Facing up to a tough reality

TODAY, The Sunday Telegraph brings you a story we believe must be told. In the past three months there have been at least two suicides and one attempt by young schoolchildren in Sydney.

TODAY, The Sunday Telegraph brings you a story we believe must be told.

In the past three months there have been at least two suicides and one attempt by young schoolchildren in Sydney. We have revealed only the name of Jayden Arnold, whose parents have bravely chosen to tell their story, and we have withheld all other details. We have not revealed means or method.

Mental health experts, including the government-funded initiative Mindframe, say there is a serious risk of ‘contagion’ if people who are contemplating suicide read graphic accounts of deaths.

They say instead of a blanket ban on publication, media should avoid graphic detail and focus on positive stories of people who have overcome suicidal feelings, and on the negative impact of suicide. We have done this.

The ‘code of silence’ is failing to protect our children.

Schoolchildren talk about suicide among themselves, on social media and with teachers, but parents are excluded.

Too many parents are naive to the fact suicide is part of their kids’ world.

Our era is witness to the demise of great taboos: rape, child abuse, domestic violence, bullying, harassment.

The shame is ending.

Stories are being shared. And together, we are facing up to some of the greatest problems within our society.

It is time we treated suicide and mental ill-health in the same way: taboos we can only address if we are courageous enough to face them.

Just like the Albury-Wodonga Border Mail’s Walkley Award-winning ‘Ending the suicide silence’ series, the Hobart Mercury’s ‘Chloe’s Law’ anti-bullying campaign and similar calls in other media, this is a heartfelt attempt to open minds.

It is a wake-up call to every parent of a teenager who is alone in a bedroom, or being taunted on Facebook.

We want parents to look honestly at their children, in full possession of the facts, and ask: “Are you OK, mate? What happened today? What’s going on? Will you let me in?”

Problems are not solved with silence.