CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — A town hall was ordered in Coral Springs, the neighboring town to Parkland, after two survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting died last week by suicide.
The conversation centered on how to prevent another suicide by highlighting resources available to everyone, even if you don’t live in Parkland or Coral Springs.
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Since Jackie Rosen’s son took his life years ago, she is committed to listening.
“Listen to the words they are saying, they’ll give you clues,” she said.
She helped found the Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention. She says the key to preventing another suicide is their friends.
It was part of her message as a panelist.
“Kids talk to kids. And we’ve got to get them to talk to parents,” she said.
“There’s a term we don’t hear enough, it’s called post-traumatic growth,” said Judith Aronson-Ramos, a fellow panelist. She is the only doctor with Professionals United for Parkland, which was created right after the shooting.
She reminds us, grief takes time.
“There’s a narrative that people say I am destined for substance abuse, alcoholism, depression. Not necessarily. There can be growth from these painful experiences too,” she said
Like how to deal with the anger often associated with grief. A mother who lost her son would know.
“We went outside with a big bucket of ice, it’s free. Threw it at the wall of our house. And by the time we were done, my husband and I….we were laughing,” Rosen said.
So how can you sense if something is wrong below the surface?
“No one knows your child better than you. So, when there are subtle changes in their behavior or how they’re interacting with people or if they’re more shut off, you’re going to have a sense of that more than someone else is,” Dr. Aronson-Ramos said.
Call 211 if you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts. If you’re trying to help, you can make that call with the person you are trying to help.
Gov. Ron DeSantis was also in South Florida Wednesday where he met with local officials to see how the state can help.
