8 in 800

800.  It's a ballpark figure of the number of students I have taught over my 8 year teaching career. 

8.  It's the number of students that I have taught that have passed away.

8.  It's a single-digit number.  A small number in terms of dollar bills in your wallet. A small percentage for a test score.  A small percentage of the downloaded portion of your video game. 

8.  It's only 1% of the students I've taught. 

8.  It's far too many students to have lost to accidental death or suicide. 

This does not include the number of students who have been hospitalized for failed suicide attempts or not wearing their seatbelts. 

I lost another one yesterday.  He left it to the weight and power of a fast train to take his life for him.

Did you know that depression isn't a choice? It's not something that someone wants to have.  It's a chemical imbalance and can be triggered by life events.

I suffer from depression. I have a family history of it.  I had parents who were divorced when I was young.  It wasn't always easy but I had really great parents and really great step parents.  All of them knew how to be adults and keep the harshness of the adult world of divorce away from me. I had some anxiety as a child about sleeping in my own bed, but that was normal.  It wasn't until my person, my grandfather, passed away when I was in high school that I really felt what depression felt like.  It feels weird and unknown and it feels sad and hopeless.  But I was lucky, I got help. I sought counseling and medication and was able to handle it.

Some kids aren't so lucky.

Some kids have parents who don't understand depression.  Who wouldn't want their babies to be stuck with that stigma. "What would their friends think!?"

Some kids have parents who cause their depression.  Parents who put the burden of their emotions on their kids.  Some parents lead the type of lives that create chaos for their children.  And those children are set up for failure.

Some parents are doing their best and they just dont know.

There are more scenarios than anyone could possibly name.

Did you know that social services rarely takes a child out of the home until after the child has been hurt or abused?

Did you know that our guidance counselors in our schools are trained to help students with emotional problems, but are often used as testing and scheduling coordinators?

Our guidance counselors do the best they can, or at least all the ones I've ever worked with do. They're amazing but too much is put on their plate. 

As teachers, as counselors, as principles, as lunch ladies, as whatever you are ... YOU CAN HELP. AND YOU SHOULD. 

We are always scared to report something that may or may not be true.  Let that be for someone more important than you to decide. 

IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.

Do not let the future of this nation die because they thought death would be easier than life. 

Ask your students how they're feeling.  Ask YOUR CHILDREN how they're feeling.  Ask them, and if they don't want to talk about it, don't give up.  Either keep pressing or find someone else they would talk to. 

Don't let your pride or your fear keep a what if scenario in the wings. These kids need you.  HELP THEM BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

And if you can't do anything else, you love the hell out of them in the meantime until you can find someone who can help them and make a difference. 

One of my favorite quotes:
Kids who deserve love the least need it the most.  And they will ask for it in the most unloving of ways. 

LOVE THEM MOST.