Following School Suicide, National Children's Charity Issues Tips and Free Resources to Help Prevent 3rd Leading Cause of Death A...( Know the W...),Health

Know the Warning Signs

MOBILE, Ala., March 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the dramatic suicide of a student before hundreds of horrified classmates at Davidson High School in Mobile, the national children's crisis charity KidsPeace released tips for parents and teachers to help them spot the warning signs of youth suicide, and provide a free resource to local students to help them cope with the tragedy and work out problems... before they become dangerous.

Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death among adults, but it ranks a horrifying third among the country's young people. In 2007 the Centers for Disease Control reported the largest jump in youth suicide in more than 15 years. Make sure you know the warning signs, life-saving tips, and free local resources that could make a difference for a child you know.

"From abuse and neglect to bullying, eating disorders, peer pressure -- even fears of war and terrorism -- the strain on kids today is unprecedented and sometimes it may become too much to bear," says Dr. Lorrie Henderson, acting president for the 125-year-old national children's crisis charity KidsPeace. "When this happens, kids begin to seek some form of escape from their woes and in the most severe cases, when there does not appear to be an alternative, children may even turn to suicide to free themselves from the pain, grief, dread, or despair they are suffering."

Why Would A Child Take Her Life?

There are a number of reasons why children, like adults, may find themselves thinking the unthinkable. At the core of all motivating factors lies a desperate need to cope with a situation that may seem beyond remedy. The most important reasons include:

-- Ending an unresolved conflict

-- Ending suffering of acute or prolonged pain (emotional or physical)

-- Escape from an unbearable situation

-- Grief and loss

-- Desire to join a deceased loved one

-- Means of
'/>"/>