Teen ER visits up after Lewiston girl's suicide raises alarm

[jpak]

Source: Lewiston Sun Journal

LEWISTON — Thirteen children have been taken to St. Mary's Regional Medical Center's behavioral emergency department in less than 48 hours, a number that officials there call "a sharp increase."

But while that worries medical staff — children and teens go to the behavioral Emergency Department for severe depression, suicidal thoughts and other mental health crises — staff members are just as concerned about the children they aren't seeing.

They fear this week's suicide of 13-year-old Lewiston middle school student Anie Graham may prompt other children to consider killing themselves.

"I think this whole community's in crisis. You can feel that. I felt it last night," said Paul Rouleau, who is director of behavioral operations at St. Mary's and Community Clinical Services in Lewiston and who attended Thursday's community forum on teen suicide. "If it's a real emergent thing, don't be bashful. Come to the emergency department," he said.

<more>

Read more: http://www.sunjournal.com/news/lewiston-auburn/2017/05/26/teen-er-visits-after-lewiston-girls-suicide-raises-alarm/2138055#comments

---

This was about bullying.

[flying_wahini]

1. I am somewhat astonished that she got NO help.

More than that is the fact there were no Dr.s with teen psychiatric experience available.

Wonder who cut the $$ for that program?

[jpak]

2. LePage and his henchmen are to blame

yup

[TexasProgresive]

3. This is really sad - bullying has always been around but

they have new weapons- anti-social media.

Off topic: it would be nice when posting something like this to give the name of the state in your remarks. I assume that Lewiston is in Maine because of things on the SunJournal website, nothing there says it's main but references to LaPage, Portland and Augusta.

[NBachers]

4. Yes, that's an excellent suggestion. Not being a neighbor of Lewiston, I have no idea where it is.

[forgotmylogin]

5. Better they visit the ER earlier

than the morgue later.

[Bradical79]

6. Mental health is in a sad state

It's disgusting how much our country (and many others) put so little value in mental health treatment. Would contribute to alleviating lots of problems.

President Obama recognized this and was very interested in advancing neuroscience: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.technologyreview.com/s/513011/why-obamas-brain-mapping-project-matters/amp/

So many criminals have serious issues that could possibly have prevented them from comitting crimes if dealt with.