Teenage Suicide Essay Example

Suicide is a subject that is not talked about often. Suicide affects many people in this world. Not only does it affect adults, but it affects teenagers as well. Suicide can happen to anyone. The age group that is most affected by suicide is teenagers. A teenager would commit suicide due to something that has occurred in his or her life. Teenagers are always going through series of emotions. Every day, families around the world lose someone close to them due to suicide. Not every teenager has suicidal thoughts, but every teenager has something bad happen to them throughout their teenage years. They could take these emotions out in many different ways. Teenagers could take out their emotions by drinking, smoking, bullying others, etc. Some teenagers would rather just end the pain with suicide. There are many ways to prevent suicide. Teenage suicide can potentially be prevented through the education and action of teenagers and tho who come into contact with them. Although some studies have indicated there are not ways to help with teen depression, the majority of research suggests that suicide is preventable through therapy and suicide rehabs.

The rates of suicidal behavior, which include suicide thoughts, suicide attempts, and suicide completion all within and across different teenage groups, continues to be uncomfortably high. There are about one million deaths per year from suicide. Suicide takes the lives of over 48,300 Americans every year. This means worldwide, there is a successful suicide every forty seconds. There are about another ten to twenty million non-fatal suicide attempts annually. “Suicide is the second leading cause of death for teenagers.” (Suicide in Children and Teens) For young adults ages fifteen to twenty-four the suicide rate was 9.9 per 100,000 people. The suicide rate among teenagers has risen over the last few decades. These figures do not take into account the teenagers whose suicide attempts are unsuccessful. The ages affected the most by suicide are ages 15 to 24 years old. There are several theories about the reasons behind the spiking suicide rates among the young. Teenagers are usually driven by impulse when thinking suicidal thoughts. Despite the differences in opinion as to the cause of teen suicide, suicide among teenagers is likely to increase. 

People who experience a stressful life event may feel intense sadness or loss, anxiety, anger, or hopelessness, and may occasionally have the thought that they would be better off dead. (Suicide for Teens) The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 1 million people die each year from suicide. What drives so many individuals to take their own lives? To those who are not in the grips of suicidal depression and despair, it’s difficult to understand what drives so many individuals to take their own lives. But a suicidal person is in so much pain that they can see no other option. (Melinda) Teenagers go through many different problems throughout their lifetime. They face many challenges. Some feel the need to end their life because they feel overwhelmed. Teenagers could feel unloved by their parents, or they could be bullied in school. Sometimes parents are increasingly forced to work longer hours to support their families. So the child feels like the parent doesn’t have time for them. Another problem is in school. Kids get bullied to the point where they want to end their lives. 

Among younger children, suicide attempts are often impulsive. They may be associated with feelings of sadness, confusion, anger, or problems with attention and hyperactivity. Teenage suicide attempts may be associated with feelings of stress, self-doubt, pressure to succeed, financial uncertainty, disappointment, and loss. For some teens, suicide may appear to be a solution to their problems. Suicide is a desperate attempt to escape suffering that has become unbearable. Blinded by feelings of self-loathing, hopelessness, and isolation, a suicidal person can’t see any way of finding relief except through death. But despite their desire for the pain to stop, most suicidal people are deeply conflicted about ending their own lives. They wish there was an alternative to suicide, but they just can’t see one. Suicide itself is not a mental disorder, but one of the most important causes of suicide is mental illness. The ones that are most likely to be connected with suicide are depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and substance use disorders. The biggest one that causes teenage suicide is depression. Teenagers get overwhelmed by their depression. They don’t want to talk about their emotions or problems because they may think that will make them a burden or that others will make fun of them. Too often, these troubled teens opt instead to take their own lives.

Depression and suicidal feelings are treatable mental disorders. The child or adolescent needs to have his or her illness recognized and diagnosed and appropriately treated with a comprehensive treatment plan. Preventing suicide requires strategies at all levels of society. This includes prevention and protective strategies for individuals, families, and communities. Everyone can help prevent suicide by learning the warning signs, promoting prevention and resilience, and committing to social change. Talking to a friend or family member about their suicidal thoughts and feelings can be extremely difficult for anyone. But if you’re unsure whether someone is suicidal, the best way to find out is to ask. You can’t make a person suicidal by showing that you care. Giving a suicidal person the opportunity to express their feelings can provide relief from loneliness and pent-up negative feelings, and may prevent a suicide attempt. You can prevent suicide by being on the lookout for the warning signs mentioned above. You can also prevent suicide by asking about it. Studies show that people do not start thinking about suicide just because someone asks them about it. If you suspect your child or adolescent is suicidal, tell them that you are worried and want to help them. Remember, sometimes children who are thinking about suicide won’t tell you because they are worried about how you will react. Your direct, non-judgmental questions can encourage them to share their thoughts and feelings with you. Regardless of their response, if you suspect that the person may be suicidal, get them to help immediately.

Suicide prevention starts with recognizing the warning signs and taking them seriously. If a friend or family member tells you that they’re thinking about death or suicide, it’s important to evaluate the immediate danger the person is in. Those at the highest risk for committing suicide shortly soon have a specific suicide plan, which means to carry out the plan, a time set for doing it, and an intention to do it. Suicide prevention tips: Speak up if you are worried about your family/friends to respond quickly in a crisis. There is different therapist the specializes it different mental disorders. You also can call the suicide prevention line. We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. (Monroe)

In Conclusion, teenage suicide is preventable. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of suicide and knowing the available resources. The person could react fast to prevent someone from suicidal thoughts. If a person knows about a teenager being suicidal, then the person can help the suicidal teenager and let them know that there are people out in the world that care about them. So the suicidal teenager doesn’t think they are being rejected. People need to be able to read the signs of suicide. So they can steer their peers away from committing suicide. If your peer is showing signs of suicide someone needs to be there for them. To talk to one of their friends or family members who have a lot of information about how to deal with suicide. A close friend or family member is a better way to talk to a person with suicidal thoughts. Friends and family members of a suicidal teenager can also get the help of a counselor or doctor if things get worse.