Guest Speaker: Roger Briesch
Matthew was a high school student who seemed to have it all; he was successful in the classroom and in athletics, was popular with most of his fellow students and appeared headed for a bright future.
That was him on October 1st. On October 2nd, he took his own life.
Roger Briesch has encountered many stories such as Matthew's over the years, working with Operation Snowball and with a suicide hotline. And he says many teens face pressures which parents and teachers don't detect; it can happen to unpopular and popular students alike, pushed by bullying, a dysfunctional family, pressure to succeed and a host of other outside stresses.
Briesch says suicide has become the second-leading cause of death among youths, ranging in age from 15 to 24 -- and that this is a worldwide trend. Not only do they face social pressures in their homes and schools, but the advent of social media has accelerated these problems; general news about incidents around the world, as well as cyber-bullying directed specifically at them, now arrives instantly via phone...faster than they can process it.
He says parents and teachers need to help youths understand that there are less drastic ways to deal with their problems; but he notes that troubled teens may be more willing to talk to an outsider than to a loved one, and he encourages parents to make sure their children know that help and a friendly ear are always available -- inside or outside the family.