The what-ifs of suicides linger

COMMENT | “During the school holidays ‘Ryan’ worked every day except Sunday. Last week he worked about twelve hours and came home tired. We were not home … dinner had been left on the table but he didn’t eat it.

“Ryan went out late at night with a close friend to the nearby lookout, his usual retreat. It was cold and bleak. He was weary, profoundly sad. Life seemed unpredictable. And, he had no particular plans after his HSC.

“Ryan was overwhelmed with despair. For a moment he was blinded from reason. It only took a moment to climb that low rail and leap. Within seconds he was taken from us.”

A grieving mother circulated this (edited) note at Ryan’s memorial service years ago as if seeking answers to why her 17-year-old son did what he did, and if the family could have seen the warning signs.

The triggers of suicide are hard to pin down. A few of my students had committed suicide during my teaching years...