The lights dim as 2014 Coppell High School graduate Solomon Thomas’s figure spreads across the screen. The next 10 minutes will provide further insight into the death of his sister, 2011 Coppell High School graduate Ella Thomas, in 2018.
On Wednesday evening, Chris and Martha Thomas, parents to Ella and Solomon, gathered citizens of Coppell for a Parent University meeting at the Vonita White Administration Building. Along with assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction Dr. Angie Brooks and Pinkerton Elementary School physical education teacher Colleen Michaelis, they spoke about suicide awareness and provided with the tools for effective communication with their children.
“We have such high expectations within the community,” Dr. Brooks said. “Even the word mental health, to say those two words is scary for some people. That’s another reason why in my role and working together in the district we have mental health written as a part of our district improvement plan. We want to make sure that the supports are there.”
The Thomas’ went on to share their experience with Ella’s suicide. As questions kept coming, Mr. Thomas discussed the feelings that often lead to suicide.
“[People] feel worthless, they feel alone, they feel isolated, they feel like they’re not worthy,” Mr. Thomas said. “There’s always concerns and feelings that sometimes things happen that lead to it but a lot of times they’re trying to get rid of all the pain and that’s a key piece of it as well.”
Mrs. Thomas shared coping strategies, including creating your own D-LINES. D-LINES help parents and educators learn how to initiate conversations around mental health with their children and students.
“Don’t ignore your gut,” Mrs. Thomas said. “That’s that feeling you get, that really innate feeling that something’s off. I feel like in American culture, we’re taught to push that down. If you feel like something is really off with your kid, you have to talk, you have to find out what’s going on.”
While starting conversations about mental health with your child can be difficult, it is an important step in preventing suicide.
“Find a moment when your child seems more open to having a conversation, describe what you’ve noticed in a nonjudgmental way,” Mrs. Thomas said. “Saying ‘you’re too angry’ versus you seem angry,’ it’s a whole different vibe, isn’t it?”
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