Wow! I missed a lot in not reading this thread for a while. Kathi, I am so very sorry to hear about your son's current issues. I experienced a similar crisis as an adolescent, and it was a very difficult to come out of it. I absolutely think professional intervention is warranted. Be aware that kid's in this position often appear to "get better" for a while, only to dip even lower into despondency. Any regular contact with an adult mentor or older brother figure would also be helpful.
my prayers are with you-
