CONVERSE, Texas – The mom of a Kirby Middle School student who took his own life mentioned faculties want to do extra to with mental health.
Shawntina Harris has her son, Jordan Cole’s ultimate heartbeat etched into her forearm.
“We put a little bit of his ashes in the ink,” she mentioned.
Harris mentioned the 14-year-old all the time sought after to put a grin on any individual’s face.
“You could be having the world’s worst day and he was the one to do something silly or goofy just to make you laugh,” she mentioned.
Her worst day got here on June 24, 2023, when Cole dedicated suicide. He used to be completing up his 12 months in 8th grade at Kirby Middle School.
“There was no red flags,” Harris mentioned. “He didn’t talk to me.”
Harris mentioned her son struggled together with his mental health and used to be bullied.
“He chose to deal with this on his own instead of coming to me,” she mentioned. “Those are demons I now have to deal with on a daily basis.”
Harris is aware of she isn’t the one father or mother coping with this kind of ache.
Suicide is the third-leading reason for loss of life for youngsters between the ages of 14 and 18, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“We need better communication between the school systems, between the mental health system,” she mentioned.
Judson ISD college board trustee Jose Macias mentioned student suicide is an issue.
“We can’t lose another child,” he mentioned. “We can’t lose children.”
Macias created a job pressure to address the emotional and social well-being of scholars.
He mentioned the duty pressure will proceed to paintings to get a hold of a plan to address the problem that may be introduced to the college board.
“We can mourn,” Macias mentioned. “We can feel that loss. But going forward, we also have to still look to support students and ensure that we’re meeting their needs socially and emotionally.”
As an organ donor, Harris estimates her son has stored a minimum of 5 lives.
Harris hopes Cole’s middle continues to beat throughout the alternate she’s developing.
“I’m going to continue to push this issue and I’m going to continue to demand,” she mentioned.
Harris and Macias will meet with the duty pressure at 10 a.m. Saturday at Judson High School.
If you or somebody wishes assist, please name the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.
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