Circle of Trust

a few weeks ago, my neice came over to spend the night.  I haven’t seen her since she Christmas, so its been a little while.  I noticed that she was more quiet and reserved than normal.  Usually she is running all around with my daughter, laughing having a good time.  She was still playing with my daughter but it was just different.  She is 11 going on 12 Years old, so being a weird time in life for children that age, I assumed it was just the changing of hormones, and left it at that.  Well I found out this past Monday that during a Suicide Screening at School, that she has a whole Suicide Plan and pact she made with some of her friends.  She has been cutting herself, pulling her hair out.  I got really frustrated with myself, I noticed something off, and instead of speaking up, I made an assumption, I didn’t give my niece the chance to open up to me.  I am not sure that she would have, but she never had that opportunity.  I could have taken her with me on a walk with the dogs, and just talked to her, but I didnt……. Luckily the School has a system in place to help identify children at risk…. Lesson here gents, if you see something off, speak up, ask the person how they are doing, don’t assume that someone will come to you if they need help.