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Warning Signs of Teen Suicide
Teenagers experience strong feelings of stress, confusion, self-doubt, pressure to succeed, financial uncertainty, and other fears while growing up. For some teenagers, divorce, the formation of a new family with step-parents and step-siblings, or moving to a new community can be very unsettling and can intensify self-doubts. For some teens, suicide may appear to be a solution to their problems and stress.
Depression and suicidal feelings are treatable mental disorders. The child or adolescent needs to have his or her illness recognized and diagnosed, and appropriate treatment plans developed. When parents are in doubt whether their child has a serious problem, a psychiatric examination can be very helpful.
Our society has a real trouble with rising generation worth to care about right now! According to a recent survey of high school students, teens (60 percent) often think about killing themselves and some (9 percent) say they have made an attempt at least once. In the past three decades, teen suicide has risen 300 percent. Suicide is now the third leading cause of death among people ages 13-24.
Being attentive with our children we may help! Here are some questions to ask in order to decide if a teen is at risk for suicide:
- Does he feel hopelessness, rejected or alone?
- Is he giving away favored possessions?
- Has he been abused physically or sexually?
- Does he feel unloved?
- Does he suffer from severe loss of self-esteem?
- Is there a dramatic change in personality and/or appearance?
- Is there a family history of suicide? Teens often identify with those close to them and repeat their actions.
- Does he talk about suicide? If a teen talks about suicide, take it seriously. Four out of five teens who talk about suicide attempt it.
- Has there been a previous suicide attempt?
- Are there signs of depression? (Such as changes in appetite, sleep, concentration, irritability, restlessness, withdrawal and isolation, declining grades, undue guilt, loss of interest in normal activities, mood changes, a wish to die)
- Does he abuse substances? 13 percent of people who commit suicide do so while abusing alcohol.
- Is he acting out violent feelings?
- Is there a cheerful upswing after a bout of depression which could be caused by a decision to die and escape the pain of living?
- Has there been a recent loss like a parent's divorce, separation, or custody change, a move, a death, a break up with boyfriend/girlfriend?
- Is he withdrawing from those to whom he was close?
- Does he have major peer problems?
- Is there a downward dive in school performance?
- Is there a chemical imbalance or other mental illness?
- Is there a chronic physical illness?
- Is she pregnant and not coping well?
- Is he a runaway?
- Does he write about death?
- Does he have many psychosomatic complaints?
- Has he been humiliated in front of family and friends?
- Does he have substance-abusing parents?
- Is his family life filled with strife?
- Is he rebellious in a serious way?
- Is there a sudden recklessness?
If you see these signs in any teen you know, you should consider getting him/her professional help. You may have a depressed teen that is thinking about suicide. Be attentive and careful while asking questions and finding things out. Try to approach and understand the fragile world of today's young person.
Please remember that with help, suicide is preventable and it is in your power to help right now!
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