The Jeremiah Lasater tragedy
By Karen Maeshiro and Jerry Berrios, Staff Writers
Article Last Updated: 10/22/2008 07:11:56 AM PDT A copy photo from the 2007 High Desert School yearbook shows... (Evan Yee/Staff Photographer)
one tragic death is part of a trend among teens, according to the
American Psychological Association. Suicide is the third leading cause of death
for people ages 15 to 24, surpassed only by homicide and accidents.
In 2005, the latest year for which
figures are available, more than 4,200 in that age group committed suicide,
according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
That's down from the 4,316 suicides recorded in 2004, but up from the 3,988
reported in 2003.
A 2004 report from the National Institute of Mental
Health indicated risk factors for suicide include depression, other mental
disorders and substance abuse.
"The most common reason for suicide
among youth is depression," said Peter Jensen, a psychiatrist who heads up the
New York-based Reach Institute, which provides training in conducting
anti-bullying programs and in identifying children at risk for depression.
"When someone is under repeated stress, they think there's no way out.
There's despair, a feeling that life can't change," Jensen said. "When you get
into that kind of depressed state, thoughts of suicide are very common."
Bullying is one of those major stresses, he added.
"If you are
humiliated in front of others, think about it for a teen: This is your life; you
are surrounded by all of the other people who define who you are and how you
should feel about yourself," he said.
"Bullying is a major problem
across the country and has to be taken very seriously."
Jensen stressed
the importance of the role of schools in combating bullying. "From the
administrators down to the teachers, the janitors and the students themselves,
they have to be aware of how to create model non-bullying settings," Jensen said.
"Students have to overcome that idea that you are going to be a tattle-tale. We
have to say, `Stop that. That's not right."'
Students described
Jeremiah as quiet and absorbed by his schoolwork. Halperin, who had known
Jeremiah since middle school, said the boy kept to himself but had started
coming out of his shell since joining the football team.
He had been
"so excited" about playing in the game last Friday, Halperin said.
"I'm
devastated," he said. "I'm trying to hold up for everybody. This is a child. ...
These children are all my family."
Haggai said by the time teenagers
reach high school, the teasing and bullying phase should be over.
"In
high school, they should be maturing out of that stuff. The fact that people are
doing these things, teasing and bullying, throwing food at people in line,
that's insane," she said. "When the shock wears off, there's going to be anger.
"The kids need to stand up for each other and protect each other. They need to do it a lot more and make a difference."