1 Teen Suicide University of Phoenix 2 The main factors that lead to teen suicide are having negative self perceptions being bored and alienated having low self esteem and various other factors unknown to us When a teen commits suicide everyone is affected Family members friends teammates neighbors and sometimes even those who didn t know the teen well might experience feelings of grief confusion guilt and the sense that if only they had done something differently the suicide could have been prevented Nock 2008 So it s important to understand the forces that can lead teens to suicide and to know how to help The reasons behind a teen s suicide or attempted suicide can be complex Although suicide is relatively rare among children the rate of suicides and suicide attempts increases tremendously during adolescence Suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15 to 24 year olds according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC surpassed only by accidents and homicide Nock 2008 The risk of suicide increases dramatically when kids and teens have access to firearms at home and nearly 60 of all suicides in the United States are committed with a gun That s why any gun in your home should be unloaded locked and kept out of the reach of children and teens Ammunition should be stored and locked apart from the gun and the keys for both should be kept in a different area from where you store your household keys Always keep the keys to any firearms out of the reach of children and adolescents Nock 2008 Suicide rates differ between boys and girls Girls think about and attempt suicide about twice as often as boys and tend to attempt suicide by overdosing on drugs or cutting themselves Yet boys die by suicide about four times as often girls perhaps because they tend to use more lethal methods such as firearms hanging or jumping from heights Nock 2008 3 It can be hard to remember how it felt to be a teen caught in that gray area between childhood and adulthood Sure it s a time of tremendous possibility but it can also be a period of great confusion and anxiety There s pressure to fit in socially to perform academically and to act responsibly There s the awakening of sexual feelings a growing self identity and a need for autonomy that often conflicts with the rules and expectations set by others Nock 2008 A teen with an adequate support network of friends family religious affiliations peer groups or extracurricular activities may have an outlet to deal with everyday frustrations But many teens don t believe they have that and feel disconnected and isolated from family and friends These teens are at increased risk for suicide Nock 2008 Factors that increase the risk of suicide among teens include 1 a psychological disorder especially depression bipolar disorder and alcohol and drug use in fact approximately 95 of people who die by suicide have a psychological disorder at the time of death 2 feelings of distress irritability or agitation 3 feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness that often accompany depression a teen for example who experiences repeated failures at school who is overwhelmed by violence at home or who is isolated from peers is likely to experience such feelings 4 a previous suicide attempt 5 a family history of depression or suicide depressive illnesses may have a genetic component so some teens may be predisposed to suffer major depression 6 physical or sexual abuse 7 lack of a support network poor relationships with parents or peers and feelings of 4 8 dealing with homosexuality in an unsupportive family or community or hostile social isolation school environment Warning Signs family conflict Suicide among teens often occurs following a stressful life event such as a perceived failure at school a breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend the death of a loved one a divorce or a major A teen who is thinking about suicide might talk about suicide or death in general talk about going away talk about feeling hopeless or feeling guilty pull away from friends or family lose the desire to take part in favorite things or activities have trouble concentrating or thinking clearly experience changes in eating or sleeping habits self destructive behavior drinking alcohol taking drugs or driving too fast for example What should you do if someone your teen knows perhaps a friend or a classmate has attempted or committed suicide First acknowledge your child s many emotions Some 5 teens say they feel guilty especially those who felt they could have interpreted their friend s actions and words better Others say they feel angry with the person who committed or attempted suicide for having done something so selfish Still others say they feel no strong emotions All of these reactions are appropriate emphasize to your teen that there is no right or wrong way to feel When someone attempts suicide and survives people may be afraid of or uncomfortable about talking with him or her about it Tell your teen to resist this urge this is a time when a person absolutely needs to feel connected to others Many schools address a student s suicide by calling in special counselors to talk with the students and help them cope If your teen is dealing with a friend or classmate s suicide encourage him or her to make use of these resources or to talk to you or another trusted adult Nock 2008 When it comes to teen suicide the statistics make it clear that attempted suicide is a big deal as it relates to the youth Additionally suicide is one of the leading causes of death for teenagers it is the third leading cause Teen suicide statistics offer a look at the most likely causes of teen suicide Some of the strongest teenage suicide risk factors include the following Aggressive behavior Disruptive behavior Substance abuse Depression These are risk factors that play on the often tumultuous feelings experienced by teenagers Intense feelings can contribute to a teen s sense of helplessness and to a general feeling that life is not worth living Taking these feelings seriously is an important part of preventing teen suicide 6 Unknown 2005 References 7 Nock M K 2008 About Teen Suicide Retrieved May 23 2009 from http kidshealth org parent emotions behavior suicide html Unknown 2005 Teen Suicide Statistics Retrieved May 23 2009 from http www teensuicide us articles1 html