Lisa Stark:

Nearly one in five high school students will seriously consider suicide in a 12-month period, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Seven percent will attempt it.

Suicide is now the second leading cause of death for those aged 10 to 19. Rates are especially high for gay, lesbian and bisexual students and Native Americans.

Suicide experts say there are two key roles that schools can take. First is to identify students who may be at risk of harming themselves, and then to help connect them to the mental health services they need.

Mental health issues can start at a young age, and half of all cases start before age 14. And the teenage years can be stressful, perhaps even more so nowadays, affecting students of all races and all economic levels, including those at relatively well-off Freedom High.