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The Warning Signs of SuicideOctober 15, 2003Doug: Christie Toribara has probably told the story about her son Craig a thousand times. She still tells it with tears rolling down her cheeks.Christie Toribara “He was a very good musician. He played piano, saxophone and viola. He loved soccer. That was probably one of the greatest loves of his life.” Doug: Craig Toribara was also very troubled, apparently unable to deal with the traumatic events that happened to him. His mother says someone tried to kidnap him when he was three years old. And growing up, she says, a teacher harassed him during a three-year period. One day in September 1995, Craig took his own life. The body was found in the family home. Toribara “My husband said, ‘He’s gone.’ I took that that he was gone to soccer. He was always where he was supposed to be. And then my husband had to shake me and really bring it home; he was gone, he was dead.” Doug: How do parents, family members, friends, deal with that? The Toribaras grieved and they tried to find an answer. Toribara “He left a suicide note. That was more taking responsibility for his action. He wanted to make it clear he was not blaming anyone.” Doug: There were still unanswered questions. So Christie Toribara, her husband and daughter visited counselors. She says the answer came from a therapist in California. Toribara “He said go back to the time of the greatest pain, causing the greatest change. And then go forward and you will see a pattern. And that was very easy then. We did see the pattern starting with the attempted kidnapping. What we didn’t realize, at the beginning, even right after his death, is how many children suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.” Doug: That was the genesis of SMILE, an organization started by the Toribaras to teach people about suicide and its symptoms. Toribara 3:58 “It can be…when they need it.” Doug: Christie Toribara’s organization, SMILE, will hold two public events in the next month, including a one-day conference November 14 that will explore some of the contributors to youth suicide. For “Growing Up Healthy”, I’m Doug Nadvornick. By Doug Nadvornick 
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