SDPD: Torrey Pines High School Student Killed By Officers Left Suicide Note

Our top story on midday edition now that a suicide note has was -- has been found on his body police believe the Tory points -- Torrey Pines seen -- team had intended to die. If the teenager planned suicide that might that kind of thinking is growing more common among young people. This week is that he was released showing hospitalization for young people with suicidal thoughts doubled from 2008 two 2015. San Diego County suicide prevention County has had we've seen a similar increase locally Thank you for joining me. What are some of the warning signs that Sunday is thinking about suicide. Specifically teenagers or any age group we are looking for changes in any behavior. Really any changes in behavior from changes in sleep to substance abuse especially when in relation to a recent and that -- event in life. Whether it is a divorce are getting expelled from school so we want to be especially concerned when we see changes in behavior associated with a recent life event. A study came out showing hospitalizations of young people ages 5 to 17 for suicidal thoughts or actions doubled from 2008 two 2015. Here is what a researcher from Vanderbilt children's said. The CDC basically has reported that every age group has increased. Not just adults. Every age group at every age. The two biggest groups that seem to have increased the most dramatically over the last decade are white males in the 50 is range and adolescent females. It seems to fit with what the CDC is reporting. Does that surprise you the rise in suicides? Is that what we are seeing in San Diego? One thing we talked about did not specify whether it was a suicide attempt the did not mention whether it was self-interest and there's something called nonsuicidal self injury. It includes both of those actions but the ultimate conversation around that is why is the youth self harming in the first place. A lot of times it's not suicide attempt or a attempted suicide. Surprising is maybe not the right word but it is troubling. CDC also said the rate of suicidal deaths for ages 10 to 14 doubled since 2007. I know that 2007 and 2008 was is -- stressful time for adults. When you think about the family dynamics if there are extra stressors on the family whether it is job loss or additional family separations that stress will fall down to the youth. There's a lot of dynamics and one thing I will try to remind folks is that it is complex and it is not easy to make the conversations about the why. He talked about protective factors and coping strategies. What are some best practices? It's not just about education it's about having the comfort to have that conversation. It's about having a therapeutic relationship when you talk about suicide prevention they will tell you that it happens because then it people in our lives to outweigh pain without hope. A lot of times we talked about not convincing people to die and I think we need to remind people of their reasons for living. High schools would be required to have suicide prevention plans in place. What kind of difference does that make What are we doing to train our staff what are we doing to prepare after a suicide. Over the last 15 years have been some of the most proactive schools. What it is going to do is force the schools him to be proactive and looking at the full spectrum of suicide prevention. It requires constant vigilance and cannot be a one-day assembly or Wednesday staff training and has to be integrated into everything we are doing. It is even more heartbreaking that this occurred at Torrey Pines considering their outreach and suicide prevention program. Absolutely is very heart-wrenching to think about this loss at Torrey Pines. What I think is this is an opportunity. Mix it with the conversations happening around 13 reasons why the Netflix show people are talking more and more about suicide prevention and rather being -- and being scared of that they are we prepared to have these conversations and we need to be vigilant to have these conversations. What you say to somebody else that you think may be considering that. Is the conversation enough? What should they do? You should have a conversation direct. Are you thinking about suicide. You can give information from our website also the San Diego crisis line is not just a number for people in crisis. Whether it is before having a conversation and after having that conversation folks can reject the number and get connected to a mental health professional who can help guide them and find a therapist and find out what supports either and what is needed. I have been speaking with Stan Paul and suicide prevention specialist. Thank you. Thank you.