Teenage suicide is a growing medical problem in many countries. Teenagers are generally immature and subject to unique stresses, though the same basic biological and psychological causes are the same as seen in adults.

Contents

1 Indirect causes 2 Direct causes 3 Methods 4 Warning signs 5 What to do 6 Media coverage 7 Statistics

Indirect causes

Psychologists have identified the teenage years as one of the most difficult phases of human life. Although they are often seen as a time to enjoy friendship, hang out with friends and perform other activities that adults would not usually do,often this period causes adolescents a large amount of stress.

Many changes in the human mind take place during pubescence. Apart from the onset of sexual maturity, teenagers must also make key decisions about their future, develop their identities, change schools and meet a new sets of friends, find out about their family's past, et cetera. Many young people have difficulty coping with these stresses with the onset of mood altering hormones.

Direct causes

• Alcoholism, either by a family member or the teenager
• Death of a close family member
• Divorce
• Domestic violence in the family
• Failing school grades
• Feelings of being left out by other teenagers
• Feelings of loneliness
• Drug abuse, either by a family member or the teenager
• Peer pressure
• Rape
• Medical Drugs
• Romantic breakups
• Rejection because of sexuality

Methods

Teenagers use more or less the same methods as adults. Methods mainly particular to teenagers include:

• Opening wrist wounds, to try to cut their veins open.
• Overdoses
• Suicide bombings, increasingly used in the Middle East, as teenagers are generally not suspected of carrying bombs

Whether a suicide attempt is successful frequently depends on the medical care available nearby, as well as the manner initiated.

Warning signs

• Depression
• Changes in social interactions.
• Loss of interest in activities normally enjoyed.
• Mood changes (especially if the teenager acts increasingly angry about life in general)
• Weight loss or gain

What to do

Many doctors recommend that teenagers be taken to a hospital immediately after they express the desire to commit suicide. There are many methods of helping teenagers with suicide in mind, both medical and psychological. Most teenagers who think of suicide believe their problems are too hard or embarrassing to talk about, so in order to subside the action it is important for a helper to show they can be trusted and talked to. Seeing a psychologist is widely recommended as well. Psychologists can improve a teenager's vision of life by listening to them and making them feel it will work out for the best.

Doctors recommend that helpers do not ask the teenager what reason the teenager had to think of such a thing to do; rather, one should listen and wait for the teenager to gain trust enough so that he or she finally can feel comfortable in talking about the problem. Helpers should, however, show understanding of the teenager's situation.

Doctors also recommend that helpers do not mention any "reasons to live" to the teenager, as that might send the teenager back into depressing thoughts, e.g. "What reason do I have to live?".

There are several telephone help numbers for help on teenage suicide, depending on what country and/or state one lives at. Also, emergency numbers should be contacted immediately, in case the teenager decides to go on with the attempt despite advice to the contrary.

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 high 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 posh community, gained wide media coverage. A total of twelve suicides and more than 60 suicide attempts were reported.

Statistics

• Four out of five teenagers who successfully commit suicide are male, but the average female teenager is four times more prone to attempt suicide during her teen years than the average male.
• White teenage males are more likely to commit suicide than any other ethnic group, but teenage suicide among blacks is also increasing.
• As in adult cases, teenagers who have unsuccessfully tried to commit suicide in the past are more likely to attempt suicide in the future. The odds increase after each failed attempt.