Thesis: I intend to inform those who read my report about the subject teenage suicide. What really is the definition of suicide? Suicide is a Latin word that means self killing. Suicides also means the taking of one’s own life in a deliberate manner. Suicide may be compulsory, usually as an alternative to death at the hands of others. Or, it is thought to be committed for personal motives; depending on the time and place, it can be thought of as a heroic deed or it can be condemned by religious and civil authorities(Columbia).
Why do teenagers commit suicide? According to this poem written by a teenage suicide victim it is because he is in pain. I find myself deep in a hole of sorrow. Too far to bother, Too far to try, Too far to get out. So I just wait here and die. (Hunter) Why are teenagers in pain? “There are too many problems for the modern teenager to deal with. Growing up as a teen today is ten times more difficult than it was just five years ago. As our society ‘progresses’…. more and more responsibility is being placed on teens.
We have become a very selfish society, and this causes pressure on the weakest link of our society…. the teens (DeKonty). ” Teens are also in pain because of the growing separation between parents and their children. “Twenty five years ago, the ‘in’ thing to do was to live your life for your kids. Now… the ‘in’ thing to do is balance a job and become successful while bringing up your kids. If we are not careful about this trend… soon kids will be a bother rather than a joy. This mentality has caused the teens of today to feel that they need to share their time with their parent’s job or jobs.
They for the most part, are not comfortable sharing their problems with their parents. The largest number of teenage suicides are in the upper class homes where there is so much pressure to preform and no outlet to discuss their problems (DeKonty). ” When teens cannot discuss their problems with their parents, they will turn to other teens for help. But what happens to the highly sensitive information that they do not feel they can trust their friends with? They hold it all inside until they feel that the only way to get rid of the pain is to commit suicide.
Are gay teenagers at a higher risk? According to a survey did at a Minnesota public school Gay/bisexual males are 24 percent more likely to commit suicide than straight males. Also Gay/bisexual females are 6 percent more likely to commit suicide than straight females. Gay children are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide then straight kids (Sadasivan and Hanson). So why are gay teenagers at a higher risk? “Teenage boys are more susceptible to antigay peer pressure than girls. The issue of gender nonconformity is much more of a factor with boys.
In society, sissy boys are viewed differently than tomboy girls (Remafedi). ” Gay children may be unhappy or conflicted. Friends and peers of gay children may harass, reject or even try to hurt them once they learn the truth (Sadasivan and Hanson). How do they commit suicide? The most common method used to commit suicide would be the firearm. 83 percent of suicides involving firearms happen in the home. Less than10 percent of people who commit suicide buy a gun with the specific intent of killing themselves. Death by firearms is the fastest growing method of suicide.
Firearms are actually used in more suicides than in homicide cases, also states with stricter gun control laws have lower rates of suicide. Other methods of suicide are ingestions, hanging, asphyxiation, and jumping(Shaffer). Saturday and Monday are the most common suicide days. Alaska and Nevada have the highest suicide rates(Suicide). The most renown suicide attempt area is the Golden Gate bridge. Harold Wobber’s suicide in August 1937 was the first documented suicide from the Golden Gate bridge. Since then more than twelve hundred are known to have jumped to their deaths from the suspension bridge.
Many experts believe that more then twice that number have jumped , but their bodies were swept away by the cold currents. There are two other leading suicide icons, the Empire State Building which has thirty one deaths and the Eiffel Tower which has more than three hundred and eighty(Allen). How do you tell if someone is suicidal? Some of the risk factors are previous attempts, psychiatric history, personal failure, recent loss of close friend etc. ,substance abuse, family handguns, family violence, and lack of communication(Risk).
After a teen has attempted suicide they still remain vulnerable for several years, especially for the first three months following the attempt. A death of close friends or family, divorce, or a breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend are particularly hard on teens in that they may leave a teen so lost and alone that suicide seems the only option. Another tough problem is substance abuse, some teens abuse drugs or alcohol to self-medicate overwhelming depression; a combination of depression, substance abuse, and lowered impulse control can end in a suicide attempt. Family handguns is another dangerous one.
A gun in the house may make it easy for a troubled teen to commit suicide; children of law-enforcement officers have a much higher rate of suicide because of the accessibility of guns(Risk). Some of the misleading facts and beliefs that suicidal teen believe are: I am not worthy of love because people do not always behave lovingly toward me. It is my responsibility alone to solve all the problems of my family and my friends. Everyone must like me. I must be perfect in everything I do, and I must not fail at anything. I will only fall in love once. If I ever share my problems, people will laugh at me.
I must be mentally ill, if I feel sad or depressed. These feelings of depression will last forever, and if I feel this way, I must be abnormal. If things do not turn out right for me, I might as well give up. I have no control over my life. It is easier to run away from problems than to confront them. My life seems hopeless. It will never get better(Adolescent). Because teens feel this way and think this way they lose all hope and go deeper into depression and the sad dark little world that depression builds around it’s victims. Even so there are more misconceptions that non-suicidal people think like:
People who talk about suicide really won’t do it. That is not true. Almost everyone who commits or attempts suicide has given some clue or warning. Anyone who tries to kill him or herself must be crazy. Not true. They are upset, grief-stricken or depressed, but extreme distress and emotional pain are not necessarily signs of mental illness. If a person is determined to die, nothing is going to stop him or her. Not true. Even the most severely depressed person has mixed feelings about death, wavering until the last moment between wanting to live and wanting to die.
Most suicidal people do not want to die; they want the pain to stop and see no other way to make that happen. The impulse to end it all may be overpowering but does not last forever. People who commit suicide are unwilling to seek help. Not true. Studies show that more than half of those who committed suicide had sought medical help in the previous six months. Talking about suicide may give someone the idea to do it. Not true. You don’t give a suicidal person unhealthy ideas by talking about suicide. Bringing up the subject and discussing it openly can be a powerful prevention tool(Myths). The tragedy of adolescent suicide is that it is preventable. These young people end their lives before they even have a chance to identify other options for solving their problems. The devastation to the families and friends of these children is staggering (Dr. Scott Williams). ” How do you prevent teenage suicide? Suicide prevention includes addressing these issues; the link between substance abuse and suicide, victimization and suicidal behavior, availability of firearms, and depression and suicide attempts(Utah). Some possible prevention strategies are: 1.
Crisis services, but one problem with this is that they lack efficiency, teens don’t use them. Another possible strategy is Educational approaches. There has been a considerable increase in the provision of suicide prevention programs for United States high school students. Most programs provide curricula directly to highs school students. Some of their goals are to increase awareness of the problem. To provide knowledge about the behavioral characteristic (“warning signs”) of teens at risk for suicide, and to describe available treatment or counseling resources.
Few programs subscribe to a model of suicide as a product or mental illness. Most assume that suicide follows common environmental stresses and that all teens share a potential vulnerability to suicide(Shaffer). There are some simple dos and don’ts that need to be obeyed when working with suicidal teens in a school situation. Do: Learn to recognize the clues to suicide; depression; helplessness, threats or words of warning, withdrawal, isolation, excessive stress, giving away possessions etc. Advise parents of your concern and maintain records of interaction when talking with the troubled student and parent.
Trust your own judgement. Listen and understand the feelings behind the words. Take every feeling the student expresses seriously. Tell others. Immediately refer all students you feel are suicidal to the principal, counselor, and/or crisis team member. Remind the student that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Ask the student to postpone the decision for awhile; in return, you might offer to accompany them to find support or help. Accept the fact that in some cases you may not be able to keep the student from committing suicide.
The Don’ts are: Don’t worry about breaking the confidence if someone reveals suicidal plans to you. You may need to tell a secret to save a life. Don’t try to win arguments about suicide. They might not be able to be won. Don’t moralize or preach to the student. Don’t dismiss a suicide threat or challenge a student to do it. Don’t leave a suicidal student alone if you think there is immediate danger. Don’t attempt to rescue the suicidal student by yourself. Don’t ignore signs. Ignoring confirms to the student that he/she is unloved or misunderstood.
Don’t give false assurances that “everything will be fine. ” Don’t be misled by the student’s comments that the emotional crisis has ended. Don’t assume the aggressive child may commit suicide over the “good,” “quiet,” or “obedient” child(Prevention). If everybody would just follow these few simple dos and don’ts and learn to recognize the warning signs we would be able to prevent a lot more teenage suicides. Teenagers really don’t want to die. They just need support and time so they can work through their problems. Teenage suicide
Teenage Suicide Thesis: I intend to inform those who read my report about the subject teenage suicide. What really is the definition of suicide? Suicide is a Latin word that means self killing. Suicides also means the taking of one’s own life in a deliberate manner. Suicide may be compulsory, usually as an alternative to death at the hands of others. Or, it is thought to be committed for personal motives; depending on the time and place, it can be thought of as a heroic deed or it can be condemned by religious and civil authorities(Columbia).
Why do teenagers commit suicide? According to this poem written by a teenage suicide victim it is because he is in pain. I find myself deep in a hole of sorrow. Too far to bother, Too far to try, Too far to get out. So I just wait here and die. (Hunter) Why are teenagers in pain? “There are too many problems for the modern teenager to deal with. Growing up as a teen today is ten times more difficult than it was just five years ago. As our society ‘progresses’…. more and more responsibility is being placed on teens.
We have become a very selfish society, and this causes pressure on the weakest link of our society…. the teens (DeKonty). ” Teens are also in pain because of the growing separation between parents and their children. “Twenty five years ago, the ‘in’ thing to do was to live your life for your kids. Now… the ‘in’ thing to do is balance a job and become successful while bringing up your kids. If we are not careful about this trend… soon kids will be a bother rather than a joy. This mentality has caused the teens of today to feel that they need to share their time with their parent’s job or jobs.
They for the most part, are not comfortable sharing their problems with their parents. The largest number of teenage suicides are in the upper class homes where there is so much pressure to preform and no outlet to discuss their problems (DeKonty). ” When teens cannot discuss their problems with their parents, they will turn to other teens for help. But what happens to the highly sensitive information that they do not feel they can trust their friends with? They hold it all inside until they feel that the only way to get rid of the pain is to commit suicide.
Are gay teenagers at a higher risk? According to a survey did at a Minnesota public school Gay/bisexual males are 24 percent more likely to commit suicide than straight males. Also Gay/bisexual females are 6 percent more likely to commit suicide than straight females. Gay children are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide then straight kids (Sadasivan and Hanson). So why are gay teenagers at a higher risk? “Teenage boys are more susceptible to antigay peer pressure than girls. The issue of gender nonconformity is much more of a factor with boys.
In society, sissy boys are viewed differently than tomboy girls (Remafedi). ” Gay children may be unhappy or conflicted. Friends and peers of gay children may harass, reject or even try to hurt them once they learn the truth (Sadasivan and Hanson). How do they commit suicide? The most common method used to commit suicide would be the firearm. 83 percent of suicides involving firearms happen in the home. Less than10 percent of people who commit suicide buy a gun with the specific intent of killing themselves. Death by firearms is the fastest growing method of suicide.
Firearms are actually used in more suicides than in homicide cases, also states with stricter gun control laws have lower rates of suicide. Other methods of suicide are ingestions, hanging, asphyxiation, and jumping(Shaffer). Saturday and Monday are the most common suicide days. Alaska and Nevada have the highest suicide rates(Suicide). The most renown suicide attempt area is the Golden Gate bridge. Harold Wobber’s suicide in August 1937 was the first documented suicide from the Golden Gate bridge. Since then more than twelve hundred are known to have jumped to their deaths from the suspension bridge.
Many experts believe that more then twice that number have jumped , but their bodies were swept away by the cold currents. There are two other leading suicide icons, the Empire State Building which has thirty one deaths and the Eiffel Tower which has more than three hundred and eighty(Allen). How do you tell if someone is suicidal? Some of the risk factors are previous attempts, psychiatric history, personal failure, recent loss of close friend etc. ,substance abuse, family handguns, family violence, and lack of communication(Risk).
After a teen has attempted suicide they still remain vulnerable for several years, especially for the first three months following the attempt. A death of close friends or family, divorce, or a breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend are particularly hard on teens in that they may leave a teen so lost and alone that suicide seems the only option. Another tough problem is substance abuse, some teens abuse drugs or alcohol to self-medicate overwhelming depression; a combination of depression, substance abuse, and lowered impulse control can end in a suicide attempt. Family handguns is another dangerous one.
A gun in the house may make it easy for a troubled teen to commit suicide; children of law-enforcement officers have a much higher rate of suicide because of the accessibility of guns(Risk). Some of the misleading facts and beliefs that suicidal teen believe are: I am not worthy of love because people do not always behave lovingly toward me. It is my responsibility alone to solve all the problems of my family and my friends. Everyone must like me. I must be perfect in everything I do, and I must not fail at anything. I will only fall in love once. If I ever share my problems, people will laugh at me.
I must be mentally ill, if I feel sad or depressed. These feelings of depression will last forever, and if I feel this way, I must be abnormal. If things do not turn out right for me, I might as well give up. I have no control over my life. It is easier to run away from problems than to confront them. My life seems hopeless. It will never get better(Adolescent). Because teens feel this way and think this way they lose all hope and go deeper into depression and the sad dark little world that depression builds around it’s victims. Even so there are more misconceptions that non-suicidal people think like:
People who talk about suicide really won’t do it. That is not true. Almost everyone who commits or attempts suicide has given some clue or warning. Anyone who tries to kill him or herself must be crazy. Not true. They are upset, grief-stricken or depressed, but extreme distress and emotional pain are not necessarily signs of mental illness. If a person is determined to die, nothing is going to stop him or her. Not true. Even the most severely depressed person has mixed feelings about death, wavering until the last moment between wanting to live and wanting to die.
Most suicidal people do not want to die; they want the pain to stop and see no other way to make that happen. The impulse to end it all may be overpowering but does not last forever. People who commit suicide are unwilling to seek help. Not true. Studies show that more than half of those who committed suicide had sought medical help in the previous six months. Talking about suicide may give someone the idea to do it. Not true. You don’t give a suicidal person unhealthy ideas by talking about suicide. Bringing up the subject and discussing it openly can be a powerful prevention tool(Myths). The tragedy of adolescent suicide is that it is preventable. These young people end their lives before they even have a chance to identify other options for solving their problems. The devastation to the families and friends of these children is staggering (Dr. Scott Williams). ” How do you prevent teenage suicide? Suicide prevention includes addressing these issues; the link between substance abuse and suicide, victimization and suicidal behavior, availability of firearms, and depression and suicide attempts(Utah). Some possible prevention strategies are: 1.
Crisis services, but one problem with this is that they lack efficiency, teens don’t use them. Another possible strategy is Educational approaches. There has been a considerable increase in the provision of suicide prevention programs for United States high school students. Most programs provide curricula directly to highs school students. Some of their goals are to increase awareness of the problem. To provide knowledge about the behavioral characteristic (“warning signs”) of teens at risk for suicide, and to describe available treatment or counseling resources.
Few programs subscribe to a model of suicide as a product or mental illness. Most assume that suicide follows common environmental stresses and that all teens share a potential vulnerability to suicide(Shaffer). There are some simple dos and don’ts that need to be obeyed when working with suicidal teens in a school situation. Do: Learn to recognize the clues to suicide; depression; helplessness, threats or words of warning, withdrawal, isolation, excessive stress, giving away possessions etc. Advise parents of your concern and maintain records of interaction when talking with the troubled student and parent.
Trust your own judgement. Listen and understand the feelings behind the words. Take every feeling the student expresses seriously. Tell others. Immediately refer all students you feel are suicidal to the principal, counselor, and/or crisis team member. Remind the student that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Ask the student to postpone the decision for awhile; in return, you might offer to accompany them to find support or help. Accept the fact that in some cases you may not be able to keep the student from committing suicide.
The Don’ts are: Don’t worry about breaking the confidence if someone reveals suicidal plans to you. You may need to tell a secret to save a life. Don’t try to win arguments about suicide. They might not be able to be won. Don’t moralize or preach to the student. Don’t dismiss a suicide threat or challenge a student to do it. Don’t leave a suicidal student alone if you think there is immediate danger. Don’t attempt to rescue the suicidal student by yourself. Don’t ignore signs. Ignoring confirms to the student that he/she is unloved or misunderstood.
Don’t give false assurances that “everything will be fine. ” Don’t be misled by the student’s comments that the emotional crisis has ended. Don’t assume the aggressive child may commit suicide over the “good,” “quiet,” or “obedient” child(Prevention). If everybody would just follow these few simple dos and don’ts and learn to recognize the warning signs we would be able to prevent a lot more teenage suicides. Teenagers really don’t want to die. They just need support and time so they can work through their problems.
