TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa police told 10 Tampa Bay a teenage girl found dead not far from Bayshore Boulevard early Monday evening may have taken her own life.
At around 7:12 p.m., authorities arrived at a location near West Hyde Park Place and South Parker Street after receiving a report of an unconscious person near the road, the Tampa Police Department said in an earlier statement.
The area is close to Bayshore Boulevard by the Jose Gasparilla Pirate Ship.
Law enforcement says that's where they found a girl who was described as being in her "mid-teens" dead with upper body trauma. The incident has been reported as a "suspicious death" and in an update Tuesday, police say the girl appeared to have died by suicide.
The county medical examiner still needs to confirm the cause of death.
Those at the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay want the community to know there is help available.
"There’s no wrong way to talk about suicide. The first thing to do is to name it out loud," said Lindsay Everest, a manager at the organization.
Everest has a passion for helping others. That's why she started out here at the crisis center answering phone calls on the suicide prevention line. Everest explained if you feel like someone you love may be suicidal, it's best to be direct with them.
"It’s so much easier to have that conversation if you’re both on the same page," Everest added.
If you’re struggling, know you’re not alone.
"We’re really just there to listen and ask questions and find out what the best support is for them," Everest explained.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that nearly 20 percent of high school students report having suicidal thoughts with 9 percent making an attempt. Everest said it's important to look out for warning signs.
"If you see someone is dealing with something intensely or for a long period of time, or that alarm bell is going off, that’s the sign to reach out," Everest said .
Anyone with information regarding the finding of the girl's body is asked to call the police department at 813-231-6130. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay at 800-873-8477.
Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis is urged to reach out for help. You can contact the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay at 211 or call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached 24/7 at 800-799-7233. Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis can contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.