tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764797702568335112.post1439143696310896224..comments2024-03-01T10:23:18.379-08:00Comments on Language, Literacy and Storytelling: Stories In The Dark: Teen SuicideDonna Washington - Storytellerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11041171044081636636noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764797702568335112.post-55106516519752592502017-04-05T14:19:30.940-07:002017-04-05T14:19:30.940-07:00Thank you for your comments, Sue.
Thank you for your comments, Sue.<br />Donna Washington - Storytellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11041171044081636636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764797702568335112.post-12878034214133728412017-04-03T17:04:04.061-07:002017-04-03T17:04:04.061-07:00Have your read Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher?...Have your read Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher? The book (fiction) came out a few years ago and it's been on my recommended reading list for bullying prevention/awareness since then. It's about a high school girl who commits suicide and leaves messages for the 13 people who contributed to her decision.<br />It's a great look into the 'layer's of bullying - small acts of unkindness, group mindset, cool kids rule, intentional bullying, assault -- and the damage along the way when left unaddressed.<br />Now it's a newly released Netflix series. Both are outstanding and you don't need to have read the book to understand the series. <br />While there is no such thing as 'bully-cide' -- there is a connection between bullying and suicide. From the CDC:<br />What We Know about Suicide<br />• Suicide-related behaviors include the following:<br />Suicide: Death caused by self-directed<br />injurious behavior with any intent to die.<br />Suicide attempt: A non-fatal self-directed<br />potentially injurious behavior with any intent<br />to die as a result of the behavior. A suicide<br />attempt may or may not result in injury.<br />Suicidal ideation: Thinking about,<br />considering, or planning for suicide.<br />• Suicide-related behavior is complicated and<br />rarely the result of a single source of trauma or<br />stress.<br />• People who engage in suicide-related behavior<br />often experience overwhelming feelings of<br />helplessness and hopelessness.<br />• ANY involvement with bullying behavior is one<br />stressor which may significantly contribute to<br />feelings of helplessness and hopelessness that<br />raise the risk of suicide.<br />• Youth who are at increased risk for suiciderelated<br />behavior are dealing with a complex<br />interaction of multiple relationship (peer,<br />family, or romantic), mental health, and school<br />stressors.<br />What We Know about Bullying and Suicide Together<br />• We know that bullying behavior and suicide-related behavior are closely related. This means youth who<br />report any involvement with bullying behavior are more likely to report high levels of suicide-related<br />behavior than youth who do not report any involvement with bullying behavior.<br />• We know enough about the relationship between bullying and suicide-related behavior to make<br />evidence-based recommendations to improve prevention efforts.<br />What We DON’T Know about Bullying and Suicide<br />• We don’t know if bullying directly causes suicide-related behavior. We know that most youth who are<br />involved in bullying do NOT engage in suicide-related behavior. It is correct to say that involvement in<br />bullying, along with other risk factors, increases the chance that a young person will engage in suicide related<br />behaviors.<br /><br />Thanks for the post, Donna. It's such an important conversation to have with one another and with the kids we work with.Sue Blackhttp://sue-black.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764797702568335112.post-44459278898992749722017-04-03T06:57:50.707-07:002017-04-03T06:57:50.707-07:00Thank you.Thank you.megan hickshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08169239422147100427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764797702568335112.post-8514408638204357432017-04-03T06:51:09.907-07:002017-04-03T06:51:09.907-07:00I have to admit that I felt like I was crossing in...I have to admit that I felt like I was crossing into forbidden territory writing about teen suicide. I was uncomfortable. Who am I to address this subject? <br /><br />I do understand that we need to talk about it. So many of us have so much to learn. In my reading I realized that even people who study this, help teens, and deal with this epidemic have things to learn.<br /><br />Everyone who goes through your YA class has a better handle on reality of life than most of the rest of us.Donna Washington - Storytellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11041171044081636636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764797702568335112.post-73675699438518596282017-04-03T06:43:24.189-07:002017-04-03T06:43:24.189-07:00Lyn, I am sorry to hear about your eldest. Thank y...Lyn, I am sorry to hear about your eldest. Thank you for sharing this. Thank you for sharing this story when you can.<br />Donna Washington - Storytellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11041171044081636636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764797702568335112.post-14084945791799745782017-04-03T06:41:37.238-07:002017-04-03T06:41:37.238-07:00Thank you, Donna. Hard to think about because it i...Thank you, Donna. Hard to think about because it is so painful and, as you point out, much more common than we think. Very good ideas on dealing with such a difficult subject. Yes, nurture love and hope and compassion and possibilities and let us remember to remind each other how important we are to one another. You are a blessing!Carrie Sue Ayvarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10171638818026858602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764797702568335112.post-73974994381076095242017-04-03T06:41:19.309-07:002017-04-03T06:41:19.309-07:00Thank you, Donna. Hard to think about because it i...Thank you, Donna. Hard to think about because it is so painful and, as you point out, much more common than we think. Very good ideas on dealing with such a difficult subject. Yes, nurture love and hope and compassion and possibilities and let us remember to remind each other how important we are to one another. You are a blessing!Carrie Sue Ayvarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10171638818026858602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764797702568335112.post-58234514050831217502017-04-03T06:21:49.058-07:002017-04-03T06:21:49.058-07:00Thanks, Donna. This subject is very important to ...Thanks, Donna. This subject is very important to me. My storytelling career began immediately after the suicide of my (our) oldest son. That is the story most difficult for me to share, but I have done it for some organizations, and, over the years, with some friends and storytelling groups. The importance of being aware and nurturing joy, love, hope, coping abilities, and a willingness to see the options of other choices cannot be overstated. Truly, Donna, thanks for this message. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15229212739259238642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764797702568335112.post-58541347847818494382017-04-03T05:43:18.580-07:002017-04-03T05:43:18.580-07:00very important work, thank you, Donnavery important work, thank you, DonnaJoanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11024800666609290282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764797702568335112.post-51092415821680204462017-04-02T19:28:21.262-07:002017-04-02T19:28:21.262-07:00I have been talking about these issues in the grad...I have been talking about these issues in the graduate classroom for years; many of my students are unaware of the statistics re: young suicides and are shocked to their cores. Adolescent suicide is an epidemic no one talks about- a true tragedy.Janice Del Negrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15938547589812637538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764797702568335112.post-22939861338954532132017-04-02T19:14:20.989-07:002017-04-02T19:14:20.989-07:00Powerful, and sadly necessary.Thank you for sharin...Powerful, and sadly necessary.Thank you for sharing your story. Karen Chacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12419511205674143737noreply@blogger.com