Suicide is an inescapable and alarming feature of the modern landscape that’s affecting those as young as ten and eleven. How do we counteract this negative trend? One way is to start talking. Older people need to establish regular lines of communication and connection with younger people. More than anything else, what’s required is a network of support strong enough to catch and hold the young and vulnerable before they start sliding toward the conviction that life isn’t worth living.

This conversation needs to take place on three different levels: cultural, social, and personal. Let’s take a closer look.