Rotterdam police investigating suicide of Schalmont freshman
ROTTERDAM — Police are investigating the apparent suicide of a Schalmont student over the weekend.

Officials with the district confirmed that the student, a 14-year-old high school student, died on Saturday off campus. Spokeswoman Audrey Hendricks said the school’s resource officer and Rotterdam Police are working with the district to investigate what lead up to the death of the teen.

“At this point, we can’t speculate why,” Hendricks said, “but any and every reason is being investigated.”

District officials are sending a letter home to parents about the suicide. In addition, grief counselors are on hand at the campus to help students through the death of a classmate.

Teen depression is a much bigger problem that most people know....
You would be surprised if the real statistics were known.
Places like Four winds are always near capacity with teens... very sad.

OMG...this is horrific!!!
Prayers go out to the entire family...and may the victim find rest!

And I do hope that this poor kid wasn't another on prescription mind altering drugs.

  Just can't imagine  

teens always think they are in the wrong especially when not meeting the 'core making standards of the human cogs'.......and
we say all the other things a teen goes through is more abnormal than the system...

a happy healthy contributing adult comes from such a cocoon.....

very sad.....

very sad......

.let's hope it's not like the case in Fla    BULLYING....not only drugs are a problem....bullying may be right along side of drugs. ..

and let me tell you.....the school is not on top of this problem....

heard in the donut shop

teens will be teens....boys will be boys.....there's a story behind each of these statements....and it could have ended up in tragedy.

May the family find comfort and peace....God bless all.....

I have been active with the organization American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The overall science and research into suicide does not support that bullying is a major cause for suicide. Mental illness is. There has been a media push into the whole bullying thing, and yes, some kids who commit suicide are bullied, but the primary factor in suicide is untreated mental illness. This bullying thing reminds me how heavy metal music was the "cause" of suicide in the 80s and 90s.

Bullying is a legitimate problem, but we need to not take the blame away from the real causes of this very serious action.

I feel for this family and for the boy. I hope they can all find peace. The AFSP has many resources for families trying to recover after loss.

Was the child at a school function over the weekend when this happened?  Why is the school investigating and making statements to the media?  

the only bullying being done is by the system....a child gets labeled as 'abnormal' with mental disease just because they don't
see things like they are told they should see things.....

'must...fit...in....and....be...a....cog'

The mental state of children is fragile.... society and parents need to understand that...

We need to get back to basics.....raising a child is hard and they need to have a stable home life....it has changed over the years.

      "It takes a village to raise a child".

We have become discompassionate and passive with today's chldren...and Senders.....right on...

the bullies are the ones with a mental issue..... we need to be  more concerned in that area...

Fragile?????

Get a backbone

Life is not fair

These statements do not make the behavior correct but we are building a society of helpless nancies

Do you think the kid from china gives a rats a** if he or she takes your job away

People blamed the school when those girls at Schenectady High were committing suicide. I think it is proper for the schools to acknowledge a death, but it seems like they are validating the idea that people under 18 are property of the school system. This is a very personal tragedy. What a shame. Parent, it is good to know there is a group working at looking into this more deeply. The people around the suicide are left standing wondering what the could have done differently. That has to be a million times worse when it is your child.

Quoted from Madam X

People blamed the school when those girls at Schenectady High were committing suicide. I think it is proper for the schools to acknowledge a death, but it seems like they are validating the idea that people under 18 are property of the school system. This is a very personal tragedy. What a shame. Parent, it is good to know there is a group working at looking into this more deeply. The people around the suicide are left standing wondering what the could have done differently. That has to be a million times worse when it is your child.

I wasn't going to go there.  I agree.  Why does the school run to the media to announce and investigation, as if the health and safety of children are their responsibility, even outside of school.  

Quoted from exit3

Fragile?????

Get a backbone

Life is not fair

These statements do not make the behavior correct but we are building a society of helpless nancies

Do you think the kid from china gives a rats a** if he or she takes your job away

BRAVO!! BRAVO!! BRAVO!!!!!!!!!

Suicide Prevention, Children Ages 10 to 19 Years

Quoted Text

In New York State, suicide is the leading cause of injury death for children ages
10 to 14 years and the fourth leading cause for children ages 15 to 19 years. Teenage
males are much more likely to die by suicide than females. Young males are less likely to
seek help or talk about their feelings. They are also more likely than females to use
fatal means (such as guns, hanging, or jumping from heights) to attempt suicide.
As a parent or caregiver, you can play a major role in identifying if a young person is
considering suicide.

Quoted Text

There are many reasons why teens become suicidal. A suicide rarely has
just one cause.
The teen years are an extremely stressful time for many children.Untreated mental
illness, especially depression, is the leading cause for suicide. Many people who
commit suicide suffer from untreated or poorly treated depression resulting from
difficult life experiences.These life experiences might include family changes or
illness, loss of family or friends, and feeling lonely, helpless, hopeless or depressed.

Quoted Text

The following factors may increase the risk of suicide or attempted suicide.
However, these risk factors do not always lead to a suicide.
Depression and other mental disorders, or a substance-abuse disorder
(often combined with other mental disorders)
Feeling hopeless and worthless
Previous suicide attempt(s)
Physical illness
Feeling detached and isolated from friends, peers and family
Family history of suicide, mental illness, or depression
Family violence, including physical or sexual abuse
Access to a weapon in the home
Knowing someone with suicidal behavior, such as a family member, friend
, or celebrity
Coping with being gay (homosexuality) in an unsupportive family, community,
or hostile school environment
Incarceration (time in prison)