Help! Please
| An Advanced Publishing Services Publication |
Whether we acknowledge it of not, this is the calling of many of our teenagers in America right now. In the
aftermath of yet another rage filled suicide in Omaha, Nebraska we are confronted again with the reality that we
have not provided enough support, enough love and enough hope for our teens. It is all too easy to dismiss this
case as just another troubled individual who took matters into his own hands as a means to ease his pain. And be
it all too easy to say that no one could have predicted such an outcome. As I look back into the last 18 months or
so, I reminded that the incident in Omaha could have easily taken place here in Northwest Indiana. I am reminded
of at least 3 teenage suicides and or attempted suicides in Porter County alone recently and that number could
just be all that I know about by mention in the newspapers or among the members of the community.
There is no simple answer as to how we can prevent such events from happening, only questions. The
sadness and loneliness that a teenager feels as they learn about the difficulties that life brings is not uncommon.
Most people can relate to a time in their past when as a teenager they struggled to understand the meaning of
life’s hardships. Be it relationships that failed, loss of a loved one or any form of family crisis. Most of us have felt
the absolute void and emptiness that creeps upon you, when you are young and don’t know where to turn for
help or what the future may hold.
As I write this, I stop to talk to my son as he leaves for his events of the day and discover that just 2 days ago
a classmate died from what many are saying was a possible suicide. The strangest thing though is we may never
know the truth as in many of the recent case in our community. The media out of respect to family and friends
does little to communicate these situations and that is very understandable. However, the unfortunate results
from lack of discussion and knowledge is complacency in our society and the inability to recognize the gravity and
the pervasiveness of the problem that is right in front of us.
We must open our eyes and seek opportunity to provide comfort, support and hope to all our youth in the
community. I urge that as a community, we take a stand and look to create opportunity for our teens to find
assistance and to look hopefully to the future. We must provide the pathways that can be easily found and then
easily followed so that anyone who is experiencing pain or longs for love and acceptance will be able to quickly
find hope and help emanating from a community that is rich in love for one another.
In society, we talk about providing a future for our families. Unfortunately, the majority if not all the time we
talk about providing for the future, it is in reference to financial matters rather spiritual matters. The future is in
God’s hands and we must provide a future for our families by laying the foundation of faith in our lives. Rooted in
faith we are better equipped to help our youth. Rooted in faith God will provide the assistance, love and support
for all his children. Rooted in faith our future is guaranteed by the forgiveness of Christ. When any of God’s
children suffer, so does He. It is why he sent his only son to be among us, to save us from ourselves and from the
sins of the world. Through Christ we are saved and through Christ we are called to save our youth and open up
the path for His love to be shown to all who are burdened.
aftermath of yet another rage filled suicide in Omaha, Nebraska we are confronted again with the reality that we
have not provided enough support, enough love and enough hope for our teens. It is all too easy to dismiss this
case as just another troubled individual who took matters into his own hands as a means to ease his pain. And be
it all too easy to say that no one could have predicted such an outcome. As I look back into the last 18 months or
so, I reminded that the incident in Omaha could have easily taken place here in Northwest Indiana. I am reminded
of at least 3 teenage suicides and or attempted suicides in Porter County alone recently and that number could
just be all that I know about by mention in the newspapers or among the members of the community.
There is no simple answer as to how we can prevent such events from happening, only questions. The
sadness and loneliness that a teenager feels as they learn about the difficulties that life brings is not uncommon.
Most people can relate to a time in their past when as a teenager they struggled to understand the meaning of
life’s hardships. Be it relationships that failed, loss of a loved one or any form of family crisis. Most of us have felt
the absolute void and emptiness that creeps upon you, when you are young and don’t know where to turn for
help or what the future may hold.
As I write this, I stop to talk to my son as he leaves for his events of the day and discover that just 2 days ago
a classmate died from what many are saying was a possible suicide. The strangest thing though is we may never
know the truth as in many of the recent case in our community. The media out of respect to family and friends
does little to communicate these situations and that is very understandable. However, the unfortunate results
from lack of discussion and knowledge is complacency in our society and the inability to recognize the gravity and
the pervasiveness of the problem that is right in front of us.
We must open our eyes and seek opportunity to provide comfort, support and hope to all our youth in the
community. I urge that as a community, we take a stand and look to create opportunity for our teens to find
assistance and to look hopefully to the future. We must provide the pathways that can be easily found and then
easily followed so that anyone who is experiencing pain or longs for love and acceptance will be able to quickly
find hope and help emanating from a community that is rich in love for one another.
In society, we talk about providing a future for our families. Unfortunately, the majority if not all the time we
talk about providing for the future, it is in reference to financial matters rather spiritual matters. The future is in
God’s hands and we must provide a future for our families by laying the foundation of faith in our lives. Rooted in
faith we are better equipped to help our youth. Rooted in faith God will provide the assistance, love and support
for all his children. Rooted in faith our future is guaranteed by the forgiveness of Christ. When any of God’s
children suffer, so does He. It is why he sent his only son to be among us, to save us from ourselves and from the
sins of the world. Through Christ we are saved and through Christ we are called to save our youth and open up
the path for His love to be shown to all who are burdened.
