'Could happen to anybody’s kid': Stockton mother speaks out after daughter dies of suicide
Psychologist outlines tips for parents to talk to teens amid COVID-19 outbreak
Psychologist outlines tips for parents to talk to teens amid COVID-19 outbreak
Psychologist outlines tips for parents to talk to teens amid COVID-19 outbreak
A Stockton mother is speaking out and warning other parents to talk to their teenagers after her daughter died of suicide last week.
A psychologist in San Joaquin County echoed the sentiment, saying the novel coronavirus outbreak and the resulting stay-at-home orders are impacting the youth.
Danielle Hunt said her 15-year-old daughter, Jo Vianni Smith, was bright, energetic and a talented softball player. She was a Sophomore at Bear Creek High School in Lodi.
“She was smart, funny, was so talented with music, and she was athletic,” Hunt said.
Hunt said Jo struggled amid the COVID-19 outbreak and having to stay home.
“The world was taken away from her when she couldn’t do sports -- that was her world,” Hunt said.
Hunt said she decided to speak out to warn other parents after Jo took her own life.
“I want people to know: If it could happen to my kid, who is energetic, it could happen to anybody’s kid,” she said.
*** If you or someone you know needs help, you can call the national suicide prevention lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or you can chat online here. ***
There have been at least five reports of teen suicide in the Sacramento, Stockton and Oakdale areas in the past two weeks. Investigators are still looking into the motive behind the suicides.
“Kids and adolescents do not have the tools adults have so they may have more stress on them,” Community Medical Center Director of Behavioral Health Alfonso Apu said.
The psychologist said it's important to check in with your teens to make sure they are OK when their norm has been turned upside down.
“Number one is to increase communication,” Apu said. “If you see changes -- sad, isolating too much -- that is when you start asking questions.”
Apu advises parents to ask tough questions.
“The number one question is: How do you feel? Are you having thoughts of hurting yourself?” Apu explained. “Some parents think this puts the thought (of suicide) into a child’s head. But it is reality and you have to be able to talk about it.”