Online Community Mourns Bellevue Teen's Death

A 16-year-old Bellevue girl was being remembered and mourned in online tributes Thursday, a day after she committed suicide.

A Facebook page started Wednesday had many messages saying they would miss the Issaquah High School student, and praising her musical talent.

Some of the messages made references to bullying, but a spokesman for Bellevue Police, who are investigating the death, said they “don’t have any information that indicates that at this point.”

The King County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death, which happened in Bellevue, a suicide.

Issaquah High School Principal Paula Phelps sent a letter to the school community Thursday morning with the news that a student had died suddenly at her home Wednesday. (See the full text below.)

Phelps said she couldn’t share more details, but “our primary concern is supporting our school community during this difficult time.”

The school has extra counselors on hand and will offer outreach to students and staff.

There are resources available for children at risk; please refer to this Sammamish-Issaquah Patch article, in which professionals discuss ways to help teens who are struggling.

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Youth Eastside Services offers mental health/teen suicide prevention counseling and support as well.

Here’s the full text of the letter:

Dear Issaquah High Community,

We have shared some very sad news with our staff and students this morning, and I wanted you to be the next to know:  One of our students died unexpectedly and suddenly at her home yesterday.  While I cannot share more details out of respect for the student's family, our primary concern is supporting our school community during this difficult time.  We have a crisis plan in place, which includes extra counselors, outreach to students and staff we know were close to the student, and preparation by all of our staff to help students process and to be watchful for signs of grief.

Some students may feel more comfortable talking to you at home or they may delay signs of grieving.  Further, an event such as this may generate in your student resurgence or reflection of grief if they have lost a loved one.  As such, when considering what to say during such a sensitive conversation, the main goal is to help your student express his/her feelings in a safe and supportive environment.  It is often best to respond with empathetic statements of understanding rather than trying to change your child's feelings or cheer him/her up. 

Please be on the lookout for significant change in any of these physical or emotional behaviors that might indicate grief in your child:

• Sadness
• Anger, irritability
• Anxiety
• Loneliness
• Numbness, indifference, detachment
• Listlessness
• Headaches
• Stomachaches
• Nausea
• Change in appetite

Do not hesitate to call our counseling center at 425-837-6140 for guidance or more information - we want all of our students to have the assistance they need during this sorrowful time.

There are also many good resources about grief available online.

Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased student.  We believe in our common strength together as the Issaquah High community as we move forward supporting each other in the days to come.

Sincerely,

Principal Paula Phelps