THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2015
FEATURES
Why is suicide kept a secret?
Dear Annie: Last week, our son
came home from high school and
told us that a boy at his school had
killed himself. The boy had been a
friend of his since the fifth grade.
The school had a moment of si-
lence over the public address sys-
tem, but never mentioned the boy’s
name. Most of the details about the
suicide are nonexistent, although
there are a few things mentioned
on a website asking for help pay-
ing for funeral costs. Students who
didn’t know the suicide victim are
guessing it was caused by bully-
ing. Our son says that’s not true.
Some students are even saying the
fund requests are a scam.
We haven’t heard anything
about whether the school is offer-
ing grief counseling. We’ve talked
to our son about the tragedy and
are trying our best to help him.
Because the students have no in-
formation, they are making wild
guesses and placing uninformed
posts on social media. My ques-
tion is why is this tragedy so se-
cret? Should the school do more?
— Sad Mom
Dear Sad: Sometimes, the
school is ill-equipped to deal with
such tragedies and does nothing,
which tends to create a whirlwind
of misinformation. Also, the ad-
Annie’s
Mailbox
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
Kathy Mitchell
and
Marcy Sugar
ministration may fear that men-
tioning the details would create
copycat suicides. But the details
do not need airing. The acknowl-
edgement of mourning, however,
is important.
The American Foundation for
Suicide Prevention (afsp.org) of-
fers a Toolkit for Schools, and you
should mention this to the admin-
istration. The foundation is also
an excellent resource for anyone
dealing with suicide, and you will
find information there that will
help you talk to your son about his
friend.
Dear Annie: I would like to
thank “B” for bringing attention to
the telephone scammers who have
been plaguing America.
I also would like to bring to
your readers’ attention to a scam
perpetrated by people claiming to
be from the IRS. I have received
three calls from these people. The
“official” recorded message is to-
tally bogus. The caller threatened
me with arrest for ignoring the
calls. They instructed me to call
a 202 area code, but it’s a private
Washington, D.C., number, not
the IRS. I have worked for a fed-
eral agency and know how things
work. Please be aware of the fol-
lowing:
1. The IRS does not initiate
contact by telephone. They use
certified mail.
2. Legitimate government agen-
cies have an 800 number.
3. The IRS will not arrest any-
one over the phone. If an arrest is
required, it will be after lengthy
legal processes have been exhaust-
ed. You’ll know about it. Police
agencies need a bona fide warrant
to arrest people.
4. If you receive such a call,
report it to the IRS at IRS@tigta.
gov. Also notify your local police.
— Knows Better
Dear Knows: Thank you for
your expert advice. Calls pre-
tending to be from the IRS can be
particularly frightening for people
who are so eager to cooperate that
they give out personal financial in-
formation over the phone. Please,
folks, be careful.
FRANK AND ERNEST
BLONDIE
THATABABY
SALLY FORTH
STONE SOUP
B.C.
LOLA
DILBERT
SIX CHIX
BIZARRO
MUTTS
NON SEQUITUR
BABY BLUES
WIZARD OF ID
ZITS
ROSE IS ROSE
5A
Tomorrow’s horoscope
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). When you
get together with friends, prompt them to
bring friends, too, and prepare to benefit in
unforeseen ways. In fact, the more new peo-
ple you meet the luckier you’ll be.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). In enter-
tainment, conflict is necessary for a good
story. In life, not so much. In fact, the perfect
amount of conflict for the story of this eve-
ning would be “none.” See what you can do
to minimize the drama!
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You are in the
mood to discover, and your preferred learn-
ing style lately is hands-on, with instruction.
That’s one reason you’ll be attracted to peo-
ple who know what you’d like to know.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Maybe you
won’t be able to come up with the big idea,
but don’t worry. Lots of small ideas are going
to be more interesting to execute anyway.
Plus you’ll get help.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Socializing is sup-
posed to be fun, so don’t let it get too labored.
Stick with the conversation for as long as it’s
juicy. When you feel like you’re down to the
pulp and the peel, move along.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Tearing down
the old to make room for the new is a pro-
cess that has helped you in your work, and
now it’s about to help you in your personal
life, too. You’re ready to embrace a new iden-
tity and let go of who you were.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Using your
body relaxes your mind. The reverse won’t
be true (especially not with the intense men-
tal activity this day will bring), and so the best
thing you can do for your creativity and gen-
eral mood is exercise.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Do you think
it’s true that you have to stop wanting some-
thing in order to get it? Unfortunately, it is dif-
ficult to consciously decide to no longer want
something. Substitutions may keep you from
holding on too tight.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Your
favorite type of risk is a calculated one. You
don’t mind slim odds; you just want to know
exactly what they are. The most exciting
journeys are the ones with no guarantee of
success.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Self-pro-
motion works best when the work itself is
what’s needed. That’s why you’re wise to
find out what your crowd really wants before
you try to market something less interesting
to them.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Everything
you do with your friends costs money. Step
back and make a plan, because the evening
will get financially out of control unless you
have one. Your social life doesn’t have to be
at odds with your financial life.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’ve
trumped up a fear in your mind. A small act
of courage is all that will be necessary to
dispel it. This will be like flicking on the lights
— the scary shadows will disappear in an
instant.
FRIDAY’S BIRTHDAY (April 24). Mes-
sages from parent to child will have a mag-
ical impact in May. June will bring dancing.
New friends and possibly pets, too, will be
featured in July. You’ll take a wild ride in Au-
gust. Work gets better once you get educat-
ed. You’ll make more money where people
skills and technical skills meet. Aries and
Gemini people adore you. Your lucky num-
bers are: 14, 1, 49, 38 and 16.