GBI releases information on Youth Suicide in 2017

Last week, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Child Fatality Review Unit released data on youth suicides in 2017.

So far this year, 18 children have committed suicide in Georgia, and 14 of those cases have happened in the last two months.

These suicides are most common among white males between the ages of 15 and 17, followed by white females between the ages of 15 and 17.

9th and 10th grade Counselor at Stephens County High School Rita Bush said that she doesn’t believe youth suicide is a prominent issue in Stephens County.

However, they do have protocol for if it does occur or if a student expresses concern.

“We have a crisis form that we fill out if a student is threatening to harm himself or someone else,” said Bush. “Students who come concerned about their friends, we try to keep our source confidential, but we always check on the student.”

Bush said that with any report of concerning comments, the high school checks on the student and then reports it to the parents no matter what.

“We have a crisis information form so that parents have something to take with them for further evaluation,” said Bush. “We can’t necessarily make parents take them for an evaluation, however, if a parent doesn’t take our concern seriously then we can follow up with a DFACS report.”

According to Bush, the high school does not provide therapy, but they do provide a list of resources to parents so they can seek further help for their child.

Bush says that it’s important to take all comments that indicate a student may want to harm him or herself seriously.

“I just always think it’s important that we don’t blow it off when a kid makes a comment like that,” said Bush. “Even if you think the kid is being flippant, we don’t know so we have to take it seriously always. I think it’s important that we inform parents and follow up with the right resources because I don’t want anything to happen to a kid.”

If someone you know exhibits signs of suicide, you can call the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).