The death of a child is a parent’s worst nightmare and a horrible shock to the wider community.

This tragedy is compounded when the death was by the youth’s own hand. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the third-leading cause of death among people age 15 to 24.

Community Unit School District 303 in St. Charles has endured six suicides by students since 2002, including a 17-year-old last month. Authorities consider this an alarming trend, particularly when compared to Geneva Community Unit School District 304, which had no suicides in that same period.

District 303 officials are working with Stephanie Weber, executive director of the Batavia-based Suicide Prevention Services, to conduct a series of meetings with the goal of devising and implementing more effective programs. The first meeting of the district’s Summit on Suicide Prevention was held this week at Charlestowne Mall.

The district has reached out to students, staff members, parents and residents to help develop ways of thwarting suicide. This is the most appropriate way of dealing with the problem, because the death of a young person by suicide adversely impacts the entire community. All voices need to be heard on how to provide the support that students need.