Remembering Garrett

They've had far too many suicides, Jensen said. The year Garrett Smith killed himself, he was one of eight UVSC students who did so. Jensen said only one or two of those students was seeing a therapist at the time of their deaths. (Garrett had seen a psychologist and also had a prescription for an anti-depressant.)

As for Gordon and Sharon Smith, they have gone on to learn all they can about suicide. Smith says they are particularly impressed with Columbia University's TeenScreen Program (www.teenscreen.org). Smith says the test is highly accurate in predicting whether a child is prone to depression and gives parents the tools to help.

In the Smiths' hometown of Pendleton, Ore., public-school officials heard about the Columbia screening test in March 2003, got funding through a local Catholic hospital, and began screening teens throughout the county in 2004. District officials plan to offer the test, with parental permission, to all seventh-graders. Parents are informed of the results and are told how to get help if their child is found to be depressed. Therapy is available regardless of the parents' ability to pay.

In his book, Smith tells several anecdotes about Garrett's despondence. When his son was 15 or so, Smith recalls that Sharon found him crying in his room. Garrett said he had just realized he could never get married because he would never be smart enough to support a family. His parents tried to reassure him. In the end, they believed they had.

Writing a book about his son's death crystallized the pain, requiring Smith to relive Garrett's struggles and feelings of worthlessness. But it was also healing, Smith said. He loved writing about his happy times with Garrett and about his son's sweet nature. Smith seems to find it healing, also, to tell as many parents as he can about the screening tests for depression.

It is something he wishes he'd known about sooner. Smith said, "We take our children to get vaccinations and dental checkups but we never think of getting them a mental-health checkup."

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If you go

What: Book signing for "Remembering Garrett: One Family's Battle With a Child's Depression"

Where: Fort Union Deseret Book, 1110 East Fort Union Blvd.

When: Tuesday, 7 p.m.

How much: Free

Phone: 561-8777

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E-mail: susan@desnews.com