Report of Suicide Attempts at L-S Alarms School Committee

"The suicide (report) is troubling, very troubling."

That's all Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Committee member Patricia Mostue could say after the Committee received the 2012 Metrowest Adolescent Health Survey during its Nov. 12 meeting.

According to Susan Shields of the Wellness Department, 44 L-S students, or 3 percent of the student population, reported attempting suicide in the past year.

The percentage rate is actually one point lower than the 2011 report.

"But 44 kids is terrifying," she said.

Another troubling sign in the report included an increase in cyberbullying from 13 to 21 percent.

"Are students more aware of what cyberbullying is and that’s why we're seeing the increase?" Phillips asked. "That’s a piece we need to further investigate."

Some positive signs that were reported included:

• Decrease in cigarette smoking;
• Decrease in alcohol use;
• Decrease in fighting

For more on the report, check out the slideshow.