Book Nook: Branden's Choice

 

On February 27, 2019, John St. Clair found his son Branden’s near lifeless bloody body lying in his bedroom. Beside him were his cell phone and a gun. Branden would later succumb to his self-inflicted injuries, his fourteen-year life cut short despite no warning signs and no cries for help. 

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is the second most frequent cause of death among teens, with one in six teenagers reported having contemplated suicide at one point. Unfortunately, many feel that no one will listen when they do speak out, or fear there will be repercussions for doing so. 

John St. Clair is hoping to put an end to that, taking his heart-wrenching tragedy and turning it into a cause for hope. In his new book, Branden’s Choice, John not only chronicles his son’s tragic death, but he also shares the glimmer of hope that has come from it. After teens and parents began reaching out to John for help with depression, anxiety and self-harm, he created the B.E.D.S. Teen Outreach Center, which provides emotional support, education, assistance, and intervention as necessary to all youths and young adults in crisis and those impacted by them, with the goal of reducing suicides, bullying, and self-destructive behaviors. B.E.D.S. advocates for the well-being of every youth in our community by developing networks of educational and counseling resources.

“There are serious problems with the current support systems in place; not only in the schools, but in homes as well” says John, who in addition to expanding B.E.D.S., plans to go before Congress in 2023 in support of an anti-bullying bill, as well as produce a docuseries that focuses on the many faces of depression, anxiety, self-harm, cyber bullying and teen suicide. ”Suicide is not the end but rather the beginning for those left behind, who live the remainder of their lives in pain, doubt and fear.”

Branden’s Choice serves as a stepping stone in breaching the stigma surrounding teen mental health. By sharing his story about the unknown side of suicide and its affects on those left behind, John  hopes to change one mind, one heart at a time. 

I had a chance to learn more about this important issue in this interview.

Why is it important to reduce the stigma around mental health and suicide?

I feel that reducing the stigma surrounding Teen mental health is vital in ensuring a decline in under 19 suicide rates. By diving deeper into the reasons behind teen depression, self-harm and anxiety, making these topics open for discussion and safe to discuss by the youth, I feel we would be encouraging a much more stable ground to begin working from.

What are some of the challenges with current support systems in place for teens?

Currently I am discovering the most challenging aspects in our support systems are funding, knowledge, and privacy. Many public-school systems are underfunded and unable to push and provide solid training to staff. Most of which have only attended seminars or a few hours per year on mental Health. As knowledge goes, I would say near 75% of the young people I speak to have no idea that there are options for help available to them. As well the very few places that are available are so full or not open during times that are needed such as after school hours. Privacy, a huge problem is Privacy. Nearly every student I have ever spoken to has told me of reporting bullying or another issue and within hours half the school is involved, mostly making the situations worse. On the other side of that is the school systems privacy to the staff and many situations that parents need be notified, but due to privacy laws, the parents mostly, and sadly have no idea what is going on. In many cases the school administration seems more concerned with the protection of their jobs than with students’ health and safety. I say this in a limited capacity and do not blanket all public schools, many try hard, and many are succeeding, why other school’s do not follow the lead of success will forever confound me.

How can parents find or create resources in their own communities?

Creating change is all about the needs in your area. I would always suggest deeply looking into what you have available right now in your community. Look into these already established resources and either help to improve them or help by getting their resources to the right people to provide better for the youth. In many situations these young people do not know what is there, and how they can be helped. As always, be open, speak out about being open to the youth. Let them know that depression, anxiety, self-harm and especially suicidal ideology is not normal and that speaking out when feeling any of these is and always will be ok.

John St.Clair is the founder of B.E.D.S. Teen Outreach, a youth advocate and mental health awareness non-profit company that helps youths in their struggles with depression, anxiety, self-harm and Suicidal ideology Before devoting his work full time to B.E.D.S. teen outreach, John was a security service engineer until the loss of his son, Branden, to suicide in 2019 which prompted the creation of the Teen Outreach Center. With the hope to open a center wherever one is needed, John is pushing in all directions for change via congress, media outlets, free services to the youth and parent participation. John has written his first book, Branden’s Choice, which reveals and explains the devastating effects suicide has on the family and friends left behind and the stories of many others. John has also made public speaking roles throughout Tennessee, raising awareness about teen suicide. In addition to being a public speaker, John is an avid gamer which he shares with his wife, daughter, and late son. You will also find him quoting movies in normal conversations and making people laugh as often as possible.