Precursors and Prevention for Suicidal Youth

To define facilitation separately from the dictionary, describing it as the ability to help turn something into an easier process would seem accurate. Also, the action to help something or someone begins to, or continue to advance.

The article found that contained a story involving suicide, was in the New York Times about a twelve-year-old girl named Rebecca Ann Sedwick. Rebecca killed herself after being bullied for a year by another fourteen-year-old girl, as well as her ex-best friend who is also twelve. The older of the girls were upset that Rebecca had previously dated her boyfriend and she made no attempt to hide her anger, telling Rebecca to “drink bleach and die” along with telling her that she wanted to “fight.” One of the major problems was that the bully’s cell phones were not being well monitored, nor were their internet resources. This neglect is a serious problem in cyberbullying cases - the new face of bullying. The parents were also not taking responsibility for their lack of monitoring, claiming their daughter's facebook accounts were “hacked.”

This article is obviously heart wrenching, as it should be when someone so young commits suicide. The most unfortunate part of a suicide with someone so young is that they truly don’t see a way out, they believe that life will not get any better, and no one should have to feel so alone as to want to take their own life. Through the QPR training, being taught to pick up on warning signs is crucial. Unfortunately, Rebecca may not have exhibited suicidal thoughts, only discomfort with the bullying that was going on around her. In the article her mother claims that the bullying had begun much earlier than a year before her suicide, and Rebecca was eventually homeschooled as the bullying became intolerable. However it does not say in the article whether or not Rebecca displayed any signs of suicidal thoughts or actions that may have been noticed by her mother, such as moodiness, trouble sleeping, and withdrawal, amongst many more. The article did not make it clear whether Rebecca chose to be homeschooled or if her mother had made the decision. If Rebecca had chosen to be homeschooled, this decision could have been withdrawal and her mother may have assumed it would help to remove her.

Having gone through QPR training, I feel as if some of these subtle signs could have been taken more seriously. If Rebecca had wanted to be removed from the school setting she was in, I would have looked deeper into the situation and asked more questions about why she wanted to leave the school and asked for a detailed description of what was bothering her. I also would have monitored her computer use and asked to see what the people bullying her were saying to her, contacting the parents of the girls would be immediate. Had I not gone through QPR training I may have thought that the problem could perhaps resolve itself. I feel many parents believe a certain amount of bullying is normal for teenagers to go through, however, when the bullying becomes constant and insinuates another person killing themselves, adults must step in and take the proper precautions.

Suicide prevention for college campuses should be a top priority. As young men and women enter college, the pressures that are felt are endless, and many people don’t have a strong sense of direction for where they want to go in their lives at such a young age. The pressure to succeed and the competition that surrounds the college lifestyle can be overbearing and the age at which students attend should be taken into consideration. Feelings of desperation and worry can loom in college students because of what a high-stress situation they are in to succeed and sometimes suicide can seem like a solution, whereas it shouldn’t even be an option. Suicide awareness, rather than suicide prevention should certainly be a focal point on college campuses, and it should be approached in a quiet sense. There should be professionals for students to be able to talk to and remain anonymous so they don’t feel humiliated or judged by their thoughts. In other words, there should always be a home base for people who are having suicidal thoughts to go to where they feel comfortable and safe. This type of system, with identity security should be available not only at colleges but elsewhere as well.

The lines are blurred between professional, personal, and intimate relationships more often than not. After working with someone for a bit of time, one may feel that some jokes that may not have been appropriate before become reasonable enough to say after a relationship is built. It is easy but also inappropriate to blur professional and personal lines once you’re in contact with someone every day or communicating with them often enough to feel that sexual innuendos or unsuitable talking or behavior seem acceptable. A professional and/or personal relationship can easily turn into an intimate one, especially in the workplace. However intimate relationships should be kept private and whatever personal issues a couple may have outside of the workplace, should be left outside. Sexual assault and sexual harassment are both illegal, however assault involves being physically harmed while harassment involves verbal as well as physical harassment. Both of these acts are unwelcome by the victim. Consent means that the persons are agreeing to an act and it is welcome by both or all parties. When it comes to professional, personal, and intimate relationships, assault and harassment are both illegal and not tolerable. Consent is intimate relationships is not only normal it should be expected and demanded.

Sexual assault and harassment play a terrible role on college campuses everywhere, and unfortunately, no matter how hard people work to prevent both from happening, it still occurs. The college lifestyle is naturally fueled by sex, just as most of the U.S. population is driven by it. Young men and women on campus fluidly and aggressively show off their sexuality without thinking about the consequences of doing so. Talking about assault and harassment as a “consequence” is certainly not accurate, but when using it in the context of the “water we’re swimming in,” it comes into play. Putting oneself in dangerous situations, and acting irresponsibly only heightens potential for one or either of these things to happen. Drinks can be roofied, overdoses can occur, and drinking far too much can cause unfortunate events to happen. Unless people are willing to take responsibility for their actions by not partaking in certain activities, sexual harassment and assault will continue to occur in situations like these as well as other less obvious places. College campuses seem to be a breeding ground for events such as these because of the lack of worry young men and women feel about their safety on campus. The campus is supposed to be a home and it should be a safe place, however the behavior of each individual must be taken into account as well. Taking responsibility for one’s own behavior should not only occur in college but after graduation as well, where the world is not just a few buildings and dorm rooms.

Addressing this role as a mentor is extremely important. It is important to let men and women know that they have a voice to speak out about anything they may feel uncomfortable with and that someone is also there to listen. It is important as a mentor to make resources available to anyone who needs them or wants them and to continuously encourage anyone who may feel trapped or feel that they have no voice. As a mentor, this role needs to be taken very seriously, as the consequences of what could happen if these issues aren’t addressed are dire, for both the victim as well as the college campus.

Work Cited

Alvarez, Lizette. "Felony Counts for 2 in Suicide of Bullied 12-Year-Old." The New York Times [New York City] 15 Oct. 2013, New York Edition ed., sec. A20: 1. The New York Times. Web. 28 Oct. 2013.