Army family with 2 Woodson Teens Wrote:
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> Some facts:
>
> The searcher who found Bryan's body is my friend.
> She does NOT believe it was a suicide. The public
> may never know the cause of Bryan's death, because
> I'm pretty sure toxicology reports are private
> matters.
>
> There were, however two deaths by suicide from
> Bryan's school in the previous 20 months and the
> Washington Post irresponsibly said suicide was the
> likely cause of Bryan's death. The WaPo article
> even went against best practices recommendations
> for how journalists should report on suspected
> suicides in teens - you should NEVER list the
> method.
>
> 35 % of teens are depressed in Fairfax County.
> The suicide rate is no higher than that in the
> nation. However, no one is measuring military
> teen suicides. That will soon be fixed thorough
> the Department of Defense. Suicide in Army
> soldiers between 18-43 is way above the national
> average - and only one third of them have been to
> war themselves. The Army is leading the nation in
> research and even weeks ago "stood down" the Army
> for an entire day of Suicide Prevention and
> Awareness training. I'm proud of the Army
> Leadership's response and how they play their
> cards facing out on this issue. There is NO SHAME
> in mental illness. The experts believe it is a
> generational thing - a problem facing our entire
> nation.
>
> Military families have definitely been under
> enormous stress with the military member at war
> for the past 10 years. Please don't disrespect
> the military families by saying they are overly
> "strict" or putting undue pressure on their kids.
> I know this first hand - kids put pressures on
> THEMSELVES to live up to the expectations of their
> environment. That environment is created by well
> meaning schools, teachers, coaches, clergy, peers,
> and yes parents but it does take a village to
> raise a child. My kids spend more waking hours of
> the days with their teachers and coaches. They
> are who they are today partly due to the effect
> their awesome teachers and coaches have had on
> them. It is worthwhile to explore what our kids
> feel and to get them to talk about it openly.
>
> Let's get mental illness "Out of the Darkness" and
> let's "Send the Silence Packing"
>
> In the case of dear beloved Bryan Glenn - let him
> rest in peace. When/if Mike and Rosella are
> ready, they may tell his story so as to prevent
> whatever it was - whatever circumstances led to
> his fatality - from happening to another teen.
> They need time and privacy to grieve.
>
> But in the meantime if you are a Woodson alumna or
> have a kid there,,. please consider asking the
> Principal, Jeff Yost what he is doing to create an
> environment there where kids feel safe to ask
> questions, reveal their innermost shame, ask for
> help, report on a friend they are concerned about,
> etc.
>
> I'm not saying he hasn't done this, but he hasn't
> returned my personal offer to fund a Fairfax
> County Government Program that works in the school
> through local non-profits.
>
> I'd love to see Woodson incorporate some positive
> events into it's fabric regarding Teen Mental
> Wellness. Look at what is being done at TJ,
> McLean, Langley, Madisson and South Lakes:
>
>
http://joshafoundation.org/news-events/
>
> Woodson took down a memorial the students erected
> for Bryan - flowers, personal notes, stuffed
> animals, his favorite candy...
>
> The Dance Team wanted to give Bryan's family the
> money they raised shortly after Bryan's death was
> reported. Nixed by Woodson Staff.
>
> The football team went to practice the day after
> Bryan's body was found - heads down. They
> practiced as if nothing had changed. Why not take
> a pause and let the kids sit and talk - have a BBQ
> or something?
>
> I don't expect grieving people to get everything
> right - but there are published guidelines based
> on research and evidence on how a school community
> should respond to a crisis so as to create a more
> positive environment in light of recent tragedies.
> I'd say three deaths in 20 months is a crisis.
> Call me over reacting. I can handle the name
> calling. I just don't want to see another
> needless loss of young, promising life and there
> are numerous things Woodson can do to try to
> ensure that doesn't happen.
>
> Woodson is not to blame - pointing fingers gets us
> no where as a community. We need to partner
> together - schools/community non-profits/County
> Government and parents - together we can help the
> next teen at risk make a better choice.
Since I'm being quoted here, I think I need to respond. Although I was the one to find Bryan, I do not have the answers and am wondering just like everybody else. I've heard different theories about whether he took his own life, was murdered or died accidentally, but am not privy to any inside information. Some of the facts leave us all wondering, but I'll leave the official determination up to the police. My heart continues to break for the Glenn family and all who knew and loved Bryan.