Behavioral representative talks bullying and suicide

SOUTH ZANESVILLE, Ohio- The suicide rate in Muskingum County is on the rise, especially in young adults.

In the last couple of months, three area teens took their lives, with a 12-year-old boy being the latest. There is a lot of speculation about whether or not bullying is having an influence on suicide rates in teens.

“I think the biggest difference these days is the cyberbullying. It used to be you, maybe you got bullied at school but you were able to go home and get away from it for hours,” said Melissa Johnson the Director of the Muskingum County All Well Behavioral Health. “Now it’s just happening social media: Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, all of those things. So kids aren’t getting away from it anymore.”

Many people are left wondering why this is happening and what’s causing teens to kill themselves.

“Impulsivity. Lack of coping skills. If you are feeling horrible about yourself and you’re feeling like there’s no hope and, you know, you can’t even go to school and feel safe because there’s other kids that are being mean or maybe teachers are pressuring you, that kind of thing,” said Johnson. “You just feel like there’s no hope and I think that’s when suicide presents itself as an option. It looks like a fix.”

Johnson said parents should talk to their children about bullying and being nice to other kids. She also said parents need to be aware of signs that suggest their child may be suicidal. These signs include isolation, change in appetite, and change in behavior.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available to anyone by calling 1-800-273-8255 or by texting 741741.