Teen suicide has long been considered one of society’s darkest secrets; the idea of troubled young people driven to take their own lives was a tragedy too horrible to contemplate, let alone talk about openly. But the fact remains that teen suicide is an issue that refuses to go away so long as young people in crisis have nowhere to turn. But now, in this age of frank discussions about bullying, peer pressure, and issues of “difference,” there is a growing sense that teen suicide is no longer a taboo subject, and that talking about it can help us to identify and acknowledge the kind of problems that lead teens to make such drastic and tragic decisions.
Based on interviews with teen suicide survivors, -parents, and professionals, Marion Crook sensitively explores all aspects of teen suicide, in particular the -reasons why certain young people are driven to it. The motives are far-ranging, but central to all is a sense of desperation. Despite their dire circumstances, however, many found a way out of the darkness and into adult lives of meaning and worth.
Marion Crook also examines the history of teen suicide in Western and other cultures, as well as what roles parents and schools can play in suicide prevention, and coping strategies for teens in crisis. Out of the Darkness is a book for both teens and adults that breaks the silence surrounding teen suicide, offering hope for those who think there is none.
Marion Crook has spent the last fifteen years actively researching the difficulties teens face, relying on the expertise of the teens themselves. This is her twenty-third published book. She teaches at the university in Surrey, B.C. while continuing to research and write.
