Journey of Hearts

Suicide Incidence in the Adolescent Age Group

Currently, among the 15- to 19-year olds, suicide is the second leading cause of death (following accidents). The suicide rate has tripled over the last 30 years in this age group. Surveys estimate that 40 % of high school students have contemplated taking their lives at one point or another.

The numbers of people choosing to take their own lives is growing, and it is not limited to a single age group, racial group, or socioeconomic class.

If a young person (or anyone you know) mentions that he or she has had thoughts of suicide, the most important thing to do is TAKE IT SERIOUSLY! The evidence is overwhelming, those who talk about suicide may truly be considering it, especially in the younger age groups. Most young people who attempt suicide talk about it first.

Seek Professional advice immediately. Talk to a Counselor, a Teacher, a Priest or Minister, or a Physician. The important part is to recognize the warning signs and symptoms of depression and/or suicide and get help, or help the person exhibiting the signs to get help!

For another perspective see the article, "Listen to a Teenager It May Save a Life."

• Talk of death, suicide, or harming oneself.
• Chronic panic or anxiety
• Constant insomnia
• Altered personality or appearance
• Changes in sleeping or eating habits
• Dropping grades (for those still in school)
• Giving away treasured possessions
• Becoming more isolated - pulling away from normal social activities
• Talk of depression, life is not worth living

• Lack of enthusiasm, energy, or motivation
• Social withdrawal or isolation
• Sadness or hopelessness
• Confusion of difficulty with decisions
• Drop in school performance
• Eating or sleeping problems
• Low self-esteem or guilt
• Drug and/or alcohol abuse
• Problems with authority
• Anxiety or phobias
• Perfectionism
• Restlessness

• Breakup of Relationship
• Academic Failure
• Social Failure
• Fight with parents
• Run-in with authority
• Alcohol is found in the blood of more than half of the teenage suicide victims.

More girls than boys become depressed.
More girls than boys attempt suicide, but more boys than girls are successful in their attempt to kill themselves.
Certain groups of adolescents may be more vulnerable to suicide.

• Those with "classic" symptoms of depression - sadness and hopelessness, often female.
• Those who are perfectionists - setting high performance standards for themselves to achieve. These teens are often anxious, isolated and socially withdrawn
• Those who "act out" their depression through risk taking behaviors - drug use, alcohol use, use of firearms, confrontations with authority.
• This group is difficult to detect, because they will frequently deny any feelings of depression.
• This group is also among the highest risk for successfully completing a suicide.
• This group is also among the highest risk for successfully completing a suicide.

• Experiences of failure
• Alienation by peers
• Any kind of abuse - physical, psychological
• Pressure to achieve - academically, athletically, socially
• Family stressors
• Unresolved grief - death of a loved one, loss of a relationship, loss of a friend

 
James Jefferson, MD and John Greist MD, Depression and Adolescents
Copyright 1996 Pfzier, Inc.

Seek Professional advice immediately. Talk to a Counselor, a Teacher, a Physician.

There have been several instances when I thought friends or colleagues were in trouble where what they were telling me sounded like a strong "Cry for Help," whether a message on an answering machine, or a letter written out of depression and sent.  On these occasions I have made several frantic phone calls to try and find them, make sure they were all right. I usually was not able to reach the person specifically, but contacted someone who was also alerted and then able to get in touch with the person. Fortunately, in each of these instances, the outcome has been a good one. Friends asked me if I thought I was over reacting. "Didn't I know they weren't going to really do themselves any harm?" I will continue to "over react" rather than possibly let a friend down.

The stakes are too high to make that kind of mistake. I have treated many overdose cases in the emergency department, and intensive care unit, pumping stomachs after a drug overdose, treating with 17 doses of Tylenol antidote, or monitoring for cardiac arrhythmias after barbiturate overdoses.  I was left wondering was their "Cry for help" noticed. Also you never know for sure what was going through that person's head. You never know that you might be the only person who hears their "Cry for Help." Perhaps the compassion, knowing that someone cares is enough to convince them that live is worth living.

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If you are feeling like harming yourself or someone else, or are feeling depressed, helpless or hopeless, Call 911, your local suicide hot-line, or Crisis Intervention line, located in the Yellow Pages, or contact the Samaritans via e-mail at:

For screens without frames http://www.samaritans.org.uk/textonly.html/texthome.html
For screens with frames http://www.samaritans.org.uk/sams.html/home2.html

The Samaritans is a UK charity, founded in 1953, which exists to provide confidential emotional support to any person, who is suicidal or despairing; and to increase public awareness of issues around suicide and depression. This service is provided 24 hours every day by trained volunteers, and relies upon public donations.

Call someone--a friend, or family member, your clergy or physician. Look in the Yellow pages under Counselors, Psychologists, Social Workers and Psychiatrists, if you feel you may need immediate professional assistance.