Tragic Texas girl, 15, kills herself in high school bathroom

[Ulysses31]

Don't know whether more teenagers are killing themselves or that people are just becoming uncaring and many people don't have anyone to vent their frustrations to or keep an eye on them, maybe a combination of both :dunno: I've also heard anout people getting angry or suicidal simply over comments left on social networking sites. A tragedy in any case. RIP.

She said she'd do it... but no-one took her seriously: Tragic Texas girl, 15, kills herself in high school bathroom

No-one listened: Meagan Allen in an image from her Facebook page

A 15-year old girl killed herself in her school’s bathroom after earlier telling her friends she was going to commit suicide.

Friends of Meagan Allen failed to take her remarks seriously and were shattered later to discover she had gone ahead with her suicide plan, according to KVUE TV.

Counsellors were helping students at Leander High School in Austin, Texas, come to terms with the tragedy.

Allen, who was a member of the school’s Reserve Officers' Training Corps, was found dead in one of the bathroom stalls at the High School.

Although police would not officially confirm the girl's name, local media reports later confirmed it was Meagan.

She is believed to have used a .22 handgun, which she brought to school in her backpack.

Students were not aware anything had happened until they heard screaming from someone who discovered her body in the female bathroom.

Tribute pages on Facebook had to be closed down after malicious messages were posted by anonymous individuals - otherwise known as trolls.

It was the second death at the school in just over a week.

A 16-year old boy, named as Joey Sheehy, died from a suspected drug overdose at the school last week.

The latest tragedy took place during a break between lessons shortly after 12.30pm on Monday.

Two hours after Allen’s body was discovered students at the school had to be evacuated due to a bomb threat.

Leander police quickly established that the threat was a hoax and children were allowed to return to classes.

School officials said there is no evidence that Allen was bullied at school.

Tragic scene: Leander High School in Austin, Texas, where Meagan killed herself in a school bathroom


An email was sent to parents following the shooting and many rushed to the school to be with their children.

Parent Don Williams said: ‘It just doesn't make sense. You know, I just don't understand it.’

In a letter to parents, LHS High school said: 'By now you may have learned the sad news that one of our students, Meagan Allen, took her own life on Monday.

'Last week, another Leander High student, Joey Sheehy, passed away off campus. We will miss Meagan and Joey very much.

'I am making you aware of this because I believe that some of our students may be affected by these losses, since they were members of our school family.

'We want to be sensitive to the needs of our students at this time, so we have extra counselors who are available to our students throughout the week. Our staff is prepared to assist you and your child during this difficult time.

'Children often react strongly to a traumatic event such as this, even if they did not know Meagan and Joey well. Those who are acquainted with the family may be experiencing additional stress.'

Health officials said suicide is the third-biggest cause of death of students aged 15 to 25 in the U.S.

Merily Keller, spokesman for the suicide prevention group Mental Health of Texas said: ‘In light of this tragedy, I would urge all parents to talk to their teens about suicide prevention to let them know that help is available and that help can work.

‘The heightened risk of suicide is a matter of minutes or a matter of hours, not days, not weeks. So any intervention during that real short time period can save a life,’ added Keller.



Watch video here
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ander-High-School-bathroom.html#ixzz1IkOuOjfC

 

[rizwano]

it's such a sad end. despite all our efforts, suicides cases still continue to occur. we have to unite as one to help those who are at risk of suicides

 

[STDiva]

Sue Icide should be a porn stars name.

 

[Icewater Jones]

So many questions, and no real answers. It's confusing to me as to how teens have become so emotionally fragile. I know teens have always been emotionally unbalanced to a large degree, but not like this. There are groups of teens who purposely walk around as somber and detached as possible nowadays. This 'Emo' bullshit is fucking crazy, and so many parent brush this off like it's just a phase. I hear so many parents say 'That's just who he/she is.' when it comes to this. I don't know what the hell's void.

 

[Ulysses31]

So many questions, and no real answers. It's confusing to me as to how teens have become so emotionally fragile. I know teens have always been emotionally unbalanced to a large degree, but not like this. There are groups of teens who purposely walk around as somber and detached as possible nowadays. This 'Emo' bullshit is fucking crazy, and so many parent brush this off like it's just a phase. I hear so many parents say 'That's just who he/she is.' when it comes to this. I don't know what the hell's void.

I wouldn't say the problem is centred solely around emo kids, they are often obsessed with negative thoughts or morbid curiosity you wonder whether they could feel worse enough to kill themselves, all these goth types in any case are often rebellious and independant and often don't care what people think of them so you can rule out that as a motive to commit suicide. I sometimes think the cheerleader/jock types are under more pressure to maintain a certain lifestyle and image and not achieving this can shatter their whole lives, the girls want to be the prettiest and be seen with a popular guy. Same can be said about those highly driven that are aiming to get into the best colleges (for their desired profession) and need top grades, anything less and that could send them on a downwards spiral. I guess any group within a school environment can be affected by different things. I remember reading this story about a 19 year old girl who jumped off of a 120ft bridge because her boyfriend dumped her:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...nt-Teenagers-text-boyfriend-leaps-bridge.html


There was a town called Bridgend in Wales that suffered 24 suicides (all by hanging) in under two years, some of those involved knew one another so maybe sometimes there is a domino effect. Either someone gets upset because someone close to them kills themselves and they feel they can't carry on or seeing someone else do it gives someone who is already suicidal the confidence to go all the way. Guess we'll never know the truth as the dead don't speak :dunno:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1084779/Young-mother-24th-person-kill-Bridgend.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...hanged-daughter-nephew-killed-themselves.html

 

[Skye_234]

There was a town called Bridgend in Wales that suffered 24 suicides (all by hanging) in under two years, some of those involved knew one another so maybe sometimes there is a domino effect. Either someone gets upset because someone close to them kills themselves and they feel they can't carry on or seeing someone else do it gives someone who is already suicidal the confidence to go all the way. Guess we'll never know the truth as the dead don't speak :dunno:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1084779/Young-mother-24th-person-kill-Bridgend.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...hanged-daughter-nephew-killed-themselves.html

Yeah that was weird, I live not too far from Bridgend

 

[Icewater Jones]

I'm not saying it's a strictly emo thing, I just find it crazy that emotional detachment is a lifestyle now. Like a said before, nobody seems to know why or how teens are so overly emotionally distraught these days. I'm sure it's a combination of things, but what? What are teens missing that they feel like killing themselves like it's the thing to do? 24 suicides in less than two years in one place? That's ridiculous.

This is getting outta hand.

 

[Not Sure]

She is believed to have used a .22 handgun, which she brought to school in her backpack.

I know it's Texas but I'm assuming that bringing a .22 to school is against the rules. No metal detectors?

 

[Ulysses31]

I'm not saying it's a strictly emo thing, I just find it crazy that emotional detachment is a lifestyle now. Like a said before, nobody seems to know why or how teens are so overly emotionally distraught these days. I'm sure it's a combination of things, but what? What are teens missing that they feel like killing themselves like it's the thing to do? 24 suicides in less than two years in one place? That's ridiculous.

This is getting outta hand.

Maybe they've got it too easy now? Older generations had to put up with wars, rationing, poverty, death and poor medical treatment and they got through it, maybe they were made of tougher stuff? Kids take many things for granted nowadays and get depressed if they can't get the latest phone or a brand spanking new car or if they get dumped by someone they've been seeing for a month, either that or there have always been suicideal tendencies but in the past people avoided because of the social stigma or religious reasons (ie you can't get into heaven by suicide), as suicide becomes more common and people less religious maybe more people make this fatal decision. There has also been a lot of breakups in the family structure which leaves many young people with no one talk to (if parents split up) or caught inbetween family arguments (divirces are at record rates) which can make daily life unbearable, although I would never criticise someone for taking their own life (we've all had our low points) as we don't know what that person went through it's a crying shame when a young person kills themselves over something that turns out to be a trivial/minor event. As the saying goes, suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

I know it's Texas but I'm assuming that bringing a .22 to school is against the rules. No metal detectors?

How she even got hold of that gun is a whole new issue

Do we really have to question that?
http://theweek.com/article/index/213655/only-in-america-buy-a-satellite-dish-get-a-free-gun

I'm glad you said that and not me (eventhough I thought it)

 

[DJCowboy]

How she even got hold of that gun is a whole new issue

Do we really have to question that?
http://theweek.com/article/index/213655/only-in-america-buy-a-satellite-dish-get-a-free-gun

 

[Hot Mega]

I know it's Texas but I'm assuming that bringing a .22 to school is against the rules. No metal detectors?

Metal detectors?? In Texas?? What kind of commie pinko lib, etc., etc., etc., gobble-d-gook is that??

Who knows in some of these backwards thinking states what their laws are...

I think TX and AZ (no surprise) are states to consider allowing firearms on the campuses of some schools.

Texas Considers Allowing Guns on Campuses

AUSTIN, Tex. (AP) — John Woods sometimes sits in a classroom at the University of Texas, Austin, and wonders what would happen if somebody walked in and started shooting.

In April 2007, Mr. Woods was a student at Virginia Tech University when his girlfriend and several other people he knew were killed in the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. Thirty-two people, plus the gunman, died.

There were times when Mr. Woods, now a graduate student at Texas, thought that maybe he should acquire a gun. “Then I learned pretty fast that wouldn’t solve anything,” he said.

Link....
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/30/us/30texas.html

Re the story: Sad and I'm sure there are allot of people in shock and heartbroken.

Those close to people who threaten these things need to assume the worst and err on the side of caution.

 

[Icewater Jones]

Maybe they've got it too easy now? Older generations had to put up with wars, rationing, poverty, death and poor medical treatment and they got through it, maybe they were made of tougher stuff? Kids take many things for granted nowadays and get depressed if they can't get the latest phone or a brand spanking new car or if they get dumped by someone they've been seeing for a month, either that or there have always been suicideal tendencies but in the past people avoided because of the social stigma or religious reasons (ie you can't get into heaven by suicide), as suicide becomes more common and people less religious maybe more people make this fatal decision. There has also been a lot of breakups in the family structure which leaves many young people with no one talk to (if parents split up) or caught inbetween family arguments (divirces are at record rates) which can make daily life unbearable, although I would never criticise someone for taking their own life (we've all had our low points) as we don't know what that person went through it's a crying shame when a young person kills themselves over something that turns out to be a trivial/minor event. As the saying goes, suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

I kinda feel where you're going, and I think another factor is that teens feel like they're owed more socially. All this political correctness being shoved in their faces has created an idea of total equality regardless of any and every factor. When they can't get that, it seems like they crumble. All these teens documented have one underlying thing in common: they all wanted to be acknowledged in their own special way. This 'specialized' acknowledgement isn't something that anyone gets all the time, but for some reason, teens nowadays can't handle not having that.

 

[prof_porn]

Unfortunate.

 

[alexpnz]

The Internet needs to be policed and/or regulated by the government!
IDGAF what anyone says.....too much Cyber-Bullying.
Peoples lives get ruined everyday because of things either posted or said on-line...it's sad because theres really nothing you can do about it.

:2 cents:

 

[TheOrangeCat]

I
There was a town called Bridgend in Wales that suffered 24 suicides (all by hanging) in under two years,

Well, if you've ever been to Bridgend, it's not that surprising .......

This kind of suicide spike is known as the Werther Effect .... it's emulation suicide, and the phenomenon isn't restricted to suicides. Police often find that after a sniper attack or bomb threat there is a significant spike in those kind of crimes/threats ....

Suicide clusters are particularly prevalent in Japan for some reason?

 

[Ulysses31]

Well, if you've ever been to Bridgend, it's not that surprising .......

This kind of suicide spike is known as the Werther Effect .... it's emulation suicide, and the phenomenon isn't restricted to suicides. Police often find that after a sniper attack or bomb threat there is a significant spike in those kind of crimes/threats ....

Suicide clusters are particularly prevalent in Japan for some reason?

It's a cultural thing in Japan and the act has never been criminalised there, the act is 'tolerated' in society and seen as a morally responsible action. Suicide was historically about preserving honour so although the practice has remained the reasons have altered drastically especially as their is a high expectancy on the Japanese people who are as driven as you can get. Things like honour and shame are very important in Japanese culture and living in shame is hard for them to accept, compare them to people in the west you see on the Jeremy Kyle show or on Jerry Springer who are vile people yet feel no shame for their behaviour/lifestyle and are happy to be a burden on their families and society, the Japanese are not. Doubt you'll see many obese slobs who end up welded to sofas or chairs after sitting their so long in Japan. It is a terrible problem especially for such an advanced nation and hopefully they are taking steps to tackle it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_in_Japan

 

[TheOrangeCat]

It's a cultural thing in Japan and the act has never been criminalised there, the act is 'tolerated' in society and seen as a morally responsible action. Suicide was historically about preserving honour so although the practice has remained the reasons have altered drastically especially as their is a high expectancy on the Japanese people who are as driven as you can get. Things like honour and shame are very important in Japanese culture and living in shame is hard for them to accept, compare them to people in the west you see on the Jeremy Kyle show or on Jerry Springer who are vile people yet feel no shame for their behaviour/lifestyle and are happy to be a burden on their families and society, the Japanese are not. Doubt you'll see many obese slobs who end up welded to sofas or chairs after sitting their so long in Japan. It is a terrible problem especially for such an advanced nation and hopefully they are taking steps to tackle it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_in_Japan

True that, about Japan, and probably a bad example in this specific instance, but the larger phenomenon about 'copycat' suicide is one that transcends national and cultural boundaries ...

This article/study on the subject is fascinating.

 

[PirateKing]

Teen years are rough. There's a lot kids that isolate themselves and wallow in their own misery without reaching out to anyone. I bottled up some of my grief too, so I know what that feels like. It's a shame the girl lacked the foresight to get through whatever trivial issues she was going through.

 

[georges]

may she rip

 

[Hot Mega]

Teen years are rough. There's a lot kids that isolate themselves and wallow in their own misery without reaching out to anyone. I bottled up some of my grief too, so I know what that feels like. It's a shame the girl lacked the foresight to get through whatever trivial issues she was going through.

I always hear that but I had so much fun...I can't imagine it being rough for some. I'm sad it seems like they went by like a blur now. The only thing I hate about my H.S./teenage years is hearing songs that make me nostalgic for those days and I get a little sad knowing I will never relive those times...sighhh.:crying: