Paris Jackson Suicide Attempt-Being Hospitalized!

June 5, 2013-  CNN and Fox News are amongst the stations reporting that Paris Jackson, the fifteen year old teenage daughter of the late pop singer Michael Jackson is being hospitalized after being found unconscious inside the Jackson's Calabasas home where she lives with her grandmother Katherine Jackson, and her brothers Prince (16) and Blanket (11).  

The entire world watched the Jackson children say goodbye to their father at his funeral which was publicized on television July 7, 2009 to over 31 million viewers and was the second most watched funeral of all time. Saying goodbye to a father due to a premature death would be difficult for any daughter at any age. However, for Paris Jackson, and the rest of the Jackson family, saying goodbye was something that was done in front of a plethora of lights, cameras, and news reporters.  I don't know what kind of help was put into place for the Jackson children after the funeral when the rest of the world went on with work, paying bills, and posting on Facebook about the next big news story, however anyone who suffers the lost of a love one needs to make sure their mind is properly cared for. Yes, the calls, the hugs, and back rubs are all nice physical comforts, but for people, especially young people who have suffered the lost of a love one; they need  mental comfort and treatment as well.  The people affected need to be counseled and educated about the lost of life in a practical way they can understand in order to begin the healing process. I don't know if this was done for Paris Jackson. The 15 year old recently tweeted several cryptic messages on Twitter.  She wrote, "All my troubles seemed so far away now it looks as though they're here to stay." She also tweeted: " I wonder why tears are salty?" Obviously, there are issues still bothering the girl, and 83 year old Katherine Jackson has her hands full raising three kids in a time period she knows little about.

Parents it is crucial that you pay attention and talk to your kids.  Good behavior and good grades in school does not mean that you have a child free of issues.  The teenage years are arguably the most troubling years of a teenager's life.  So while the world reacts to the news of Paris Jackson, who we first got a chance to know during her heartfelt speech at her father's funeral, let's remember that she is a teenager growing up in today's society where the issues of sex, drugs, self-esteem, identity confusion, and loss of a love one are not respecter of persons.  All teenagers, black or white, rich or poor, are battling these issues everyday. According to Paris Jackson's biological mother, Debbie Rowe, the two now have a closer relationship and Rowe admits her daughter's suicide attempt doesn't come as a shock. Paris hasn't been the same since her father's death.

Being a parent is a difficult job, and those who aspire to be great parents have a task that is extremely challenging.  Having the ability to create a life is such an amazing God given gift.  Unfortunately, this gift doesn't come with an instructional manual, or self help book to teach us how to do a great job and how to handle all the numerous challenges that are going to come our way. So the heavy responsibility falls on adults to make sure that as parents we don't just talk at our kids, or talk to our kids, but that we talk with our kids. When we talk with our kids, there's no fear of embarrassment, backlash, or punishment. Talking effectively with our kids is an extremely rigorous task that needs to be taught and practiced regularly in order to eliminate the risk of falling back into the ineffective parenting talk which has produced popular yet damaging cliche's such as "Because I said so." "This is going to hurt me more than it's going to hurt you." and "It's my way or the highway."

As we continue to live in a world divided into "The Haves" and "Have Nots", let us remember that when it comes to teenage issues, being a have or a have not is irrelevant. I think that often times people become desensitize to the problems that takes place amongst those who appear in the limelight.  For those who do not have much money, having millions of dollars and being a celebrity appears to be a dream life.  However, for those who have received those things, they still have to deal with the common universal problems that every person deals with; often times on a greater scale.

- Money cannot stop a teen girl from becoming pregnant,

   it can only pay for an abortion.

-Money cannot stop a drug user from overdosing, 

  it can only pay for rehabilitation.

-Money cannot stop a person from being sick,

  it can only pay for medication to become well.

-Money cannot stop a young person from being sexually abused,

 it can only pay for psychological counseling.

and...

-Money cannot prevent vices that leads to premature death, but it can give you the monetary means to afford greater quantities of the device that can lead to death.  

Here's hoping that the Jackson family get the healing, counseling, and strength they need to overcome one of life's greatest battles...death!

Shira Dillon was born in Gary, Indiana. She holds a Master's Degree in Secondary Education, and a Bachelor's Degree in Speech, Theater, and English Education.  Shira is a SAG/AFTRA actress and comedian that infuses her talents in the entertainment industry, her own childhood experiences of being a teen, and her 15 years of experience in the public school system to help parents and teens all over the country fix their life and relationships.  With the new release of her teen self-help book, Sex, Drugs, and Other Elephants:How To Deal With Teenage Issues, Shira has been highly sought out for parenting/teaching consulting, workshops, and speaking engagements.  To learn more about Shira Dillon or for booking information go to www.shiradillon.blogspot.com