1. Everything seems to be falling apart for me. I don’t see how my life will get any better. My parents have decided to get divorced and my dad moved out a month ago. I haven’t heard from him so he probably moved out because of me. My mom is so sad about my dad leaving and she doesn’t seem to care about me and how I feel. She missed work so there’s no money and barely any food. I have been so worried about how we are going to get through this! I am so worried about what is going on at home that I don’t really care about school. My grades are dropping but I don’t really care!! When I’m home I can’t stand to be there so I started to hang out with these news kids I met who seem to understand. We have skipped school lately and they seem to enjoy having me around. We listen to music and get high a lot. When I’m with them I seem to forget about my problems so I’ve decided to to give them my iPod touch. I don’t think I’ll need it much anymore….Anyway, thanks for letting me vent. You’ve always been a great friend. Hey Chris! I am so so so so sooooo glad you finally texted me! I haven’t talked to you in like forever man! I’m sorry to hear about your dad moving out, but I know for a fact that it totally was NOT your fault that he moved out! Just think about how amazing of a guy you are, I mean, we’ve been friends forever man, even since kindergarten! And I just know that it will last forever as well! I just don’t see how my life will ever get any better man :( At this point I get extremely concerned for Chris’s health

2. Trust me, we’ve both been through tough times, like when my great grandmother had died after having alzheimer’s… remember that? Man, I remember how I told you and instantly you promised to me that everything will be alright? Well, this is like one of those times… I am always here for you man, you know that right? You know what, I am going to head over there right now to pick you up and we can have dinner and watch the pumaman movie by our favorite show Mystery Science Theater 3000! Man it is so funny we have to watch it again!!!! They say laughter is the best medicine! I’ll be there very soon! Just hold on! Nah man, that’s ok… idk man… It’s been really hard for me like I told you I haven’t been getting good grades and well I just don’t care anymore.... I realize I need to get over to Chris’s house immediately, and tell my mom that I am leaving immediately and am taking the car Non-sense! I am coming over there right now! Hey man, I’ve been listening, and I’m sorry to see that you haven’t been doing too good in school but it’s only the beginning of the semester and you have plenty of time to make things up! I know that you’ve been doing some drugs… but it doesn’t matter because I know you needed some time, and everybody needs a break every once in a while! But why did you give them your iPod touch? Man we’ve been playing touch hockey on that thing on the bus for a long time! I know this may seem awkward for me to ask, but I just have too, Chris, are you ok? Are you considering killing yourself?

3. …Come help me man... This is the last message I read from Chris before I head over to his house You just wait right there man! Remembering what Ms. Markowski told me in health class, I look up the name and email address of one of the social workers in the high school, and immediately shoot him an email at aranco@scarboroughschools.orgaranco@scarboroughschools.org Hello Ms. Ranco, my name is Jon, currently a junior at Scarborough High School, and I very recently(minutes ago) received a very concerning text from one of my close friends Chris, and I am really upset and actually concerned for his health and that he may be suicidal. I am going to his house and having him spend the night at my house, but I would really like to schedule a meeting for him and get him the professional help that he needs! I will give you more details about his situation in the meeting! Thanks again, ~Jon

4. When I get to Chris’s house, I take him out to get ice cream at the Dairy Corner, of course leaving a note for his mother when I tell Chris I need to go to the bathroom and to wait in the car for a couple of seconds explaining to his mother the situation, and that she is welcome to stay at our house in the future. We have dinner, listen to music, watch the pumaman movie, and he spends the night. When he goes to sleep, I check my email on my phone, with a response from Mrs. Ranco to schedule a meeting for Chris tomorrow at school. I follow up, and we collectively get Chris the professional help that he needs.