Xiao Jing, a high school student from Liling, Central China's Hunan Province, recently received a text message from a girl in Henan Province: "It was you who made me give up the idea of committing suicide and re-established hope for my life. Thank you."

Not feeling love from her parents, and abandoned by her boyfriend, the girl didn't know what to live for.

While communicating with her, Xiao found that she liked poetry, so he tried to use some positive poems and his knowledge about psychology to make her realize the good aspects of life. As a result, he saved the life of another young person.

Xiao has successfully persuaded more than 10 young people to give up their ideas of committing suicide during the past two years. He has initiated China's first forum about preventing juveniles from committing suicide the "Jasmine Forum" which will be held in Liling from May 2 to 3.

Xiao began to pay attention to juvenile suicide when he was a second-grade student at the First High School of Liling. On December 6, 2003, Xiao was shocked when he read in newspaper that a sophomore student from Renmin University in Beijing killed himself by jumping off a building.

Why did this university student, who seemed to have a brilliant future, choose to give up his life? What psychological problems did he have? Since then, Xiao began to collect data about juvenile suicide, and he found that this was a phenomenon not to be ignored.

From the materials Xiao collected, he found suicide is the biggest cause of death among people between 15 and 34 in China, and juvenile suicide seems to be increasing and the average age decreasing. Xiao was determined to do something to prevent juvenile suicide.

From then on, Xiao began to read psychology books and collect related cases from newspapers, magazines and the Internet. He found that the main causes for juvenile suicide include crisis of ideal and belief, emotional crisis, depression, and pressure from examinations.

To remind young people of the value of life, Xiao organized various activities on campus, like situation dramas, speech, discussion and debate. In April 2004, Xiao had a new idea to initiate a project aimed at forming a nationwide network to prevent juvenile suicide.

During that year's summer vacation, Xiao went to Beijing, Wuhan and Changsha to visit psychologists and professors. Though most of them didn't know Xiao, they welcomed him and gave him help. Now, the project titled "A 10,000-li Tour Caring for Life" has reached Gansu, Sichuan and Hainan provinces and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Using the knowledge he learned about suicide prevention, Xiao helped many young people and their parents through telephone and online chat.

Last year, a graduate from a university in Wuhan couldn't find a job. Having experienced his mother's suicide a few years ago, he lost his hope of life and wanted to commit suicide too.

Xiao met him on the Internet by chance. Through chatting with him, Xiao recommended some books aimed at helping him come out of psychological crisis, and encouraged him to face life actively. At last, the young man gave up the plan of suicide and found a suitable job.

Having read various materials, Xiao compiled a brochure entitled "An Attempt to Discuss Education on Life." Last November, he wrote a long letter to relevant governmental departments to call on the establishment of a "Committee for Preventing Juveniles from Committing Suicide."

Because of his devotion to the research of juvenile suicide, Xiao failed his collage entrance examination last year and is preparing to take the examination again. However, Xiao is still ardent about his work and is now organizing China's first forum about preventing juveniles from committing suicide.

Xiao publicized his QQ number 540125964 and the address of his website www.gasmwlx.com, hoping to help more young people with his knowledge.

(China Daily 04/19/2006 page14)