WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES DECEMBER 7, 2017 15
Education offi cials talk bullying and suicide in Middle Village
BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI
SMONTEVERDI@QNS.COM / @SMONT76
City offi cials spoke to parents in
Middle Village and gave some
startling statistics on suicide,
bullying and depression this week on
Nov. 28.
Gillian Smith and Donna Brailsford,
crisis/de-escalation managers for
the Department of Education (DOE),
addressed the crowd at P.S. 49 during
the District 24 Community Education
Council meeting.
Brailsford told attendees that children
and young adults aged 15-24 were
traditionally looked at as the “largest
risk population” for suicide. But more
recently, younger children have been
found to be at greater risk of taking
their own lives.
“We’re now realizing that between
the ages of 10 and 14, the numbers have
skyrocketed with children attempting
to take their lives,” Brailsford said.
“Children as young as 4 and 5 years old
have been known to express thoughts
of wanting to die.”
The DOE offi cial also pointed out
that children who later complete suicide
attempts showed signs in early
school age.
There are diff erent risk factors associated
with suicide in children and
young adults, Brailsford said. While
males are more likely to complete
suicide, females attempt suicide more
than males. Further, the number
of female young people completing
suicide has increased recently,
particularly among Hispanic girls.
“Kids worry about the exact same
things adults worry about, in addition
to their childhood stuff ,” Brailsford
said. “‘Am I accepted? Am I cool
enough? How will I be seen?'”
When a young person expresses
that they’re not feeling right, the
expert continued, the most important
thing to do is listen. Changes in
behavior are the biggest indicators
that a child may be depressed or
considering suicide. For example, if a
child is suddenly sleeping more than
usual or not sleeping at all, this may
be an indicator. A sudden disinterest
in something he or she enjoyed may
also be an indicator.
Photo by Suzanne Monteverdi/QNS
And while suicide is the second
leading cause of death in young people,
Brailsford said, it is important to take
measures “not to normalize” the act.
“We don’t want to make it seem like
every child is attempting suicide,” she
said. “But it is an epidemic.”
It is also important to note that depression
in young people “comes and goes,”
she continued. Children may not appear
depressed all the time, but it is important
to be there for them through every stage.
“The best antidote is being there for
your kids,” the DOE offi cial said.
Brailsford encouraged concerned
parents to approach their child’s pediatrician,
who may suggest a referral,
and school counselor and crisis team.
Resources are also available through
the city’s ThriveNYC program.
With regards to bullying, if a parent
feels that their child is being bullied,
the same approach applies. Children
who are suff ering from depression or
suicidal thoughts are also more likely
to be a target of bullying, the offi cial said.
“The disconnection makes them
more of a target because they are
easier to get upset,” she said.
Identifying the diff erence between
conflict and bullying may make the
reporting process easier for parents,
Brailsford said. Bullying is repeated and
intentional acts of meanness that cause
harm to the target. The target is the one
who leaves the incident upset. With confl
ict, both individuals are generally upset
aft er the event. Bullying and confl ict are
handled by offi cials in diff erent ways.
If bullying is suspected, parents are
encouraged to document each incident.
Parents unsatisfi ed with a school’s response
to bullying incidents may call 311
and their school superintendent’s offi ce.
“There is a myriad of people to talk
to in District 24,” Superintendent
Madelene Taub-Chan said. “Principals,
guidance counselor, assistant principals,
deans and a whole district offi ce
is there for you.”
Donna Brailsford addresses the group
Bodegas team up with artists for a special holiday project
BY EVAN HADDAD
BUSHWICK DAILY
SPECIAL TO THE RIDGEWOOD TIMES
Don't be surprised to see cool
artwork hanging in the
window of your favorite
bodega soon.
Local bodegas and artists are
teaming up in Bodega Advent Project,
a creative community event to mark
the holiday season through a living
Advent calendar.
In all, 25 bodegas across Bushwick
and Ridgewood will feature the work
of 25 local artists — one piece per
day until Christmas — in a bilingual
event sponsored by Bushwick Abbey
and Iglesia de la Santa Cruz.
"It is essential for an artist to enter
community,” said Seth Ruggles Hiler,
a participating artist. “Sharing work
publicly in these neighborhood hubs
is an exciting way of creating connections,
which is the magic that is art.”
The project began on Dec. 1. You
can follow the calendar both online
and on Instagram and Facebook. On
their website, bodegaadvent.com,
you can see a map of the locations
and take a “Bodega Advent Calendar”
Photo via bodegaadvent.com
walk, as well as get information about
special events during the project. This article fi rst appeared on Bushwick Daily, bushwickdaily.com.
