Youth Depression & Suicide

The CDC reports the largest spike in teen suicide rate in 15 years. Suicides are up 76 percent in girls aged 10 to 14, up 32 percent in girls aged 15 to 19, and up 9 percent in boys aged 15 to 19. It is estimated that 500,000 teenagers try to kill themselves each year.

• Suicide is the third leading cause of death among teenagers. Female teens are much more likely to attempt suicide than males, but male teens are four times more likely to kill themselves.
• A survey of youth in grades 9 through 12 in public and private schools in the U.S. found that almost 1 in 5 students had seriously considered attempting suicide; more than 1 in 6 had made plans to attempt suicide; more than 1 in 12 had made a suicide attempt in the past year.
• Currently, the top methods used in suicides of young people are hanging/suffocation and poisoning. In the past, the use of firearms was the most common method of suicide.
• Most teens interviewed after making a suicide attempt say that they did it because they were trying to escape from a situation that seemed impossible to deal with or to get relief from bad thoughts or feelings.

Risk Factors for Suicide

Teens at high-risk include those with a plan and who talk about killing themselves and then become agitated or hopeless. Also, impulsive teens who become profoundly sad and who suffer from conditions such as bipolar disorder, major depression, psychosis, or substance abuse.

• Teens who have attempted suicide in the past are much more likely than other teens to attempt suicide again in the future. Approximately one-third of teen suicide victims have made a previous suicide attempt.
• Teens who kill themselves often had a close family member who attempted or committed suicide.
• Teens are at a far greater risk for suicide when there are loaded and accessible guns in their homes and if they have recently read, seen, or heard about other suicide attempts.
• When teens experience losses or certain stressful situations, it can trigger a suicide attempt. Stressful situations include: getting into trouble at school, fighting/breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, the breakdown of the family unit, fighting with friends, trouble with the police, moving, and the pressure to perform/achieve, etc.

Warning Signs

Over 90 percent of teen suicide victims have a mental disorder, such as depression, and/or a history of alcohol or drug abuse. About 5 percent of children and adolescents in the general population suffer from depression at any given point in time.

Warning signs include:

• loss of interest in sports/usual activities
• frequent complaints of physical illness (headaches, stomach aches, fatigue)
• persistent boredom
• rebellious behavior
• giving away belongings
• poor performance in school or frequent absences
• excessive late-night TV watching
• refusal to wake for school in the morning
• irritability
• talk of running away or attempts to do so
• writing about suicide
• change in eating/sleeping habits
• drug/alcohol use
• violent actions
• withdrawal
• personality change
• unusual neglect of personal appearance
• difficulty concentrating
• focus on dark themes
• hallucinations
• not tolerating rewards or praise
• complaining about being bad inside
• low self-esteem
• increased anger
• difficulty with relationships
• becoming suddenly cheerful or happy after a period of depression.

Eight out of ten people who commit suicide give clues that they want to kill themselves.

What to do.

Communicate with your teenager on a regular basis. Stay interested in what is going on in your teens world. Commit quality time on a regular monthly basis and do things that are of interest and age appropriate. Use positive rather than negative reinforcement when attempting to shape your child's behavior. Be sure to actively listen to what your teen shares with you. Changes in mood should be discussed and treatment offered as soon as depression is suspected.

If you suspect that your teen-ager might be thinking about suicide, do not remain silent. Suicide is preventable, but you must act quickly.

• Ask your teen-ager about it. Don't be afraid to say the word suicide. Getting the word out in the open may help your teen-ager think someone has heard his cries for help.
• Reassure your child that you love him/her. Remind your child that no matter how awful the problem may seem, that it can be worked out, and you are willing to help.
• Ask to talk about their feelings. Listen carefully. Do not dismiss your child's problems or get angry.
• Remove all lethal weapons from your home, including guns, pills, kitchen utensils and ropes.
• Seek professional help. Ask your child's pediatrician to guide you. A variety of outpatient and hospital-based treatment programs are available.

For additional assistance please contact the JMD Employee Assistance Program at 800-626-0385.

Sources:  American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, American Academy of Pediatrics, CDC, National Youth Violence Prevention, Teen New Horizons, WebMD Medical News, TeensHealth, and Washington and Shady Grove Adventist Hospitals.

Page Created September 17, 2007
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