KRDO: Suicide Rate Up Among Children
Posted 05/10/2009
COLORADO SPRINGS - It is just one small snapshot of our region's spiraling suicide rate. We are even hearing reports of 8, 9 and 10-year-olds talking about killing themselves, mainly because of the dwindling economy.
"Some of them say, I just really want to die," said Suicide Prevention Partnership Director Janet Karnes. And some of them actually have a plan. "Walking in front of moving cars, using poison, stabbing themselves, trying to hang themselves off their bunk-bed," said Karnes.
Suicide prevention experts say the bad economy is not only taking a toll on adults. "A lot of these children are coming home to an empty house, they're putting themselves to bed and getting themselves dinner. There's no one there and suicide, along with depressive mood and isolation," said Karnes.
Children hear parents talk about losing jobs or moving. Experts say we need to teach children how to cope now, before it is too late. "How do we take adult worries and let the adults worry about them and not try to take that on as a child," said Karnes.
But numbers are going up across the board. Some of the highest numbers are for middle-aged Veterans and teenager. Guy Bennett's 17-year-old son Matthew committed suicide in 2002. With numbers on the rise, he is trying to educate on suicide prevention skills. "People need to observe and once they ask some questions they need to be quiet and listen to the person, let them talk," said Bennett.
El Paso County has the highest suicide rate in Colorado. Colorado Springs has the 2nd highest rate in the nation among larger cities. There will be a suicide prevention community forum May 20th from 8:15am to 4:30pm. It is being held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel off South Circle Drive in Colorado Springs. It is called "El Paso County Suicide Rates: Cause For Alarm?" For more information click here.
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