ANACONDA 性视界传媒 One participant in Thursday night性视界传媒檚 meeting said the sixth-grade boy who committed suicide this week in Anaconda had connections and friends in every grade.
Parents were encouraged to avoid participating in the community性视界传媒檚 rumor mill speculation about what might have driven the boy to such a desperate act.
Rose Wells, a counselor at Lincoln Primary, said she had known the boy since kindergarten.
性视界传媒淲e really need to get away from the idea that this student性视界传媒檚 suicide was caused by bullying,性视界传媒 Wells said. 性视界传媒淚 think that性视界传媒檚 the word that性视界传媒檚 getting out there, and we don性视界传媒檛 know that for a fact. How could we have stopped it? We don性视界传媒檛 know.性视界传媒 聽
About 35 people attended the gathering at Fred Moodry Intermediate School to process the boy性视界传媒檚 death and talk about trying to prevent suicides in a community and state notorious for high suicide rates.
The A-Hill looms above Anaconda.聽
Parents heard from two psychiatrists, school counselors and other mental health professionals during the meeting.
There was no denying, of course, that bullying can contribute to a young person性视界传媒檚 despair.
A few parents talked about their children性视界传媒檚 struggles with bullying and expressed a wish that Fred Moodry staff would do more to monitor students at recess and in the hallways.
One tearful mother said her daughter does fine during the summer when school is out of session but regresses to suicidal ideation when the school year begins again.聽
Wells said parents性视界传媒 concerns about bullying were heard and understood.
性视界传媒淲e need to do something better and we性视界传媒檙e going to work on that,性视界传媒 she said. 性视界传媒淣othing性视界传媒檚 an overnight fix but just know that we are all compassionate about helping every single kid.性视界传媒
Counselors at the meeting acknowledged that the suicide prevention work they性视界传媒檝e done for older students might need to be adapted for earlier grades.
According to a 2022 study published by the National Institutes of Health, suicide is the second leading cause of death for adolescents between the ages 10 and 19 in the U.S., with the incidence steadily rising. Accidents cause more deaths for this age group.聽
Mt. Haggin looms above Anaconda-Deer Lodge County. The region has been discovered in recent years for its abundant recreational opportunities and that, in turn, has led to demographic and cultural changes that can be stressful, counselors say.聽
From April 1, 2024 through the聽present, there have been six deaths by suicide in Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, according to Coroner Jessie Sather.聽
Dr. Kelly Irons, a child and adult psychiatrist in Anaconda, was asked about the high incidence of suicide in Anaconda-Deer Lodge County. She said ready access to lethal means is a factor and the lingering social and economic fallout from the smelter性视界传媒檚 closing in 1980 could contribute.
Irons has previously noted that many residents of Anaconda, like residents statewide, experience social isolation and suffer from substance abuse. She has noted too that heavy metals lingering from the smelter性视界传媒檚 operation could cause cognitive and impulse disorders.
Others lamented the ubiquitous presence of cellphones, other technology and social media性视界传媒檚 potential for cruelty.
Mary Wood, a counselor at Fred Moodry, addressed this issue.
The Anaconda Co.'s smelter stack has been described as a symbol of both 'prosperity and peril.' The loss of this touchstone employer and its legacy of heavy metals pollution have been mentioned as possible contributors, among many others, to a high rate of suicide in Anaconda-Deer Lodge County.聽
性视界传媒淚 happen to talk to a lot of kids about getting off their phones, being less connected to technology,性视界传媒 she said. 性视界传媒淭he things that kids will tell me they watch, I性视界传媒檓 floored.性视界传媒
One parent expressed fear that talking to her children about suicide might plant a seed. Irons said research suggests not talking about suicide can pose a greater risk.
Later, though, Irons acknowledged that an impulse toward suicide can follow the sort of tragedy that occurred this week in Anaconda.
性视界传媒淭hat性视界传媒檚 why we need the whole community to be hyper-vigilant right now,性视界传媒 she said.
The community can choose another course, Irons said.
If the person in crisis is unwilling or unable to seek professional help, or if you are struggling yourself, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Common Warning Signs of Suicide
- Attempting suicide
- Feeling unbearable pain
- Death or recent fascination with death
- Feeling hopeless, worthless or 'trapped'聽
- Feeling guilt, shame or anger
- Feeling like they are a burden to others
