teen suicide

are teen suicide rates going up? are we doing our kids a disservice by not allowing them to learn to lose gracefully? we can't always keep score in kids soccer (trying to protect their fragile self-esteem as they learn the game). we standardize them in school (must teach to the MCAS). when do we give kids the opportunity to learn about themselves? their strengths and weaknesses. how they handle pressure. in college? we seem to isolate them still in college so they can 'find themselves' (paying all the bills, calling professors to adjust grades). can you learn who you are without pressures?

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/12/11/breaking_the_silence_about_teen_suicide/

this story is very sad. there's no doubt that suicide is tragic. but are we contributing to it by not helping kids learn about disappointment and sadness and how to cope?