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Dead
Serious

Recently updated book attempts
to break the cycle of teen suicide.

JACKIE HEADAPOHL MANAGING EDITOR

teen

mental health

24

March 29 • 2018

n

tlight o
o
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J

ane Mersky Leder first
wrote Dead Serious in 1987,
one of the first books writ-
ten exclusively for young adults
addressing teen suicide and
depression. This year, she felt
compelled to issue a second
edition, Dead Serious, Breaking
The Cycle of Teen Suicide —
completely revised and updat-
ed from the original.
“I first wrote that book in
1987 as an attempt to better
understand my brother’s sui-
cide,” says Leder, who was born
and raised in the Detroit area
and has ties to Temple Israel
and Temple Kol Ami. “I didn’t
tell the story in the first edi-
tion. I do in this one. It took me
some time to write about it.”
For the original, Leder spoke
to teens, parents and siblings.
The book was named a YASD
(Young Adult Services Division)
best Book for Young Adults
from the American Library
Association.
“I felt I had put the topic
in my back pocket. I never
thought I would be looking at
the topic again three decades
later,” she says. “I read an arti-
cle about the surge in suicides
for kids in middle school, and I
flipped. I was stunned. I knew I
had to get back on the saddle.”
The suicide rate among
10- to 14-year-olds doubled
between 2007 and 2014, for the
first time surpassing the death
rate in that age group from
car crashes, according to the
Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.

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the attempted suicide rate
For this edition of the book,
for LGBTQ teens is four to six
Leder interviewed new teens
times greater as are their risks
and experts. “So many sub-
of homelessness, drug
jects were new. There
and alcohol abuse and
have been so many
prostitution, which
changes in the last
some turn to as a
30 years,” she says.
means of survival.”
“In the 1980s, there
Academics, Leder
was no web, no social
says, more than any
media, no Facebook, no
other factor, puts inor-
Instagram, no publicly
dinate pressure on
discussed gender iden-
Jane Mersky
today’s teens. “Pressure
tity issues. The list goes
Leder
to get into college is
on and on. It’s a com-
No. 1 on the list of what
pletely different world.”
makes them go off the rails,”
She decided that her job in
she says. “This is the age of
this book was to talk about
anxiety, and many teens have
things that never change, the
anxiety disorders or depres-
myths related to suicide, for
sion.”
example. And she wanted to
Most teens who attempt
tackle new topics like bullying,
suicide are depressed. Eighty
the situation of LGBTQ teens,
percent go undiagnosed or
and accredited suicide preven-
untreated, she says. About 20
tion programs in school.
percent of all teens experience
“Today’s teens absolutely
depression before they reach
have it harder,” she says.
adulthood.
“Bullying has changed. Now,
As to the increased number
girls have jumped in — not
of suicide attempts among
physically but emotionally —
middle school kids, “the jury is
which can be much more pain-
still out as to why these kids are
ful. Because of social media,
this barrage is 24/7. Kids are no much more fragile,” she says.
“Nobody knows for sure.
longer safe from bullies once
There is probably a combina-
they get though the front door
tion of reasons, but I think girls
of their houses. It’s nonstop.
are going through puberty ear-
Kids can’t stop reading texts
lier — 12- and 13-year-old girls
or Facebook; technology is
look like and are being treated
wrapped around their necks
like women. That must take a
like umbilical cords.”
The stresses on LGBTQ teens toll.”
Dead Serious also addresses
are even greater, she says.
suicide prevention programs in
“They have to worry about
schools. “Instead of a top down
being outed when they’re not
approach, it’s now bottoms up.
ready or possibly thrown out
Students drive the train as peer
of the house. Unfortunately,

mentors. It’s not their job to
save someone but to serve as a
connection to a trusted adult.
The teens involved are very
committed and very knowl-
edgeable.”
This new edition of Dead
Serious gives voice to teens who
bravely share their stories of
suicide and depression while
top experts from around the
country provide commentary
on these issues. While the book
is written for teens, it’s also a
valuable resource for teachers
and parents.
Leder says there are a few key
takeaways she hopes teens will
learn from reading her book.
“First, that talking about
suicide does not make things
worse. What makes things
worse is not talking. Suffering
kids want to know someone is
there, that someone is listening
and someone cares.
“Second,” she adds, “it’s
important for everybody to
understand that it’s not their
job to prevent someone from
taking his or her life. You can
only be a friend and serve as a
conduit to a trusted adult who
can direct someone to the help
they need.
“Finally, it is a teen’s job to
break the code of silence. Even
if your friend asks you not to
tell anyone, you have to tell
somebody. It’s better to risk your
friend being angry with you than
losing your friend forever.” •

Dead Serious is available at Amazon,
Barnes & Noble, Kindle and iTunes.