Teenage suicide

Teenage suicide is the self-killing of a teenager.

Although the suicide rate among youth significantly decreased in the mid-1990s, suicide deaths remain high in the 15 to 24 age group with 3,971 suicides in 2001 and over 132,000 suicide attempts in 2002, making it the third leading cause of death for those aged 15 to 24 in the United States ^[1]. In the United Kingdom, the suicide rate for males between 15 and 24 has risen consistently since 1989, while that for females in the same age group has remained largely static[1]. However, given the overall decline in the suicide rate in the UK, the rise in suicide amongst the 15-24 male population has been a considerable cause for concern [2]. More preventive measures have been taken in the last ten years, including increased understanding of the risk factors and causes and spreading information to schools and parents.

Population differences

In the United States, male adolescents commit suicide at a rate five times greater than that of female adolescents, although suicide attempts by females are three times as frequent as those by males. A possible reason for this is because the method of suicide for males is typically that of a firearm, with a 78-90% chance of fatality. Females are more likely to try a different method, such as ingesting poison ^[2]. Females have more parasuicides (cries for help).

Suicide rates vary for different ethnicities due to cultural differences. In 1998, white Americans accounted for 84% of all youth suicides, 61% male, 23% female. However, the suicide rate for Native Americans was 19.3 per 100,000, much higher than the overall rate (8.5 per 100,000). The suicide rate for African-Americans has increased more than two-fold since 1981. A national survey of high school students conducted in 1999 reported that Hispanic students are twice as likely to attempt suicide as white students ^[2].

A controversial U.S. government's study, titled Report of the Secretary's Task Force on Youth Suicide, found that homosexual youth are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide than other young people. Several researchers suggest that bisexual and youth uncertain of their sexual orientation may be at higher risk for suicidal behavior than self-proclaimed homosexual teenagers. Many homosexual teenagers who commit suicide may also suffer from mental illnesses or substance abuse disorders, making the connection more complicated. The American standard of institutionalized and internalized homophobia also leads LGBT youth to think that their parents will throw them out and perhaps abuse them for being homosexual. It is impossible to know the suicide rate of homosexual youth because homosexuality is often hidden, particularly in this age group. Further research is currently being done to explain the prevalence of suicide among homosexual youths ^[3][4][5].

High-risk groups

• Teenagers who have attempted suicide before. Approximately a third of all teenagers who commit suicide have made a previous suicide attempt. ^[2]
• Teenagers who talk about suicide. Four out of five people give warnings before attempting suicide. ^[6]
• Rape victims.
• Adolescents who are or have been in Youth detention centers or boot camps.
• Adolescents who are physically or mentally disabled.
• Teenagers who live in poverty.
• Those who participate in substance abuse.
• Adolescents who have a mental disorder (other than the suicidal tendency itself), such as clinical depression, schizophrenia, social anxiety, or bipolar disorder. Over 90% of teen suicide victims have a mental disorder, depression, or a history of alcohol or drug abuse.
• Teenagers of conduct disorder (a high level of aggressiveness).
• LGBT teens, i.e., those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
• Minority Indigenous adolescents, i.e. Native Americans, Indigenous Australians.
• Teenagers from emotionally dysfunctional families, where they do not feel safe to talk about things or show their true feelings, and where they are regularly invalidated.
• Victims of bullying.

Suicide prevention

Main article: Suicide prevention

Promoting overall mental health among adolescents is key to reducing possible suicidal thoughts. Some people argue that limiting young people's access to lethal weapons, such as firearms, may be a pivotal deterrent. Some school-based youth suicide awareness programs exist to try to increase high-school students' awareness of the problem, provide knowledge about the behavioral characteristics of teens at risk, and describe available treatment or counseling resources. However, some research has shown that this may have an unintended negative effect of suggesting suicide as an option for teenagers ^[7].

Counter-measures to suicide

See also: Suicide prevention

When talking to a teenage person who is contemplating suicide, it is important to take the threat seriously. Seventy-five percent of all suicides give some warning of their intentions to a friend or family member.^[8]

There are many methods of helping teenagers who are considering suicide, so in order to help a suicidal person it is important for a helper to show they can be trusted and talked to. Seeing a doctor is widely recommended as well. A course doctors commonly take when presented with a young, suicidal patient will be a combination of drug based treatment (eg imipramine or fluoxetine) with a 'talking based' therapy, such as referral to a cognitive behaviour therapist. This kind of therapy concentrates on modifying self-destructive and irrational thought processes. ^[9]

When trying to help a teenager who is considering suicide, it is important to try and find out what it is that is troubling them. Lack of parental interest in their teenage children may be considered a factor in teenage suicide: According to one study 90 percent of suicidal teen-agers believed their families did not understand them.^[10]

When confronted by a suicidal teen, do not try and argue them out of committing suicide, or attempt to make them feel guilty for considering suicide (eg "your family love you so much, how could you think like this?"). Just talk to them properly as if you were them. This type of intervention can actually serve to alienate the child further. Instead try to explore the reasons why the teenager is so unhappy and feels that suicide is the only solution. The teenager's pediatrician will also be able to plan a suitable course of treatment, if the teenager is willing to engage with this.

In a crisis situation professional help must be sought, either at hospital or a walk in clinic. There are also several telephone help numbers for help on teenage suicide, depending on what country one lives in. Also, emergency services should be contacted immediately, in case the teenager makes a suicide attempt.

Media coverage

In the United States in particular, the issue has been the subject of considerable media attention. After three teenagers from Southern states committed suicide within a week in 1990, many news outlets began speaking about the problem. Media coverage increased further after the Columbine shootings and subsequent school shootings. The 2000 movie The Virgin Suicides helped remind the public that teenage girls are also prone to suicide.

A string of teenage suicides during the early 1980s in the Dallas suburb of Plano, a higher income community, gained wide media coverage. A total of twelve suicides and more than 60 suicide attempts were reported there.

In many countries, the media has been required to take a responsible stance and generally not report suicides in order to prevent so-called 'copycat suicides'. Sometimes, seeing a suicide in a newspaper or on television will spur an already-depressed person to kill themselves. Exceptions to this are very high-profile suicides, such as that of Dr. David Kelly.

See also: Copycat suicide

Further reading

• Alan L. Berman; David A Jobes; and Morton M. Silverman. Adolescent Suicide: Assessment and Intervention. 2nd Edition. APA 2005

Footnotes

1. ^ Suicide: Fact Sheet, 30 March 2006, retrieved 2 May 2006.
2. ^ ^{a b c} Youth Suicide Fact Sheet, 1 January 2005, retrieved 2 May 2006.
3. ^ "Sexual Orientation and Youth Suicide" by Dr. Gary Remafedi, October 6 1999, retrieved 2 May 2006.
4. ^ "Youth suicide risk and sexual orientation - Statistical Data Included" by Rutter, Philip A & Soucar, Emil, Summer 2002, retrieved 2 May 2006.
5. ^ Articles Relating to Suicide by GLB Youth, retrieved 3 May 2006.
6. ^ Prevent Teen Suicide: Distribute Yellow Ribbon Cards, retrived 3 July 2006.
7. ^ "The Surgeon General's Call To Action To Prevent Suicide 1999", United States Department of Health and Human Services, 21 July 2004, retrieved 2 May 2006.
8. ^ When you fear someone will take their own life. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (2006-08-27). Retrieved on 2006-08-27.
9. ^ Treatments: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. depresioNet (2004-01-08). Retrieved on 2006-08-27.
10. ^ AAP - Preventing Teen Suicide. American Academy of Pediatrics (2006-08-27). Retrieved on 2006-08-27.

External links

• - Suicide and Emotional Intelligence - index for many different resources involving teen suicide. Site includes information and valuable help for teens and parents of teens, as well as emotional needs that lead up to and cause suicide.
• ULifeline Suicide Prevention - section about suicide on ULifeline, a mental health resource for college students.
• TeenSuicide.us - suicide information.
• Second Wind Fund - a teenage suicide prevention fund.
• The Trevor Helpline: 1 866 - 4U TREVOR - nationwide, 24-hour, free, confidential suicide helpline for gay and questioning teenagers, United States. See The Trevor Project for the Wikipedia article.
• Research from the UK government into the suicide rate in the UK.

UK official statistics for suicide.

• 1-800-SUICIDE - National Suicide Prevention Hotline

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