The entire Sun staff and family send our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Brittany Lafferty and the larger community and school body that are still sorting out their thoughts and emotions in the aftermath of the loss.

We salute the parents, teaching and support staff, ministers and counselors who have taken up the charge of reaching out to the AGHS students.

The Avon Grove School District was prepared to react to the aftermath of such a tragedy with its tragic response plan that called for counselors from around the district's schools to offer emotional assistance to high school students.

Measures like that, and the student assistance team, demonstrated solid emergency planning on behalf of the district. As a community, it may be a good idea to start becoming more proactive in dealing with the issue of suicide.

Many specialists seem to indicate that forecasting a potential suicide based on warning signs is far from an exact science.

One idea to head off the emotional or mental stress that leads to suicidal tendencies is to create some form hotline, Web site or e-mail address that students can use to get help when needed.

Logic would seem to dictate that the ball has probably already began rolling among District's senior leadership as well as many of the local youth ministries and social clubs in the Avon Grove area.

No one should feel guilty or be assigned blame for the actions of Feb. 17. West Grove Police officials have emphasized that there was no domestic dispute or any arguments leading up to the incident.

According to Police, history indicates that suicides in West Grove tend to occur about every 18 months, usually around the beginning of the spring season.

Let us all reflect positively and constructively on the life and person of Brittany Lafferty and pray that the suicide cycle in our area is broken.

ŠAvon Grove Sun 2004