Causes of Teen Suicide - Essay Example

Running Head: Teen Suicide Teen suicide of Teen Suicide INTRODUCTION Suicide is voluntarily putting an end to one's life. It is the bane of the modern era with its increased pressures to succeed in life. Likewise, teen suicide is the self inflicted death by a teenager. Over the past decade, teenage suicide has taken hold. In America suicide is third main causes of death of people ageing between 15 to 24 years old and is responsible for almost 1.4% of total deaths (CDC, 1&2). In United Kingdom even though the overall suicide rate is decreasing, the suicide rate of teenagers is still causing concern among societies (Kelly & Brotting, 2 & 3). In former days the teenage years of one's life were considered to be carefree and fun part, however with today's increasing pressure of studies and career building, teenage suicidal rate has increased. There could be several reasons why a teenager would end his life. It could be stress, depression, or pressure to perform or urge to achieve something. Sometimes problems in families like divorce of parents can also result in deep sense of shame and stress causing the teenager to get psychologically ill. Getting in to a new school or neighborhoods can also create pressure. The reasons for such an act are many and complex. When a person has tried all things in order to solve one's problems the ultimate way of escape seems to be suicide. Many teenagers who have attempted to commit suicide were interviewed; most of them wanted to get of a situation but did not want to die. However sometimes the stress of something, or feeling of loss or hurt is so great that it is difficult to overcome it. The feeling of disappointment is not easy to overcome and usually results in self-inflicted death. CONSEQUENCES Suicide is one action which creates an emotional trauma in the entire family to unprecedented extent. When somebody in the family and especially teenagers commit suicide the whole family, friends and the people who might be related to the person in any way feel guilty. Most of the people believe that they could have done something in order to stop it. This sense of confusion and guilt usually sends other people in a state of depression. People who do not even know him, by just hearing the news get mentally upset. Though it is definitely true that the worst form of aggression is suicide, and it is also true that the victim gets punished the most; he loses his life. However, people who are related to him also get punished all life long. Such families usually get socially isolated. The families' friends are either in a state of shock themselves and do not know what to do or how to calm the teenager's family members, or in some cases they isolate the members and consider them as the culprits. In such case, it is our duty to start communication with such people and help them in any way we could. Families are affected the most as they carry this burden all their lives (Kids Health, n.p). Anniversaries and birthdays are the most difficult part. Sometimes during the holidays when all family members are together, the sense of loss is often over bearing. This might cause tension in the family. However, the members of the family should see that everybody in the family is grieving. People have different ways of showing sadness, some might sit alone and quiet, others might show anger. However, family members should support each other and see that yet another suicide does not take place (Kids Health, n.p). The friends and the entire school body usually feel guilty. Teenagers usually spend more time with friends and in the school; hence it is normal that the friends will feel that they could have changed something in order to prevent the suicide from happening. However, victimizing ones self and others does not help and the entire school body should help each other pass through the difficult time (Kids Health, n.p). If the family, mother or the father sees that it is becoming difficult from them to cope with, they should always seek help. Such parents in order to hide the event remain isolated in their homes. This makes the matters worse and a time comes when they themselves become psychologically disturbed (Kids Health, n.p). The teenagers are usually very sensitive. Friends and school members, who believe they could have done something, can eventually commit suicide themselves. The reputation of the school is also at stake. Parents do not want to send their children to such a school where any teenager has committed suicide. They start believing that it must be due to the burden of studies or friends behavior that might have caused this. Hence all the school body gets affected by such news. If the person who ahs committed suicide was a happy person, but used to hide his feelings, then the people will fell more guilty. They will definitely not know the inner feeling but they can definitely see that he was a happy person and due to a certain reason he has done such a crime. If the person was disturbed in a more obvious way, even then the family members and friends will feel bad. They will certainly think that as they already knew that the person was troubled they could have done something in order to prevent it. Such students start to perform badly in the class. It is then the responsibility of the school administration to deal with it in such a way that the school's reputation also remains good and that teenagers also go on with their lives (New York Times, 1-3). The school should have suicide discussion groups. They should also educate parents in this matter as both the parents and the teachers nee to keep an eye on such students who are at a risk of committing suicide. Sometimes the family and friends instead of felling love and sorry for the victim can also feel hate and anger. This can be due to the social and psychological trauma they are facing. The isolation, people's questions can make the family and friends forget that the teenager was disturbed to and extent that he took his own life. Instead they will start believing that due to this child they have become culprits. However, this anger in a way can prevent further suicides as this sends out a message to other kids that killing themselves does not mean that the family and friends will start showering love and concern (Grossman, 1). References CDC (Centers for disease control and prevention). (2007). Suicide facts at a glance. Retrieved January 11, 2008 from: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/suicide/SuicideDataSheet.pdf Grossman, Kate. (2006). Teenage Suicide: Risk factors & what to watch out for in teen suicide. Retrieved January 11, 2008 from: http://menshealth.about.com/od/teenhealth/a/teen_suicide.htm Kelly, Sue & Botting, Bev(1998). Trends in suicide in England and Wales, 1982-96. Retrieved January 11, 2008 from: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/articles/population_trends/suicide_pt92.pdf Kids Health (2005). About teen's suicide; Teen and behavior. Retrieved January 11, 2008 from: http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/suicide.html New York Times. (1989). Coping With Teen-Age Suicide Stanley Lependorf and Nancy McWilliams; Stanley Lependorf, Ph.D., is a psychologist at Princeton University. Nancy McWilliams, Ph.D., is a psychologist at Rutgers University and is vice president of the Flemington-Raritan Regional Board of Education. Retrieved January 11, 2008 from: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.htmlres=950DE4DD123EF931A25752C1A96F948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2 Read More