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For many, teen years are some of the most
difficult in life. Our bodies go through changes; relationships
become complex; we begin to learn social roles; and more than
ever we're expected to grow up earlier. These changes and
demands may leave a teenager feeling helpless, confused and
pessimistic about the future.
Sometimes problematic circumstances, such as divorce, substance
abuse, domestic violence or sexual abuse, complicate and worsen
these "growing pains." Dealing with adolescence
is difficult enough by itself. When other such problems are
added into the mix, life can seem unbearable to the teenager,
resulting in feelings of depression, destructive behavior
or even suicide.
Causes
Suicide is not caused by any one factor,
but likely by a combination of them. Suicide is often a result
of depression, a loss of self-esteem or an inability to visualize
a better future. Some contributing factors include:
- Substance
abuse
- Divorce
of parents
- Parental
unemployment
- Household
financial problems
- Isolation
from family or friends
- Rejection
by a boyfriend or girlfriend
- Domestic
violence or abuse
- Lack
of success at school
- Depression
Depression is considered to be a highly common
cause of suicide. About 75 percent of those individuals who
commit suicide are depressed. People often mistake depression
for "the blues," and therefore the illness goes
untreated. Depression is caused by a number of factors, from
chemical imbalances to psychological make-up to environmental
influences. A teen with depression will likely display one
or more of the following behaviors:
- Feelings
of worthlessness, hopelessness, helplessness, total indifference
and/or unreasonable guilt
- Prolonged
sadness; unexplained crying spells
- Jumpiness
or irritability
- Withdrawal
from formerly enjoyable activities or relationships
- Inability
to concentrate or remember details; indecisiveness
- Noticeable
change in appetite with sudden weight loss or gain
- Changes
in sleep patterns: constant fatigue, insomnia, early waking,
oversleeping
- Physical
ailments that cannot be explained otherwise
Signs and Symptoms
Most cases of suicide in teens are not impulsive.
Rather, teens who attempt suicide usually do so after failing
to find help or comfort from family or friends. Therefore,
there is time to help a potential victim. Teens who are considering
suicide will probably:
- talk
about or seem preoccupied with death; say things like "My
family would be better off without me" or "I wish
I were dead";
- lose
interest in important or pleasurable activities;
- do
poorly in school;
- show
signs and symptoms of depression (listed above);
- give
away important possessions, clean their rooms, throw things
away;
- neglect
hygiene and self-care;
- withdraw
from relationships, family or friends;
- behave
recklessly, take high risks;
- abuse
drugs and/or alcohol.
What to Do
If you suspect someone is at risk of committing
suicide, you should always take suicidal signs seriously.
Ask the teen if he or she is considering suicide. Do not react
with horror or disapproval, and never refuse to talk about
suicide. Become involved and offer support, hope, encouragement
and understanding. Never dare the teen to do it; he or she
just might. Most importantly, take action immediately.
There are many resources available to help
suicidal teens, including crisis intervention and agencies
and crisis hotlines, support groups
and psychiatric hospitals.
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Overview
