LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — A Lake Minneola High School student is in the hospital recovering after he attempted to take his own life, a school spokeswoman said.
A 16-year-old student went to the school at 12:55 a.m. Thursday and attempted to harm himself, school officials said.
The student entered an unlocked door at the school, went inside an unlocked door at the nurse’s office and took 100 Tylenol pills and 20 Adderall pills, Lake County deputies said.
The student called a friend about his suicide attempt and the friend notified his father who called 911, deputies said.
At least five teens have committed suicide in south Lake County in recent weeks, including one at Lake Minneola High School last month. In addition, there have been suicide attempts in south Lake County, officials said.
“Together, we are urging young people and their families to reach out for help when they feel troubled,” Sherri Owens, spokeswoman for Lake County School District said in a news release.
People who are thinking about suicide can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Parents and students can also call the school district's Student Services Department for assistance, support and resources at 352-742-6920.
"It just turns your stomach upside down. It's just really, really hard," parent Renee Lowe told Channel 9's Angela Jacobs.
Lowe co-founded the group, We Are Listening, which has organized a meeting of local leaders to assess area resources preventing teen suicides.
A new task force consisting of the city, school district and Life Stream Behavioral Center has been formed to address the rise in suicides.
A community meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday at the Lake Minneola High School.
Cox Media Group
