Teen suicide article misleading
I am concerned the Nov. 6, 2019 article “Preventing Teen Suicide” is negligent in its simplified portrayal of the complex array of factors linked to the alarming increase in suicide among our youth. In listing possible theories for this increase, author Superintendent Dave McQueen chose to state one of two theories as: “Many parents do not allow their children to struggle through problems, instead smoothing things over for them. This does not allow children to build resilience, so when a more serious challenge comes along, children don’t know how to handle themselves.” As a person who spent years as a research associate in the field of youth resiliency, I assert McQueen’s statement is misleading and irresponsible.
Too many public school administrators utilize the word resiliency in ways that are not grounded in decades of rigorous research, and instead utilize the word to promote self-serving agendas. Scientifically, we know the specific protective factors that are most likely to build resiliency in youth, as well as the risk factors linked with poor outcomes such as teen suicide. This is why federal and state funding for youth programs is so often linked to the very specific factors prevention professionals know promote resilience. In all my years working as a research associate within this field, I have never seen “parents do not allow their children to struggle through problems” on the top of any federally published list of risk/prevention factors related to suicide or resilience. Nor is it highlighted in any of the scholarly articles I’ve read about teenage suicide. For Superintendent McQueen to list this as one of two possible theories for the alarming increase in teen suicide when there is a plethora of far more statistically significant factors is analogous to a CEO of a nvideo game company stating, “Genetics and potato chips are two leading causes of type-2 diabetes.”
In my experience, leading experts in the prevention field are far more alarmed by the lack of adults offering skill building and responsive care to our youth to support them in learning effective coping tools than there are “experts” stating we should abandon youth with immature nervous systems to fend for themselves.
It is unfair and unfortunate that educators in our public K-12 education system are being called upon to respond to mental health crises that their training did not properly prepare them for.
Our youth are entering adulthood pained by anxiety, depression and an array of substance use and behavioral disorders. For this reason, we adults must hold ourselves to a higher standard.
Our children need us. Resources are limited. This is not the time to focus programs on blaming annoying, over-involved parents for teen suicide. May we instead focus attention on prevention measures that are grounded in the best science at our fingertips.
—Carolynn Spezza, Middletown
An area of concern
Ok, we have a serious problem (actually two) going on in the Clearlake Riviera and it really needs to be dealt with wether by police, code enforcement and/or public works regarding a fire danger. The area of concern is the big turnout area at Point Lakeview and Soda Bay. There has been a lot of dumping going on here over the years – household garbage, electronics, even a twin mattress. Not to mention continual dumping of tree and yard cuttings. There are now two four to five foot mounds of yard waste in addition to garbage behind some boulders. Last year one of our local tree cutting services was seen coming out of there and left behind was a load of fresh cuttings. Now again, there is a new dumping of oleander cuttings.
I honestly hope if a fire does come through that whoever is stockpiling kindling does not lose their homes. A report was filed at Code Enforcement mid-late July and someone came out and cleaned up the north end but not the garbage on the east side behind the boulders nor the yard cuttings.
The other issue is the cutting (or not) of trees and weeds at the turnout. I was told Cal Trans was cutting back trees and such because of fire danger. Whoever was cutting this past summer, cut every single tree at the roadside in front of the turnout including the healthy ones but if you look at the “forest” going on here you see dead trees/limbs all over. Last winter on the day it rained so hard a large branch broke off. Then late July I was parked there one morning when there was a ground-shaking thud. Later that day I saw another huge limb broke off. Thank God it fell into the “forest” and not where we park.
Public Works was contacted about cutting that tree down before it falls on someone parked there (others park there too) but nothing has been done and I’m willing to bet it will come down if it rains this year. And if it comes down on someone parked there I’m sure they would like to know who to sue because it has been reported.
This is ridiculous! Cut healthy trees and leave the dead ones, stockpiling kindling and nothing is done about it. Maybe one of the “powers that be” could put up one of those game cameras to see who is dumping there. It is against the law but clearly the laws aren’t enforced. Is this another sign of the times? Obey only the laws you want and ignore the rest? Surely with so many fires everywhere, people must worry one will reach the Rivieras and if it does, it will burn at the turnout for a week.
I remain hopeful these issues will be remedied.
—Danielle Holliday, Kelseyville
