Tommy Raskin’s death by suicide on New Year’s Eve touched many people and raised questions of why a young man who seemed to have such a bright future ahead of him could succumb to depression. Raskin, the son of U.S. Rep. Jamie and Sarah Bloom Raskin, was only 25.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people between the ages of 10 and 24.
Evan Rosenstock, who graduated from Winston Churchill High School in Potomac where he played on the basketball team, died by suicide in 2013. He was only 16. His mother Susan, along with several of her son’s friends, started UMTTR to let people know they do matter.
She spoke with MyMCM about how to help someone who is experiencing mental health issues.
Her advice to parents who suspect their child is suffering is to speak with their child’s friends, ask them what they think. That way, it may be possible to reach out for help earlier.
She sadly noted that she can relate to how hard it is for the Raskin family now, noting, “It was her only son and my only son,” Rosenstock said 0f Sarah Bloom Raskin
RESOURCES
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Telephone: 800.273.8255 (available 24/7)
Text 741741 to speak with a trained counselor
Montgomery County’s 24-Hour Crisis Center
Telephone: 240.770.4000
Montgomery County’s website on suicide prevention
Rep. Raskin, Wife Pen Essay on Son: ‘A Radiant Light in This Broken World’
