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By Paul Takahashi (contact) 
Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012 | 2 a.m.
The Clark County School District is well aware of the troubling increase of teen suicides in the Las Vegas Valley. A UNLV report released Tuesday found the number of suicides among Clark County children more than doubled from 2010 to 2011. There were 16 reported child suicides in 2011, up from seven in 2010. The report also found Clark County's child suicide rate was nearly three times higher than the national average, although researchers did not give a clear explanation of why this was the case. Nationally, suicide is the third-leading cause of death among adolescents. The news did not ...
What needs to be said, is that a suidical individual needs functional adults (or as the case may be---peers) who are capable of identifying "the signs" as ideation, isolation, types of "preparing" as giving away personal items. If the affected individual begins to talk about it, take it SERIOUSLY.
CARING goes a long ways in reaching out to someone who is in great despair or personal crisis. Take the time this individual needs from you; be there for them. In a world where one feels they are surrounded by a humanity that is self-absorbed, too busy to communicate, too busy to provide the simplist of affirmations, it is pretty easy to feel you don't matter to others, you don't have "value". Many identify themselves according to how others value them. This is a slippery slope of self concept.
Some young people are dealing with living conditions that are more than they can bear. Worse yet, they live in a home environment that is abusive (the list can be long here, but narrowed down, abuses physically, verbally, sexually, and homelessness), where they have no sanctuary in their home to dwell, to have peace and security. Other precipitating conditions can be living in a home where no one is there/present when they wake up, leave for school, nor when they return to their home. This fosters a sense of abandonment.
What I have found to be a problem these days, are people who have a mindset to only be around "positive" vibe people, avoiding any who are "down" or "in need" or "depressed". This further alienates an individual who is suicidal.
In conclusion, AWARENESS, of the demeanor of not only one's self (and how others might preceive you, your "approachability" and "availability" levels for others to access you), but also of those around you, is a step in preventing suicide. Be there. Not only be ready to give a hug, but be able and willing to receive a hug. It costs you nothing, and could very well save an endangered life. Hope this provides some insight.
Blessings and Peace,
Star