Teen Suicides in Palo Alto, California

SFGate.com

Two students within a months time committed suicide by walking in front of a moving train.  17 year old Jean-Paul Blanchard and another student, Sonya Raymakers, 17.

June 5th 2009, 7:45pm, at the same time members of the Palo Alto community were meeting at a teen suicide forum--a 17 year old boy left his house upset and distraught.

Worried about her son, she followed him and found him at the tracks on East Meadow Drive.

The mother began arguing with her son, as a passing motorist called 911 for help. Urgent calls were sent to the railroad to stop the train until the boy could be removed from the tracks.

My take on this story?

This is yet another example of how suicide is not taken seriously in this country. NO ONE wants to talk about it, yet if you google "suicide" and click on the news tab, you can find countless stories about people committing this irreversible act every day.

This country needs to wake up. Suicide is the third cause of death among adolescents and teens. How many other children need to die before people start asking some serious questions to their teens.

Parents? YOU FAIL! If their kid seems happy and content, they think that their child is ok. They seem to be more worried about their kids college entrance exams or the stupid clothes their kids want instead of their EMOTIONAL HEALTH.

Teens are good at one thing. We can easily hide our emotions. We can make you THINK that everything is okay. Its a mask that we wear.

Parents, start asking your kids how they feel about themselves. I don't care if your child is the most "normal" kid around.

You may be surprised at your kid's answer.