When it comes to teen suicide, Bedford County resident Tina Henderson is frustrated with a lack of discussion about the third-highest cause of death for American youths.
"No one wants to talk about it," Henderson said. "I think because there's a stigma attached to it. If your son or daughter dies from an accident or cancer or some other disease, it's OK. But if they take their own life, there must be something wrong with your family or with them."
This month marks the anniversary of her son Eric's passing. Eric died by suicide three weeks before his 14th birthday.
She said rumors began swirling almost immediately.
"People care too much about what other people say," she said. "People look at you differently or at least you feel like they do after you have someone commit suicide."
Henderson spent years traveling the country on behalf of the Bedford County chapter of the Yellow Ribbon International Suicide Prevention Program, whose singular goal is to prevent more deaths like Eric's.
While she was well-received in places as far away as Wisconsin and in other counties across the state, Henderson couldn't get any interest locally. The program dispenses cards that people who are thinking about suicide can hand to someone to get them help, when they can't speak about the issue.
"We were on national TV talking about it, but we can't talk about it here," Henderson said.
She has since closed the local chapter, although she still comes across suicide attempts through her work in an emergency room. Her co-workers know to pass those patients to Henderson.
"I want to talk to them," she said. "I'm just trying to tell them it's OK to ask for help."
The Yellow Ribbon program was founded after the 1994 death by suicide of 17-year-old Mike Emme. Despite pulling another teenage friend out of suicidal thoughts just days before, Mike killed himself after a difficult break-up.
More than half of the 180 chapters around the world were formed by family members of suicide victims.
-By Wendy McCardle, www.altoonamirror.com
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