the topic of suicide happens that is both poignant and gut-wrenching.

“Did you really want to die?"

"No one commits suicide because they want to die."

"Then why do they do it?"

"Because they want to stop the pain.”

One of my favorite aunts committed suicide. Aunt Pat was a veterinarian in the West

and raised three sons with my Uncle Jim, my father’s youngest brother. She was an

educated professional woman and a wife and mother. She drove out to the desert in

her car and ended her life by her own hand. The tragedy of course is that when she

killed herself this reverberated throughout the lives of those …show more content…

The focus of M.A.D. – H.O.P.E is to prevent youth suicide.

Their website can be found at the following link:

http://promise.bellinghamschools.org/2016/02/05/m-a- d-h- o-p- e-making- a-difference-

helping-other- people-everywhere- youth-suicide- prevention-project/

The second step is harder, but it can be done. Talk about suicide with a teenager or

young adult whom you think is struggling emotionally and has openly discussed her

(his) plans to end her life (his life). The biggest myth about suicide is that we should

never ask a person for details, but that is not true. Ninety-five percent of those people

who reach out to a friend or family member can be saved by intervention. This means

do not be afraid to ask the tough questions or to contact a behavioral health specialist

for advice. Former U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher said, “Suicide is our most

preventable form of death.”

The third step is also helpful. Contact Kasandra Church, she is the Prevention Coalition

Coordinator with WFCN, and is a very involved proponent of M.A.D. – H.O.P.E.

KaSandra also teaches suicide prevention workshops throughout the year to young

people and to adults in the community, as well as to medical and behavioral

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