Suicide
By Dana Perry
What is it?
Suicide is the act of causing one's own death. It is considered a particular concern for teens and adolescents as it is the third leading cause of death for those aged 15-24 and the fourth leading cause of death among those aged 10-14.1, 2, 4 In 2004, more than 5,000 U.S. children and adolescents committed suicide.1 Often, suicide or attempts to commit suicide are directly linked to one's constant sadness or depression.
Why does it happen?
Many people turn to suicide to escape from a negative life event in which they feel trapped or to rid themselves of horribly sad thoughts and feelings. Others may feel overwhelmingly guilty or ashamed or maybe as if they might 'let down' their parents or other important adults. Girls and women are three times more likely to attempt suicide, although a man is more likely than a woman to actually die due to suicide.2
Many young people are at risk for suicide because of stressful life events, confusion, and sadness related to the family, community and school life. Those who are at risk of attempting suicide have a certain number of warning signs. These include depression, recent losses or significant life-changing events, such as the death of a parent or change in school. Those who are suicidal also have frequent thoughts about death, family members who have previously committed suicide, physical illness, abuse drugs or alcohol, feelings of isolation or being 'alone' in the world, easy access to guns, and have been exposed to other teens who have committed suicide.2, 3, 4, 5 Unfortunately, even though suicide is prevalent for kids and teens, in the past year only 36 percent of youths who were at risk for suicide received any type of treatment.3
If your life has been affected by the suicide of a loved one or even your own suicidal thoughts, you are not alone. A recent study on high school students found that almost one in five teenagers had seriously considered attempting suicide, more than one in six had made plans to attempt suicide and more than one in twelve had made a suicide attempt in the past year.3
What can I do?
If you think a person is suicidal, or you yourself feel suicidal, it is important to get help immediately. If necessary, call 911.4, 5 If you believe you have a friend who is at risk, openly ask them if they have seriously considered suicide, and then refer them to a trusted adult or crisis center, such as the ones listed below. Suicide cannot be reversed, and under no circumstances are a person's suicidal plans a secret that needs to be kept. Even if you believe a friend will become angry if you tell someone about their suicidal thoughts, it is important to share your concerns with a trusted adult. Depression and suicidal thoughts can be treated. For a person seriously considering suicide, it is important they get the help that they need.
By phone: - National Suicide Hotline
1-800-SUICIDE; 1-800-784-2433
- American Association of Suicidology
Hope Line Network
1-800-273-TALK; 1-800-273-8255
- National Call Center for At-Risk Youth
1-800-USA-KIDS; 1-800-872-5437
On the Web: www.iemily.com
www.teenshealth.org
www.youngwomenshealth.org
1 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; www.aacap.org
2 Department of Health and Human Services; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; www.cdc.gov
3 Facts for Teens: Teen Suicide, National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center, www.safeyouth.org
4 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; National Institute of Mental Health
5 Improving the Mental Health & Well-being of America's Children; coalition of AACAP, CABF, CHADD, FFCMH, MHA, and NAMI
Dana Perry interned for GSUSA during summer 2007. She previously worked as an Outreach Specialist for high-risk youth at Girl Scouts - Pacific Peaks Council in DuPont, Wash.
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