Teen Suicide

Am not writing this because I have an experience of teen Suicide, but it’s a topic that parents should be able to understand and help their children to counter such feelings of suicide. It’s also an eye opener for parents to know what causes their children to commit suicide at a younger age. The tragedy of losing a child is very devastating to parents, friends, coach and also the community. The big question is always, if we could have done something then we could have avoided this death. Learning more about factors that might lead an adolescent to suicide may help prevent further tragedies. Even though it's not always preventable, it's always a good idea to be informed and take action to help a troubled teenager.

Many at times when we want to get the reasons for why an individual committed suicide, the reasons are always complex to be explained. As much as suicide is rare among children, many of this suicide, take place during adolescence. According to Centre for Disease Control, suicide is the third leading cause of death to teens in the age of 15-24. This is something to be scared of. According to many research that have been done, most children commit suicide because they have access to firearms at home. Nearly 50% of teen suicide in the United States of America are committed by firearms. Its always advisable to lock those guns and keep them away from children and teens.

Suicides among children and teens also is caused overdose of drugs, which are bought over the counter by the children themselves, sometimes they carry them from home to school and exchange in school, this has been counted as part of either attempt or complete suicide. Did you know boys are more prompt to commit suicide more than girls? It is said that girls would think twice than boys before committing suicide. Girls tend to commit suicide through overdose or cutting themselves, on the other hand, boys think on cruel ways like using lethal weapons like guns, throwing themselves from storey buildings, hanging themselves, etc.

Many at times, parents will want to know what causes this suicide. There are very many factors or characteristics that parents should always watch in their children. However we shall look at a few of those signs:

• feelings of distress, irritability, or agitation
• feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness that often accompany depression
• a previous suicide attempt
• a family history of depression or suicide
• lack of a support network, poor relationships with parents or peers, and feelings of social isolation
• dealing with bisexuality or homosexuality in an unsupportive family or community or hostile school environment
• Mental illness including depression, conduct disorders, and substance abuse.
• Environmental risks, including presence of a firearm in the home.
• Situational crises (i.e., traumatic death of a loved one, physical or sexual abuse, family violence, etc.).

Suicide among teens often occurs following a stressful life event, such as problems at school, a breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend, the death of a loved one, a divorce, or a major family conflict. Many suicidal youth demonstrate observable behaviors that signal their suicidal thinking.  These include:

• talk about suicide or death in general
• give hints that they might not be around anymore
• talk about feeling hopeless or feeling guilty
• pull away from friends or family
• write songs, poems, or letters about death, separation, and loss
• start giving away treasured possessions to siblings or friends
• lose the desire to take part in favorite things or activities
• have trouble concentrating or thinking clearly
• experience changes in eating or sleeping habits
• engage in risk-taking behaviors
• lose interest in school or sports

Some adults feel that kids who say they are going to hurt or kill themselves are "just doing it for attention." It's important to realize that if teens are ignored when seeking attention, it may increase the chance of them harming themselves (or worse). Children cannot seek attention to visit the doctor  or psychiatrist. The more parents think it’s attention seeking, the more children and teens are committing suicide.

Keep a close eye on a teen who is depressed and withdrawn. Understanding depression in teens is very important since it can look different from commonly held beliefs about depression. For example, it may take the form of problems with friends, grades, sleep, or being cranky and irritable rather than chronic sadness or crying.

It's important to try to keep the lines of communication open and express your concern, support, and love. If your teen confides in you, show that you take those concerns seriously. A fight with a friend might not seem like a big deal to you in the larger scheme of things, but for a teen it can feel immense and consuming. It's important not to minimize or discount what your teen is going through, as this can increase his or her sense of hopelessness. If your teen doesn't feel comfortable talking with you, suggest a more neutral person, such as another relative, a pastor, a coach, a school counselor, or your child's doctor.

 

Lastly the presence of resilience factors are very important because they help to lessen the risk of the child to commit suicide. These include:

• Family support and cohesion, including good communication.
• Peer support and close social networks.
• School and community connectedness.
• Cultural or religious beliefs that discourage suicide and promote healthy living.
• Adaptive coping and problem-solving skills, including conflict-resolution.
• General life satisfaction, good self-esteem, sense of purpose.
• Easy access to effective medical and mental health resources.