More teenagers die of suicide than road accidents...

[Natasha]

More teenagers die of suicide than road accidents...

http://www.maltastar.com/pages/msrv/msfullart.asp?an=20439
4/17/2008

"Excerpt: Suicidality among young lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender people is more frequent than among the general teenage
population, the PACE resolution noted. "This heightened risk is not a
function of their sexual orientation or gender identity, but of the
stigmatisation, marginalisation and discrimination which they
experience because of their sexual orientation or gender identity."

[Chaunte]

Raging hormones can throw anyone into a tailspin, especially teens.  They don't know how to deal with their new body and emotions.  Add being LGBT to the mix and the confusion is exponential. 

From articles I have read, the suicide rate among the LGBT community is 5 to 6 times greater thant he general population.  General teen suicide rate is higher than the adult suicide rate.  Together...

MOST TEENS GIVE WARNING SIGNS! 

Pay attention to these teen suicide warning signs:
Suicide threats, direct and indirect
Teen depression
Obsession with death
Poems, essays and drawings that refer to death
Dramatic change in personality or appearance
Irrational, bizarre behavior
Overwhelming sense of guilt, shame or reflection
Changed eating or sleeping patterns
Severe drop in school performance
Giving away belongings

Yeah, I have energy around this.  I have had one student attempt suicide this year and several past students also attempt it.

Scary numbers.

[LynnER]

MOST TEENS GIVE WARNING SIGNS! 

Pay attention to these teen suicide warning signs:
Suicide threats, direct and indirect (nobody listened)
Teen depression (severe but no help was to be had)
Obsession with death (Muahahahahahahaha? very)
Poems, essays and drawings that refer to death (ummm, frequent, very)
Dramatic change in personality or appearance (I wore all black all the time, cept for the ocasional diffrent overshirt)
Irrational, bizarre behavior (Started smokeing, drinking, and for a while smokeing other stuff too... that and Id cross freeway traffic and not at an intersection)
Overwhelming sense of guilt, shame or reflection (yep yep)
Changed eating or sleeping patterns (you were supposed to eat regularly and sleep... really?)
Severe drop in school performance (dont ask)
Giving away belongings (does giving away your collection of rock music count?)

KK, now what I want to know, is how the hell did I survive.... Aside from being obstinate?