WALTON COUNTY, Ga. — Suicide is a problem affecting many families and communities across Georgia.
Students at Social Circle High School in Walton County are hurting after losing some of their classmates.
The senior class only has 115 students and over the past few weeks the school has lost two of them to suicide.
Those in the tight-knit community came together Thursday night to try to prevent another tragedy like this from happening again.
“I just can’t imagine nobody losing a child like that,” grandparent Rosie Crowley said.
Crowley and dozens of other parents and neighbors were packed into the meeting at Social Circle High School.
“I can’t imagine the pain, imagine what could be going through their minds,” Crowley said.
Crowley said her granddaughter once considered suicide.
“I was terrified,” she said.
And that’s exactly why the principal told Channel 2’s Justin Wilfon he called for the meeting before the school loses someone else.
“We feel like family and, gosh, it’s been a hard three weeks here as a family,” Principal Tim Armstrong said.
Starting next week, school officials told parents all students will learn the warning signs of suicide to look for in other students.
Students will also complete a survey about their own mental health.
“Listen, we feel like they’re our kids so to watch your kids hurt, it’s tough. And you think, ‘What can I do to help my kids heal?” Armstrong said.
Heal from what’s become a nationwide suicide epidemic.
At the school, Wilfon already found signs of hope -- inspirational messages posted around the school to try to help students in pain.
“They’re starting to really look out for each other,” Armstrong said.
Warning signs to look for in someone of course include anyone who seems depressed, any big changes in behavior and substance abuse.