Sheena Gayle, Freelance Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

The trend of child suicides in recent times has raised a red flag for at least one child and family therapist Dr Beverly Scott after the death of 11-year-old Natalia Morgan by suicide at McQuarrie district, Hanover, on Sunday.

"When a child sees suicide as the only way out, something is seriously wrong with their support system, whether at home or at school," explained Dr Scott.

She added that physical, emotional, verbal or sexual abuse were some of the reasons behind a child wanting to commit suicide, and noted that there were usually warning signs that a child may be suicidal.

"We have what are called suicide gestures where a child may say things like, 'I feel like nobody cares about me' or 'I want to go to a place where no one can find me' that parents can use as an indication that something is wrong," the child and family therapist said.

Natalia's relatives found her body about 9:45 a.m. Sunday, hanging by a piece of cloth from a breadfruit tree at her home. Her body was removed and taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital.

An emotional Noel Morgan told The Gleaner that his daughter exhibited no warnings.

"If I saw any form or signs that she would do this, I would have tried to help," he said.

Morgan recalled trying to administer CPR to Natalia in a desperate attempt to save her life.

Appeal to parents

Dr Scott says there is a rare condition known as 'untreated deep-seated emotional crisis' where someone may not show the usual suicidal signs and, as such, the therapist issued an appeal to parents to extend more love and support for their children.

"The entire school community is saddened by the news of her death, teachers and students were crying, so our two guidance counsellors had to intervene to provide counselling and emotional support. A team from the crisis management department of the Ministry of Education also came to offer counselling," said Brendalee Ellis, principal of the Bethel Primary and Junior High School, in Hanover, where Natalia was a student.

"Natalia and I were very close because her father was a single parent (and) the school pays special attention to those situations," said Ellis.