Creating a Culture of Kindness

My heart aches when I hear of another suicide. It’s like the pain from many years ago of losing two loved ones to suicide comes rushing forward. Nothing can stop the aching. Time heals some wounds, but not this one.

The path forward for all of us is when we learn ways to become aware of others and their struggles. Aware of subtleties in behavior change that may include withdrawal from normal activities. Aware of the pain in the eyes. Aware of the catch in the voice when you ask, “How are you doing?”

The recently published NC Youth Risk Behavior Survey results are staggering.

• 18% of high school students seriously considered attempting suicide,

• 16% have planned to attempt suicide, and

• 10% made a suicide attempt in the previous year.

Suicide is the ninth leading cause of death in the state, and the second leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 40.

In July 2025, leaders in North Carolina put together a Suicide Prevention Action Plan to cover 2026-2030. Some of the ideas that will be implemented include a youth advisory board that will share training information across the state, a community action committee that plans to meet monthly, as well as training for barbers and hairstylist to talk about suicide prevention with their clients.

Teenage years are stressful. Regular developmental changes coupled with other life events can put boys and girls at risk for depression and suicide. Johns Hopkins University statistics show that girls are more likely to attempt suicide than boys, but boys are four times as likely to succeed.

Getting Help for Your Suicidal Teen

If you notice signs of suicidal thoughts or plans, here are ways to help your teen:

• Keep the lines of communication open and ask your teen directly if they are thinking of killing themselves if you notice any signs.
• Listen to your child.
• Encourage your teen to remain involved in their favorite activities.
• Remove any potential suicide weapons.
• Find a therapist in your area or, if you don’t know one, use and encourage your teen to use Crisis Text Online to text or chat with one.
• In the event of an emergency, call 911.

“Be-A-Link” Save A Life!

It wasn’t that long ago when Green Hope High School dealt with two student deaths from suicide. At that time, I was the PTA President and knew our community needed a path forward, a way to heal. We pulled a community of parents and students together and drafted a plan for a memorial walk that raised money to implement a Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention program that we established in Western Wake County. Volunteers were trained to share the steps to “Be-A-Link” Save A Life!

Over the next few weeks, I volunteered time talking with students in high schools and churches encouraging students that it’s OK to ask for help. We also encouraged students to take these steps if they felt a friend was struggling:

• Stay with the person – you are their lifeline
• Listen, really listen. Take them seriously!
• Get, or call, help immediately.

During one of the workshops, I noticed a young man who had come to earlier program. He approached me afterward to thank me. You see, after the first workshop, he noticed a friend was struggling. He kept chatting with the friend online while he called his mother over to find a way to get help to his friend while he kept the conversation going. With tears in his eyes (and in mine), he told me that his friend was alive because he stayed with them and really listened. More importantly, he had the little Yellow Ribbon card I had given him with the these numbers on it for his Mom to call that included the Hopeline: 919-231-4525

If you believe your teen’s depression or suicidal thoughts or attempts are related to social media use or cyberbullying, contact the Social Media Victims Law Center today for a free consultation to learn more about how the organization can help you during this difficult time.