High Suicide Rate among Teenagers - Essay Example

High Suicide Rate among Teenagers Introduction Suicide has been viewed by many, especially teenagers as a way out of problems, an end to their suffering. Suffering, together with factors such as drug and alcohol abuse may seemingly provide opportunity for suicide ideation. Unfortunately it is never a solution to problems as many teenagers think. This paper evaluates the facts and seeks to find out why teenage suicide is on the rise and what can be done to control it. In the USA, suicide is a leading cause of death especially among the youth. Worldwide, it is a recognized public health problem (US National Library of Medicine, UNLM). Suicide is defined as a self-inflected fatal act, with the intention to die. Before suicide is successful, one must have the idea, contemplated the idea and decided on suicide as a possible way and then used a lethal method to implement his intention (Miller 7). However, not all suicide attempts are successful and these should be taken seriously by the adults concerned. Teenagers with prior suicide attempts are more at risk of more attempts, or actually death by suicide. In America, 18 % of young males and 4 % young females commit suicide. The Canadian rates stand at 24 % for young males and 5 % for females. In comparison, the Canadian suicidal rate among adolescents is now one of the highest in the industrial world. In 2007, statistics from UNLM show that 14.5 % of 9th to 12th grade students reported suicide ideation, while 6.9 % reported having attempted suicide over the previous year. In the UK, the suicide rate among young males is 12 %, while that of young females is reported at 3% (Tyyska 219). The rates are more alarming in the US, with experts reporting that suicide ranks third in the leading causes of death among adolescents. It is estimated that each year, 1 out of 10 formulate a suicidal plan, 1 out of 7 high school students have suicidal ideation that is serious, while 1 out of 14 make suicidal attempts, some resulting in hospitalization. Most youths attempt suicide or successfully go through it in their own homes, where most of these means are readily available and accessible. Suicide victims commit the act by various methods. Firearms have been used for suicide for a long time by youth in U.S as they are more likely to be easily accessible. They are much more likely to be found in the victim’s home. This and hanging are as Miller writes, more lethal than suffocation, wrist cutting and drug overdose (15). The method chosen is influenced by the victim’s state of mind; readiness and accessibility; and the victim’s familiarity, knowledge and experience. The rise in suicidal cases among teenagers can be attributed to several factors. Depression is a major cause of suicide, and rarely does it occur on its own. Tyyska suggests that is usually accompanied by substance abuse, conduct disorder, anxiety and eating disorders (221). The victim also feels dejected and hopeless. Other symptoms of depression include excess worthlessness, increased guilt, suicidal thoughts and visual or audio hallucinations. Studies by UNLM have shown that up to 60 % of young suicide victims usually have depression at the time of death, while at the time of attempt, 40 to 80 % are diagnosed with depression. Up to 85 % of patients with major depression harbor suicide ideation, 32 % attempt suicide during adolescent, 20 % make several suicidal attempts, while 2.5 % to 7 % commit suicide by young adulthood. It has been linked to loneliness, low self esteem, peer rejection and other physiological and psychological conditions that could lead to suicide ideation. In spite of being in a family setting, instability in a teenager’s family life could lead to suicidal ideation and attempts. Social and economic isolation combined with absence of support from either parent may adversely affect the adolescent (Tyyska 221). These may be due to family discords, divorce or death of one or both parents, mistreatment and poor relationship with parents. A suicidal history within the family also increases the likelihood of the teenager attempting or successfully committing suicide. Teenagers with parents who have suffered mood disorders and attempted suicide are also at risk of committing suicide. Due to the stress they endure, they may engage in alcohol and drug use, further increasing the risk compared to those who don’t. There is a strong relationship between heavy drinking, drug abuse and suicide attempts among adolescents (UNLM). Drinking and drug use especially when one’s mood is low increases the risk of suicide attempts. Studies have shown that adolescents who frequently participate in heavy episodic drinking are 2.6 times more likely to attempt suicide than those who don’t. Moreover, bullying affects many teenagers and could adversely have negative effects on them. It may involve indirect aggression, where the victim is subjected to physical and verbal violence like hitting and teasing, or indirect aggression, where one experiences manipulative acts like intimidation and extortion (Taylor Francis Online). Bullying may be from the peer group an adolescent identifies with. Since many teenagers relate better with their peers than their parents and teachers, humiliation from them is bottled up, only for the teenager to later seek a way out through suicide. Cyber bullying is also another cause, especially because it extends beyond school hours, as adolescents have numerous ways of connection with each other due to technological advances. It is possible through texts on phones, emails and postings on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and MySpace. Additionally, the sexual orientation a youth identifies with increases the risk of suicide. Youth who are in same-sex relationships are more likely to be suicidal than those who are not. Gays, bisexuals and lesbians are constantly affected by family and societal victimization (Tyyska 221). They may have difficulties dealing with the stigma associated with their sexual orientation especially during adolescence when their sexuality is a fundamental issue in their lives. The resulting feelings of rejection and loneliness they are left with eventually lead them to depression and eventually suicide as a way out. The writer notes that other forms of discrimination that increase the risk include those based on religion, race and sex. In a study done by UNLM in Massachusetts, youths with bisexual, lesbian or gay orientations were found to have attempted suicide over the previous year. Similarly, exposure to sexual and physical abuse as a child often leads to poor mental health development, which may lead to suicidal ideation. Child sexual abuse has more adverse effects on an adolescent than physical abuse. When sexual abuse is perpetrated by someone well known to the victim such as a family member, the risks are more, as well as repeated incidences of sexual abuse. Witnessing and being victims of domestic violence also increases the risk. In response to all this, it is clear that teenagers who have suicide ideation are usually in pain, and suffer as a result of the pain. As Miller explains, suffering is as a result of either emotional or physical pain (23). Involved are our thoughts and emotions and the framing they do to our experiences. But the writer also points out that suffering is only one exhibit to pain. Suicidal individuals usually have tried varied and multiple channels to end their suffering without success and as such view death as the only way out. Emotional and psychological suffering should thus be worked on by the personnel involved, in an attempt to reduce suicidal behavior (Miller 24). Suicidal youth should actively be involved in forums where they are free to express their worries as opposed to handling them alone. Private sessions should especially be encouraged so that the teenager feels secure. Suicide has been labeled at the top of most preventable deaths, as victims do not really want to die but the pain to go away. There are protective factors that can keep an individual from becoming suicidal. They serve as a cushion against the effects of the negative events surrounding them and prevent the initial onset of risk factors by helping the teenager understand that the family is always there when they are going through tough times. Establishing and teaching good strong morals within the household also goes a long way. Parents should endeavor to maintain stability within the family and maintain steady open communication with teenagers. They can also interrupt the damaging process of a risk factor in the teenager’s life by reducing the effects for instance by taking legal action against abusive or alcoholic parents or relatives (Barnes, Golden, and Peterson 88). Individually, one can strive to develop a positive temperament, as opposed to constantly having a negative attitude. Barnes, Golden, and Peterson note that an individual will build resiliency when they exhibit positive attitude towards their daily routines (88). As such, a teenager that is attached to the family, committed to their school work and is involved within the community has a stronger foundation than one who is detached. The attachment also allows close individuals to recognize when a teenager for instance has mood or attitude changes. Thus they have a platform where they can talk about any problems or difficulties they may be experiencing with people they view as most approachable either within the family, school or community. Conclusion Teenage suicide has increased in the recent years at an alarming rate. This is due to factors such as depression, peer influence, alcohol and drug abuse, physical and sexual abuse by parents or close relatives and even the internet. A lot can be done to reduce teenage suicide for instance proving a good family setting where the teenager feels free to talk about their problems. The teenager can also positively involve themselves with other people at school and within the community. Works Cited Barnes, D. H, Robert Golden and Fred Peterson. The Truth About Suicide. New York, NY: Infobase Publishing, 2010. Print. Cash, J. S and Jeffrey Bridge. “Epidemiology of Youth Suicide and Suicidal Behavior.” US National Library of Medicine. 21.5 (2009): 613-619. Web. 12 Mar. 2014 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2885157/ Hinduja, S and Justin Patchin. “Bullying, Cyberbullying and Suicide.” Taylor Francis Online. 14.5 (2010). Web. 12 Mar. 2014 http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13811118.2010.494133#.UyA0qc58Uwo Miller, D. N. Child and Adolescent Behavior: School-Based Prevention, Assessment and Intervention. New York, NY: Guilford Press, 2011. Print. Tyyska, V. Youth and Society: The Long and Winding Road. 2nd ed. Toronto, Ontario: Canadian Scholar’s Press, 2009. Print. Read More