After a year fraught with tragedies, from a staff member’s slaying to the traffic deaths of three family members, Falcon School District 49, in partnership with Ellicott District 22, will hold a mental health event next month to help the community heal and address crises.“We always think of education as reading, writing, math, science ... but if our kids have other things going on emotionally, they’re not open and ready to learn,” said Kim Boyd, D-49’s community care director.“We just need to be caring for our youth and our communities in all aspects of their lives.”Several devastating losses hit the district last year in rapid-fire succession:• Richard Hammond, the district’s head of transportation, was found shot to death Feb. 14, 2017, in Denver. The homicide remains unsolved.• Rachel Dewey, an eighth-grade social studies teacher, died while skiing Pikes Peak with her family March 19, 2017.• Julia Roark, a top … [Read more...] about D49 plans mental health fair to help community identify signs of crisis, ‘heal’ youth
Warning signs of suicide
How to spot signs of mental illness in your kids
Mary Rose O'Leary of Eagle Rock, Calif., has shepherded three children into adulthood, and teaches art and music to middle-school students. Despite her extensive personal and professional experience with teens, she admits she's often perplexed by their behavior. Teenagers can be volatile and moody. They can test your patience, push your buttons and leave you questioning your sanity — and theirs. I'm not being flip. Mental health challenges are a serious — and growing — problem for teenagers: Teen and young-adult suicide has nearly tripled since the 1940s. The rate of 12- to 17-year-olds who struggled with clinical depression rose by 37 percent in a decade, according to a recent study. And schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders often manifest themselves in adolescence. In fact, half of all mental health conditions emerge by age 14, and three-quarters by 24, said Dr. Steven Adelsheim, director of the Stanford Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing, part of … [Read more...] about How to spot signs of mental illness in your kids
The warning signs of suicide – and how to get help
Just days after fashion icon Kate Spade died by suicide, celebrity chef and author Anthony Bourdain, host of the CNN travel show "Parts Unknown," was found dead in his hotel room in France at the age of 61. CNN confirmed the death, calling it a suicide. These high-profile deaths come the same week the CDC reported suicide rates in the U.S. have risen nearly 30 percent since 1999. In light of such disturbing news, many are left wondering, "What's going on?" "A lot of very smart people are looking at this and saying it's multifactorial. We don't really understand why there's such an increase," CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook said on "CBS This Morning." "One of the things we keep coming back to when these surprising events happen is you never know what is in somebody's head," he said. Mental illness, including depression and anxiety, is a major risk factor for suicide. But it's important to remember there isn't just one cause. The CDC report found that other … [Read more...] about The warning signs of suicide – and how to get help
Warning signs: New US health study reveals ‘dangerous disparities’ among states
Working-age Americans in 21 states faced a higher probability of premature death from 1990 to 2016, according to the most extensive state-by-state US health study ever conducted. The likelihood of early death for men and women age 20 to 55 is highest in West Virginia, Mississippi, and Alabama. In contrast, same-age residents of Minnesota, California, New York, and several northeastern states have a lower probability of premature mortality. "We are seeing dangerous disparities among states," said Dr. Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, whose organization coordinated the study. "Unless and until leaders of our health care system work together to mitigate risks, such as tobacco, alcohol, and diet, more Americans will die prematurely, and in many cases, unnecessarily." The study, published today in JAMA, covers 1990 to 2016; it is part of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, a comprehensive effort to … [Read more...] about Warning signs: New US health study reveals ‘dangerous disparities’ among states
Mother of suicide victim urges discussion on ‘taboo subject’ to stem rise in Oklahomans taking their lives
On the same day Jaron Barber killed himself in his Tulsa home, his mother felt an inexplicable urge to check up on him after leaving work. The reluctant dismissal of that gut feeling will plague Debbie Hughes for the rest of her life.Hughes recalls a foreboding change in her 24-year-old son’s behavior leading to his death last year, but at the time she chalked it up to young heartbreak. Known for his loving nature and goofy humor, Barber became withdrawn and distanced himself from family.He sent Hughes a series of long text messages about something he did to put his relationship in jeopardy. The girlfriend he shared his house with wanted to take a break. A few days later he asked his mother to move in with him because his girlfriend was moving out.“I didn’t want to break my lease. It was the first time I had ever turned him down for anything,” Hughes said. “I never turned my kids down. I would do anything for them. The first time I do it, this … [Read more...] about Mother of suicide victim urges discussion on ‘taboo subject’ to stem rise in Oklahomans taking their lives