March 1998 Newsletter Article                                    To Newsletter Menu

Title: Averting Tragedy 

Author: Ray Lauenstein

Young adults often feel invincible. The concept of growing old and death is usually far from your mind. Some of you have had to endure the loss of a loved one, or friend and as you know it is not easy. Unfortunately young adults, teenagers, loose their lives and even take their own. What might be a clue that leads you to believe a friend or teammate is heading toward self-destructive behavior?

1. Joking about committing suicide- even a comment made in jest suggests that it is on their mind at some level.

2. Sudden gestures of unusual or out of character generosity- people contemplating suicide have been know to give away many of their possessions seemingly out of the blue.

3. Other forms of self-abuse- Subjecting oneself to violent relationships, abusing drugs, taking severe risks (like traffic or train chicken ), and self abuse like cigarette or lighter burns, self-tatoos or branding can be a sign of someone in need of help.

These are just a couple of signs that you might look for in a person contemplating suicide. This is a very serious issue and you should address any concerns to your coach, teacher, parents or school counselor. Simply tell them you want to talk in private and say that you want them to look into what you have been observing. It’s worse to do nothing and lose a friend then it is to do something and piss a few people off. You will be thanked in the long run

Another issue facing you people in schools is the increase of  lethal violent outbreaks such as Columbine (1999), San Diego (2001) and many others in Kentucky, Arkansas and Georgia to name a few.  As we have learned, it is important to take any comment about violence seriously.  Report it.  In Oneonta, NY a promising young student with a scholarship to St. Johns for pitching was struck several times with a bat by a teammate, ending his season before it began.  Things like this are senseless, watch out for warning signs and protect everyone's interest.