Gothamist: Teenager's Body Found in the East River

His Mother

Fri, 31 Mar 2006 21:41:12 -0500

I just wanted to say that my son was not depressed. He was tired and fed up. My son was happy and fine the weekend before and the days I let him stay home that week he was just fine. My son went to junior high school 56 and he loved it. My son always loved school, but this year he hated going.My son was bullied in the Neighborhood University High School, and when he started to fight back the counselour in the school started to harrass him. The last straw for him was that she called asc on the 1st my son and I found out on the 2nd and he was gone on the 3rd. My son had missed alot of days of school, because I stopped believing the counselour,and started believing my son.He wasn't dpressed he was fed up and he was never the type to hurt anybody.The people in his complex loved him they miss him just like I do. He is a very special person, He always thought of others, thats why the bullies are still here and he is not. Thank you for all your concern. What do u think we can do to protect the other sidney's in the world because they are out there

His Mother

Fri, 31 Mar 2006 21:25:25 -0500

I hope u guys received the first post I did

His Mother

Fri, 31 Mar 2006 21:21:54 -0500

I just wanted to say he was not depressed. He was happy until he made it to the University Neiborhood Highschool. He loved his junior high school and he loved to go there. The days that I let him stay home that week he was fine. He didn't have to want to go back to that school and face some of the kids there and one of the counselors. My son was well loved by the people in his complex. The people who live here are hurting and mourning with me. Thank you for all your concern and I hope this opens people eyes. My son is a special person he will be greatly missed. He has taught the world so much, and avauleable lesson, we just have to take heed.

Jen

Mon, 06 Mar 2006 16:02:27 -0500

I feel like I'm hearing more stories about young kids committing suicide - like, not just 15- or 16-year olds, but even going down to age 10 and 11. I hope that more can be done (at home, in schools) to make kids feel more comfortable with talking about this. And this story was terrible - he looks like such a sweet kid.

dovasurrey

Mon, 06 Mar 2006 14:41:47 -0500

That is literally the saddest thing I've read this year. His poor sister.

m_ruv

Mon, 06 Mar 2006 12:22:32 -0500

man, that is heartbreaking.

famdoc

Mon, 06 Mar 2006 11:50:55 -0500

Whenever a tragedy of this magnitude occurs, one must ask what could have been done to avoid it and what good could come out of it. Suicide is the number three cause of death among American adolescents and clinical depression is remarkably prevalent among children and adolescents. Notwithstanding the bad news that came out about anti-depressants and their use in children (a higher incidence of suicide leading to a reduction in their use in this age group and a "black box" warning to doctors), a child or adolescent who expresses depression should receive help. Of course, it is in the nature of adolescence to be depressed at times. Far more adolescents will be evaluated for depression than will actually have depression, but the identification of those who are truly disturbed will be life-saving for some. My heart goes out to this family.