Following a tragic teen police suicide in Blue Springs on Wednesday, numbers are out showing the concerns for suicide amongst teenagers.
The police suicide happened after a 16-year-old charged at police when they responded to a reported robbery on the 1500 block of Southwest 20th Street.
The death of the teenager, whose name is being withheld due to his age, has shocked his neighborhood.
"I had him in youth group. He was a very quiet kid but you always could tell there was something he was thinking about," explained Pastor Richard Steensma. "He was smart and really had so much to look forward to in life."
The robbery was likely planned by the teen, as well as the deadly encounter.
Wednesday's incident highlights a concerning issue of suicide with teenagers.
According to the most recent Missouri Student Survey done in 2014, around one in ten sixth- to 12th-graders in the state had "seriously considered suicide" over the last year. Jackson County had one of the highest rates in the Kansas City metro area, where 13.3 percent of sixth- to 12th-graders said they had "seriously considered suicide."
"In our area, it's a little bit higher than the state average, and the state average is a little bit higher than the national average," explained Tri-County Mental Health Services prevention specialist Vicky Ward.
Ward said any family could be impacted by suicide.
"Unfortunately, youth suicide breaks all economic boundaries and all different demographics," Ward said.
Around the country, males are four times more likely to commit suicide than females.
Currently in Kansas and Missouri, state leaders are putting forward legislation to curb suicide numbers. Some of the plans include requiring teachers to participate in online suicide awareness courses.
Above all else, Ward says one of the best prevention methods involves talking directly with your child, friend or family member.
"What we know is the No. 1 resiliency in any of these issues is really opening those lines of communication," she said.
For more information on signs of suicidal thoughts and helpful resources, click here.
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Tom Dempsey can be reached at tom.dempsey@kshb.com.
