Youth Suicide.
Suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people
between the ages of 15 and 24, but it does not have to be. Youth
and child suicide can be prevented because depression and suicidal
feelings are linked to psychiatric problems that may be treated by
a professional.
Youth and child suicide statistics designate suicide as the
sixth leading cause of death for 5-to-14-yer-olds alarm parents.
In order to prevent youth and child suicide, parents need to be on
the alert for the warning signs. Psychiatric examinations may also
help if you think your child may attempt suicide.
Many adults do not realize youth and child suicide differs from
suicide committed by older people. In many cases, youth and child
suicide is motivated by revenge. Youth and child suicide may be an
act of impulsivity, anger or irritability. Your child may commit
suicide because he or she has a low self-esteem or feels suicide
will somehow further a noble cause or idealistic, romantic image.
As a parent, you should be careful about keeping firearms in
locked areas or removing them from the home since 60 percent of
youth and child suicide incidents involve use of a firearm.
Firearms are the most frequent tools used for adult, youth and
child suicide including children ages 10 to 14 years.
Also keep alcohol and prescription drugs out of reach since
substance abuse is linked with youth and child suicide as well as
depression.
If your child mentions suicide, let your child
know he or she is not alone and that you care. Listen as your
child talks about his or her feelings even if you think they are
silly or illogical. Try not to be judgmental if you want to
prevent youth and child suicide. One of the keys of preventing
child and youth suicide is to be in tune and experience true
empathy. Be honest and genuine, letting your child know you are
worried.
You will want to stay in touch with your child when he or she
attends college because the difficult transition from high school
to college is also associated with youth and child suicide.
Most college students who commit suicide are suffering from
depression or other forms of mental illness. More college males
than females are part of the youth and child suicide statistics.
High school and college students often feel tremendous stress,
doubt, confusion, peer pressure, uncertainty and fears about
growing up and leaving the nest.
Environmental and socio-economic factors may increase the risk
of youth and child suicide. Divorce, relocation to a new community
or school can lead to youth and child suicide if parents and
teachers do not pick up on the signs.
What are the signs of youth and child suicide?
If you child is considering suicide, you may notice marked
personality changes such as withdrawal from friends, family and
normal routine.
Youth and child suicide is invariably
associated with drug/alcohol abuse, suicidal thoughts, psychiatric
disorders such as bipolar disorder, depression and impulsive
aggressive behavior.
Your child may act rebellious, run away, appear sloppy and
unkempt, stop eating and sleeping, complain of headache and
feeling tired.
One of the most frequent signs of youth and
child suicide is when your child puts his or her affairs in order.
He or she may give away belongings and possessions or clean his or
her room.
If a child says he or she would rather be dead
or “I want to kill myself,” don’t look at it as an empty threat.
Don’t worry that talking about youth and child suicide will put
thoughts in your child’s head. It’s uncomfortable to talk about
the subject of youth and child suicide, but communication is an
important part of preventing youth and child suicide.
Your child is at risk for youth and child suicide if he or she is
under stress, has a psychiatric disorder, has attempted suicide in
the past, is grieving from a death of a family member or friend
and is having friendship or social problems.
Finally, youth and child suicide, according to statistics, is more
prevalent when there has been other suicide behavior in the
family, when there are physical or psychiatric illnesses within
the family, family violence or sexual abuse and poverty.
The strongest risk factor for suicide is depression and the vast
majority of people who attempt suicide are depressed.
If you suffer from depression and have strong suicide urges,
please seek the help of a professional therapist as soon as
possible. You can find mental health professionals who specialize
in suicide prevention by looking in your local Yellow Pages under
Mental Health and/or Suicide Prevention. Local crisis lines may
also be available. If not, call (800)-SUICIDE.
If in the midst of an acute suicide attack, check yourself into
the emergency room or tell someone who can help you find help
immediately. This is not the time to try to handle the situation
alone. After getting past the immediate risk of suicide, it is
crucial to find effective help for depression.
Related Articles on Suicide:
Depression and Suicide
II
If You Want to Commit
Suicide II
Suicide Prevention
II
Suicide Statistics
II
Suicide
Warning Signs II
Antidepressants and Suicide
II
Youth Suicide
II
Adolescent Suicide
II
Teen Suicide Statistics
II
Elderly Suicide
II
