Young Lives Lost Part 1

It's a leading cause of death among young people.

And if the signs go undetected your child could be at risk.

Young people committing suicide is a silent epidemic sweeping the nation in alarming and increasing numbers.

But it's something many don't want to talk about.

Tonight... Fox 17' s sarah bishop shows you why the problem of young lives lost can't be ignored.

Clark Flatt's son was an average teenager. A good kid, active with his church He had lots of friends...

Clark Flatt / Father of suicide victim: "Jason, 16 years old-loved sports, loved football-was pretty good at it-lot of friends no drug or alcohol problems, was the kid if you saw-would blend right in because he looked like the rest of them."

But ten years ago, his world came to a crashing end.

Clark Flatt: "I iost my son, youngest son jason on july 16th, 1997 to suicide. It wasn't that we were struggling with issues with him or anything like that-it was a matter of really one day getting a phone call from one of his friends-asking me if i'd seen him that day and and it was a summer day-it was his day off from work."

Jason, was supposed meet friends at the lake.

After his father couldn't get in touch with him his 'parental intuition' set in.

Clark Flatt: "I started looking for him, I was concerned why i couldn't find him and i went home to find he'd taken his life that day."

Devastated, the grieving father tried to make sense of "how" and "why".

Clark Flatt: "I remember still to this day going to the CDC website and typing in youth suicide and the first thing that came up was it was the third leading cause for young people."


And according to a report by the CDC there is a disturbing new trend -- the number of youth suicides is *increasing* -- dramatically.

Between 2003 and 2004, the number of teen suicides jumped 8 percent... The largest increase in 15 years.

Suicide rates in young girls, ages 10-14 rose a staggering 76 percent.

Girls, ages 15-19 -- up 32 percent.

And for boys the same age, a nine percent increase.

Experts say--it's difficult to pinpoint the cause of the increases, but there are factors that may contribute to the sharp rise in suicides, among pre-teenage girls.


Michael McSurdy / Oasis Center: "Young women are developing socially and also physically faster than they've ever developed. The rates of early sexual activity younger in life have climbed, tn leads the nation in substance abuse and in teen sexuality."

Michael McSurdy works at the Oasis Center, an organization that helps support teens in crisis.

He says while young people are developing faster socially and physically, emotionally they can't keep up.

And, often times, they don't have good role models to turn to.

Young people are increasingly, not connected.

McSurdy also says rates in girls may be jumping because they've been programmed to internalize things, while boys may act out.

Michael McSurdy / Oasis Center: "A young man acting out is not-from a societal perspective seen as much of a problem as a young woman acting out, when the reality is, i'd really rather see an angry young woman, than a woman who's trying to hurt herself."

Mcsurdy says parents often make the mistake of "trivializing" teens problems...

Naveen Mohyuddin / Student: "I get that all the time actually from my parents-i mean they understand that i have a lot of stress but they feel like i can handle it, sometimes when i go home they just want to see me happy and i'm just like i'm so stressed out and they're angry with me about that."

Some students believe they have it harder than their parents did.

Vanessa Young / Student: "Yeah, i think that they don't get us, because school is harder now for us then it was for them back then and trying to do that and manage a job at the same time isn't easy."

Others say the pressures of school and a future are overwhelming.

Kevin Crawford / Student: "Your parents always put pressure-say, you're going to have to pay for your college if you lose your scholarship."

Michael McSurdy / Oasis Center: "Teenagers are under more stress than any adult. It's not just that you're in the middle of your stress-it's that you're in the middle of stress while body is changing, relationships are changing -family's changing and your challenged with charting the course for the rest of your life."

A full plate, for a young person who may not be able to handle the pressure and wind up doing something desperate.

Experts don't know for sure "why" youth suicide rates are spiking.

If you need to talk to someone about this, click on foxlinks and look for suicide helpline.

Tomorrow night at nine, how Clark Flatt has dedicated his life to make sure suicide doesn't take "your" loved one.

Find out if your child may be giving you signs and what you can do.