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Youth Suicide
There are several high-risk factors associated with teen suicide: • previous suicidal behavior • history of psychiatric disorder or substance abuse • family history of suicide, psychiatric disorder or substance abuse • loss of parent through any means • history of abuse, violence or neglect • social isolation/alienation, including because of being gay or being bullied Adolescence is typically a time of extreme moods, as hormonal changes and academic and social challenges escalate. Suicidal behavior in adolescents is commonly precipitated by events or challenges that the teenager finds too difficult to tolerate. Even things that seem minor to an adult can be major to a young person, who does not have the life experience to put them into perspective or the coping skills that an adult has honed. Some common precipitants of suicidal behavior in teenagers include: • death of a family member or close friend (particularly if by suicide) • loss of a romantic relationship or good friendship • loss of a parent through divorce or separation • loss of a pet, treasured object, job or opportunity • fear of punishment • physical, sexual or psychological abuse • unwanted pregnancy • poor grades • fight or argument with family member or loved one • belief one has harmed or brought harm to a family member or friend • embarrassment or humiliation • concerns about sexuality • suicide of a friend, acquaintance, or celebrity ("copycat" suicide) What can parents do? It is difficult for caring, concerned parents to see their children struggling. Sometimes parents wonder if their teen is being melodramatic or "just trying to get attention" with challenging behavior. Do not wait and hope that symptoms will go away on their own. When depression is severe - if adolescents are thinking about hurting themselves or about suicide - seek professional help as soon as possible. The following strategies may be helpful when dealing with teens and suicide: • Talk about suicide in an open manner. Teens need to be given a chance to discuss suicide by voicing their thoughts and opinions. Candid discussion is important particularly when a teen suicide has occurred in a community. • Let young people know about hotline telephone numbers and crisis intervention services that are accessible locally. • Model healthy behavior and positive problem-solving approaches. Adults can be models for young people by dealing with their own stress in a constructive manner. • Use television shows, films, newspaper articles and other media as a trigger for a discussion of effective ways to deal with stress and depression. • Provide opportunities for group support. Teens sharing problems with other teens that help find solutions can be beneficial. No talk of suicide should be taken lightly. It indicates the need for immediate professional help. Any suicidal gesture, no matter how "harmless" it seems, demands immediate professional attention. Some young people who have never expressed a suicidal thought have taken their own lives when they got drunk to ease the pain of a disappointment or loss. Getting in trouble in school or with the law, fighting with parents, and other behavioral problems are the risk factor for suicide. If you have a gun in your home, you are FIVE times more likely to have a suicide in your house. It is also important to limit the person's access to large amounts of medication, or other lethal means of committing suicide. If you suspect suicidal thoughts or behavior, ask the teen directly if she or he is considering suicide. Don't avoid the subject or wait for the teen to come to you. Parents and friends should not hesitate to get help and should never leave a suicidal person alone. Be alert to the teen's feelings. The severity of the problem should be judged from the teen's perception, not by adult standards. If a teen perceives something as a problem, it is a problem for him or her. Half of all children who have made one suicide attempt will make another, sometimes as many as two a year until they succeed. The majority of suicide attempts are expressions of extreme distress and not just harmless bids for attention. Adults need to take the possibility of teen suicide seriously. Teen depression and thoughts of suicide are more common than many adults assume and there are as many as 50 to 100 suicide attempts for every young person who actually takes his or her own life.
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