Teen Suicide and Depression - Research Paper Example

 Teen Suicide and Depression INTRODUCTION: Adolescence is a phase of dramatic transformations. The expedition from being a kid to a grown-up can be challenging and difficult. Teenagers most of the times feel immense pressure to do well at college, at house and in communal groups. Simultaneously, they possibly do not have the experience and understanding of life that allows them to realize that problematical circumstances do not remain forever. Psychological problems usually linked with teenagers, like depression, cause trouble to adolescents as well. Some of these issues, or a blend of them, can possibly turn out to be such a cause of grief that they look for release in suicide. As Judith Peacock states that in Canada, suicide is the second main general killer of adolescence and has the third highest rate among the developed nations.” In spite of that people are most of the times unwilling to talk about it. This is partially because of the disgrace, remorse or humiliation that surrounds it. Sadly, this practice of being silent is responsible for the destructive myths and approaches towards suicide. It also stops individuals from openly discussing about the grief or anguish they suffer or the assistance they require. If helped in the right way, the ratio of suicide among teens can be lowered. Teen Suicide and Depression According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, an attempt to suicide is an apparent sign that things are seriously not right in an individual’s life. Regardless of the nation or the age of the individual; how wealthy or deprived these people are, it is right to state that majority of the people who commit suicide possess an emotional or a psychological disorder. The generally shared fundamental disorder is depression which can prove to be deadly if not cured. As Judith Peacock states “Untreated depression is the number one cause of teen suicide as it is a medical illness which has symptoms of overpowering feeling of sadness. It affects a person’s feelings, thoughts, behavior and physical health. It can cause a person to become suicidal” Reasons such as the growing divorce ratio and splitting of family life, increasing violence, extensive use of drugs and alcohol, failure in some phase of life and bullying are the major causes that leads the teens to depression and consequently to the thriving rate of suicide. According to figures of Canada statistics “Canadian suicide rates greatly increased in the 1960s and 1970s and, while they have leveled out in the 1980s, they are still at the highest level in Canadian history. Between 1960 and 1978, the overall suicide rate rose from 7.6 per 100,000 populations to 14.8”. This essay will discuss the factors leading to teen suicide, the signs of suicidal behavior, and different types of depression affecting the youth today and the supports and assistance others can provide them to recover. Suicide is at times known as a lasting solution to an impermanent problem. For young people, at times their overpowering hopelessness is sufficient to encourage them to commit suicide. Majority of the teenagers who stay alive after attempting suicide reveal that they attempted to take their lives for the reason that they were struggling to avoid a circumstances that appeared not possible to cope up with, or most of them were aiming to elude devastating emotions like remorse, rejection, antagonism, or depression. If a teenager is encountering a difficulty and has no one to speak to, they may perhaps feel deserted, useless, and lonely. Bullying is amongst the most leading factors leading to suicide in the teenagers of Winnipeg, Canada. A latest report by CTV covers the tragic suicide of Jamey Rodemeyer who took his life because of the extensive bullying at his school. According to Buffalo “But what the incomplete and conflicting portraits of Rodemeyer's life did not convey were the complexities of the teenage mind and the reality that bullying is rarely the sole factor at work, as well as the risk of creating an icon at the price of glamorizing suicide as an option for other bullied or attention-seeking teens.” Bullying is explained as a series of events that include cruelty or brutality. Victims of harassment and bullying experience nervousness, uncertainty and low confidence that isolate them from the rest of the society. According to Donna Holland “clinical depression and suicide are foreseeable consequences of bullying.” Moreover, a teen with a relative who has taken his life by committing suicide is at a greater risk of taking their lives. According to them suicide is a satisfactory escape from their troubles and they seek to find some sort of relief by ending their life. However, suicide is not passed as an attribute in families but teenagers still might become heir to a propensity towards a particular mental illness which may become an aggravating factor for committing suicide. “Teens with bipolar disorder, panic attacks, and other mental illness also are at high risk for suicide, suicide is a symptom of these illnesses as well.” (Judith Peacock) Among one of the possible reasons linked with suicide in teen agers is the abuse of drugs. Drug abuse is amongst those issues that can actually disturb the balance of chemicals in the head, and thus increase the feelings of depression and grief that an individual may go through. Addiction of drugs, whether lawful or unlawful, can take to emotions of defenselessness and misery. The drug turns out to be increasingly compulsory both emotionally and physically, and this brings about disagreeable feelings linked with losing control. Physical illness and sentiment of lowness are more often than not very repulsive and can add to emotions of depression and thoughts of suicides. Another main factor is the dilemma of being gay or a lesbian. According to Marian Crook “The suicide rate for gay and lesbian youth is two to six times higher for heterosexual youth. Almost one-third of teen suicides are committed by gay and lesbian teens.” These adolescences may perhaps reside with the every day strain of maintaining their sexual individuality in confidence. They have to endure many difficulties and are regarded as outsiders. Furthermore, life of a family has the biggest effect on teenager’s emotional development and contentment. As these teens encounter maltreatment or abandonment from their family there are chances that they turn out to be suicidal as they feel unwelcomed and despised. The divorce of parents or constant fights between the members of the family can trigger depression in teenagers which may lead to suicide. According to James M. Murphy “Part of a teenager’s development from childhood to adulthood is forming a sexually intimate relationship with a partner. Making critical decision can be stressful as they develop their sexual identities and progress towards adulthood.” There are certain signs of suicidal behavior that should be identified to help these teens recognize the importance of life. They comprise extreme depression and mood swings, abrupt serenity after a phase of depression or glumness, withdrawal symptoms that includes avoiding family and friends, a change in personality or appearance, and indulgence in dangerous or harmful behaviors. According to David N. Miller “These warning signs, which should be shared with all students and school personnel include: hopelessness, rage, anger, increase use of alcohol or drugs, being unable to sleep or sleep excessively, dramatic mood changes and perceiving no reason for living or no sense of purpose in life.” In most of the cases, it is possible to prevent suicide. Research put forwards the point that that the most excellent method to stop suicide is to be familiar with the risk causes, be attentive to the symbols of despair and depression including other mental illness, distinguish the cautionary symbols for suicide, and interfere in advance so the individual cannot accomplish the procedure of self-destruction. Individuals who obtain encouragement from considerate family and friends, and who get into health services for mental problems are less probable to proceed on their desire for suicide comparative to those who are inaccessible from sources of attention and care. For the young people suffering from depression valued association with parents or an affiliation with a member of the family can prove to be very supportive and helpful. According to Antoon A.Leenars “Across Canada numerous provinces, territories, municipalities, organizations and agencies have initiated or are considering developing a variety of suicide prevention programs and activities. These efforts and interests have arisen in response to mounting evidence that suicidal behavior is a major public health issue.” These frameworks should follow the strategies of rising awareness in people and reduce the disgrace linked with behavior of ending one’s life. Deal with determinants of wellbeing, including accommodation, earnings, schooling, employment etc. “Reduce access to lethal means of suicide, particularly firearms and lethal doses of prescription drugs Since suicidal behavior is often crisis-oriented and impulsive, restricting access to lethal means can substantially reduce the risk of the completion of a suicide attempt” ( Borges G.) CONCLUSION: Suicide is a tragic event which takes place because of the complex relationship between mental, biological and communal risk factors. According to a report “There is strong research showing that up to 70% to 97% of suicide victims have a diagnosable mental illness, especially depression and substance use disorder. Recent data from Manitoba also shows “diagnosis of a mental illness within the last year” to be one of the key factors predicting suicide and suicide attempt”. References Barnes, D. H., Golden, R. N., & Peterson, F. L. (2010).The truth about suicide. New York: Facts On File. Buffalo,N.Y, “ with suicide of bullied N.Y. teen comes spotlight” the Associated press, Thursday, sept,2011 Kessler RC, Borges G, Walters EE. Prevalence of and risk factors for lifetime suicide attempts in the National Comorbidity Survey. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1999;56:617-626 Leenaars, A. A. (1998). Suicide in Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. Manitoba. (2009). A framework for suicide prevention planning in Manitoba. Winnipeg, Man.: Manitoba Health and Healthy Livin. Miller, D. N. (2011). Child and adolescent suicidal behavior: School-based prevention, assessment, and intervention. New York: Guilford Press. Murphy, J. M. (1999). Coping with teen suicide. New York: Rosen Pub. Group. Peacock, J. (2000). Teen suicide. Mankato, Minn: LifeMatters. .- Read More