Teen Suicide Essay, Research Paper
Teen Suicide – The Unknown Epidimic
Every year, thousands of youth die in the United States, not by cancer, car
accidents, and other diseases, but by their own hand. These people make the choice that
they want to die and they take there own life. Suicide, the term given to the act of killing
oneself, is the third leading cause of death among people that are 15 to 25 years of age. It
is estimated that 500,000 teenagers try to kill themselves during the course of one year.
During the adolescent years, normal teenagers experience strong feelings of stress,
confusion, self-doubt, pressure to succeed, financial uncertainty, and other fears while
growing up. These feelings in themselves are not harmful, but normal. However those who
can not handle these situations are ones that are prone to suicide. Many people believe
that suicides are isolated incedents, but they are far from that. Suicide among teenagers is
indeed an epidimic that should be focused on and dealt with immediately. This essay will
focus on the causes of suicide, the signs of a person that is suicide prone, and what one
should do for a person who may be a target for suicide.
The main two causes for teen suicide is the mental disease of depression and family
problems. 90% of teen suicide victims have at least one diagnosable, active psychiatric
illness at the time of death, which is most often depression, substance abuse, or behavior
disorders. Only 33-50% of victims was known by their doctors as having a mental illness
at the time of their death, and only 15% were in treatment at the time of death. The
pressures of modern life are greater these days and competition for good grades and
college admission is difficult, which are extra stressors on already unsure teens. Some even
think it’s because there is more violence in the media. Lack of parental interest may make
them feel alone and anonymous. They believe that their parents don’t understand them and
when they try to express their feelings they feel that their parents either denied or ignored
their attempt to communicate feelings of unhappiness, frustration, or failure. Many
children grow up in divorced households or both parent’s work and their families spend
little time together. Even the threat of AIDS is a factor that contributes to higher suicide
rate. Stressful life events, such as the loss of an important person or school failure, often
encourages suicides. People who have worked with depressed teens see a common pattern
of unhappiness, feelings of inner disturbance, chaos, low self-worth, hopelessness and
anger. Suicidal teens generally feel that their emotions are played down, not taken
seriously, or met with opposition by other people, but it should always be taken seriously.
Those who believe in the finality of death (i.e., that there is no after-life), are the ones
who advocate suicide and regard it as a matter of personal choice. On the other hand,
those who firmly believe in some form of existence after death on earth, condemn suicide
and judge it to be a major sin. However, there are ways of watching for warning signs of a
suicidal person and depression.
Some noticeable signs that are prevalent among people thinking about suicide are
talking about suicide, statements about hopelessness, helplessness, or worthlessness. They
may have a obsession with death or suddenly become happier and calmer. They have a
loss of interest in things they usually care about. They might stop visiting or calling people
that they care about. They even start making arrangements or putting their affairs in order
and give away their things. Teens should learn that with treatment, depression ends, but
someone who is experiencing deep depression might not be able to think about that. They
can’t see the way out of the problem and think suicide is the only choice.
Some hotlines, and web sites that help with people are Counselors Counseling,
Teen Suicide Help, and there are many others that exist. These people who work for these
hotlines, and the counselors out there are educated to help people who are suffering
from deep depression, and suicide. They don?t even have to be suicidal…they might just
have deep depression, and since that is one of the main causes of suicide, they are there to
help them cope with their depression so that in the future they don?t have to see suicide.
The certain web sites that are out there supply people with lots of facts and information
about suicide itself. It tells them the causes and effects, and also how to get the strength to
realize you have a problem, and to reach out for help. A couple of the medications that are
prescribed to patients by doctors and psychologists are prozac, and serzone. Prozac has
had over 9 years of experience worldwide, and over 7 years in the U.S.. It is prescribed for
over 16 million patients worldwide, approved in over 75 countries, one of the world?s
most thoroughly studied medicines, and is indicated for the treatment of depression.
Serzone (scientifically known as nefazodone HCI) causes you to feel less blue, and more
like yourself, feeling less anxious, getting a good night?s sleep, feeling more calm, more in
control, less ?jittery?, being able to concentrate, and having more interest in more
activities. In many cases being on these certain medications has helped lots of people to
overcome their sickness, and get on with their lives. The third, and final ?solution? for
suicide is basically the love and support from family and friends. Usually when people are
this depressed, it is because they are feeling pain. They have lost someone, or feel lost
themselves. Being ignored, unloved, being forgotten or being left out…these are all
possible reasons for a person to become suicidal. They just need to know that their life is
worth living, and that there are people out there who love and care about them, and who
want them to stay alive. Every person is different, therefore every suicide case is going to
be different, with different needs, and different causes. If I could tell you a solution to
solve suicide, and put an end to it I would be one of the most famous people in the world.
I can tell you the ways to help reduce the numbers of people who commit suicide each
year.
As one can see, teen suicide is a epedimic problem that is only spreading
throughout America. There seems to be little exposure to teens about this vast and
important problem. This problem must be focused on and dealt with or the world is going
to miss out on its future leaders and important people, because some will take their lives
as a teenager. Therefore, this problem should be given all the research funding that is
given for cancer and other diseases, and it should be taught in schools. Suicide will never
completely be ended, but with focus on prevention, the number of those who commit
suicide can drop, substantially.