Hi,

My sister has 6 kids ranging from 15 to 3, (5 boys - 15, 11, 9, twins - 6 and one girl 3)

They are all very smart (biased I know) but the second eldest is extremely smart and has alot of trouble with being smarter than all his friends etc. He wants to be normal like all the rest.

My SIS and BIL asked me for some advise the other day (I don't have any kids yet so found it really hard). Her son (the 11 yr old) is really causing a lot of problems at home. He not a bad kid just very troubled. He always picks and teases the other boys (not my niece as she is a princess to him) then blames them and they get into trouble. When he gets told off he closes down and becomes very stressed. Starts going on about he should be dead and wants to kill himself - he even plans it!!

He is very scared or wary of strangers (which is good) but that includes his teachers, dentists etc..he again closes off and will not talk at all just stands there ands stares at them without saying a word. He has been awarded heaps of Honour certificates but will not get up at assemblies to get them - I was always shy to do this but still got excited about getting them - not this kid.

He has had counsellings at school but none of them can find out what is eating him out, He just tells them he wants to die. SO far no luck with them.

It is really sad and scary as we do not want him to do anything - hopefully it is all just words. He has an overall happy life, not overly spoilt but my Sis has to treat him more special as they don't want to make things worse.

This is only a small snippet of what he is like it is so hard to write it all down - esp third hand. He is such a loving kid! Always telling everyone how much he loves us. He is so sensitive. When i M/c the other week he cried more than me - was so upset for me!!

Can anyone recommend a way to handle this situation, it is causing stress for our family as we don't know where to go. He doesn't want to be singled out as this makes him feel even more abnormal...then totally closes shop so to speak.

Can anyone can recommend a really good counsellor in Perth that does home visits as I think this may be easier for him in a 'safe' environment to open up.?

I hope that someone can point us in the right direction.