Sunday vigil planned for teen who took his own life

Corbin High School junior Bailee O’kuma is working to organize a candlelight vigil for her friend and former classmate, Stephen Woolums, who committed suicide.

Family and friends are asking the community to come together Saturday to remember a Corbin teen who took his own life and encourage those who may be considering suicide to seek help.

Bailee O’kuma, a junior at Corbin High School, said Stephen Woolums had attended Corbin Independent Schools until 2012, moving to Ohio after finishing the eighth grade. Friday night, Woolums’ family contacted O’kuma to tell her what had happened.

“We had been friends since the fourth grade,” O’kuma said, adding she still talked to him frequently and the last time they spoke he seemed like his normal self.

“He was very fun to be around,” O’kuma said of Woolums. “He was very humble and very energetic and always willing to help people.”

With that in mind, O’kuma said Woolums’ family asked that an event be organized in Corbin.

“We are just trying to say that it okay to talk about your problems,” O’kuma said. “We are trying to use Stephen as a platform to raise awareness about teen suicide.”

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, suicide is the third leading cause of death among teens, ranking behind accidents and homicide.

Almost 20 percent of high school students have seriously considered killing themselves and more than 15 percent of high schools students have made serious plans for killing themselves.

The event will be held at 7 p.m. at the Corbin High School track.

More information is available by contacting O’kuma at 344-4063 or Madison O’kuma at 344-4410.