why is this kid making his issues public?

Yes but it is serious and should not be tolerated. He may be looking for sympathy and that is the wrong way. What he needs is medical help and if he come to you with remarks like before always suggest medical help in a nice way and never reward him with sympathy. He may get used to the sympathy and accelerate his stories into reality and do something desperate for attention. Also try and find something you like about him and let him know. This should be done by everyone associated with him so that he knows that there are other reasons why people like him other than they feel sorry for him. Had a friend who committed suicide when i was in school and she died because she wanted attention and told her dad to wake her up after she swallowed sleeping pills. She would have scared everyone when he woke her up and she would have been rushed to the hospital and had he stomach pumped but her dad found that she looked so peaceful sleeping that he let her sleep. There was nothing anyone could have done after that. She was in a choma for about 1 week and then she passed away. People dont really want to kill themselves if they tell you or leave an opening for you to see that they tried. What they want is to be saved. All you can do is be a friend and get the help for him from professionals if it is too much for you to handle. Remember…all you can do is be there for him as a friend. maybe that’s just what he needs. Friends.