Teenage suicide
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Teenage suicide is the act of self-killing by a teenager. Although the suicide rate among youth significantly decreased in the mid-1990s, suicide deaths in the United States remain high in the 15 to 24 age group with 3,971 suicides in 2001 and over 132,000 suicide attempts in 2002, making it the third leading cause of death for those aged 15 to 24.[1]. In the United Kingdom the suicide rate for males aged between 15 and 24 rose substantially between 1976 to 1991 (when it peaked at 15.8 deaths per 100,000 people), although it has been declining since. This compares with the rate of suicide among females in the same age group remaining largely static.[2] However, given the overall decline in the suicide rate in the UK, the rate of suicide amongst the 15-24 male population remains high.[3] More preventive measures have been taken in the last ten years, including increased understanding of the risk factors and causes and spreading information to schools and parents.
[edit] Population differences
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The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article or discuss the issue on the talk page. |
In the U.S., male adolescent(s) commit suicide at a rate five times greater than that of female adolescents, although suicide attempts by females are three times as frequent as those by males. A possible reason for this is the method of attempted suicide for males is typically that of firearm use, with a 78-90% chance of fatality. Females are more likely to try a different method, such as ingesting poison [4]. Females have more parasuicides.
Suicide rates vary for different ethnicities due to cultural differences. In 1998, white Americans accounted for 84% of all youth suicides, 61% male, 23% female. However, the suicide rate for Native Americans was 19.3 per 100,000, much higher than the overall rate (8.5 per 100,000). The suicide rate for African-Americans has increased more than twofold since 1981. A national survey of high school students conducted in 1999 reported that Hispanic students are twice as likely to report an attempted suicide as white students [4].
A controversial U.S. government study, titled Report of the Secretary's Task Force on Youth Suicide, found that LGBT youth are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide than other young people. Several researchers suggest that bisexual and youth uncertain of their sexual orientation may be at higher risk for suicidal behavior than homosexual teenagers. Many homosexual teenagers who commit suicide may also suffer from mental illnesses or substance abuse disorders, making the connection more complicated. Institutionalized and internalized homophobia[5] may also lead LGBT youth to not be accepting of themselves and have deep internal conflicts about their sexual orientation. LGBT youths are also very frequently kicked out of their parent's house at an early age after coming out. It is impossible to know the suicide rate of homosexual youth because homosexuality is often hidden, particularly in this age group. Further research is currently being done to explain the prevalence of suicide among GLBT youths [6][7][8].
In 2004, 1,985 American adolescents under the age of 20 committed suicide, an increase of 18% from the previous year.[9]
On September 6, 2007, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported suicide rate in American adolescents (especially girls, 10 to 24 years old) increased 8% (2003 to 2004), the largest jump in 15 years. Specifically, in 2004 - 4,599 suicides in Americans ages 10 to 24, up from 4,232 in 2003, for a rate of 7.32 per 100,000 people that age. Before, the rate dropped to 6.78 per 100,000 in 2003 from 9.48 per 100,000 in 1990. The findings also reported that antidepressant drugs reduced suicide risk than increase it. Psychiatrists found that the increase is due to the decline in prescriptions of antidepressant drugs like Prozac to young people since 2003, leaving more cases of serious depression untreated. In a December 2006 study, The American Journal of Psychiatry said that a decrease in antidepressant prescriptions to minors of just a few percentage points coincided with a 14 percent increase in suicides in the United States; in the Netherlands, the suicide rate was 50% up, upon prescription drop.[10]
[edit] Suicide prevention
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This section has been nominated to be checked for its neutrality. Discussion of this nomination can be found on the talk page. (May 2008) |
Promoting overall mental health among adolescents is key to reducing possible suicidal thoughts. Some people argue that limiting young people's access to lethal weapons, such as firearms, may be a pivotal deterrent. Some school-based youth suicide awareness programs exist to try to increase high-school students' awareness of the problem, provide knowledge about the behavioral characteristics of teens at risk, and describe available treatment or counseling resources. However, some research has shown that this may have an unintended negative effect of suggesting suicide as an option for teenagers [11].
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention advocates taking suicide threats seriously. Seventy-five percent of all suicides give some warning of their intentions to a friend or family member.[12]
A common treatment for a young, suicidal patient is a combination of drug-based treatment (eg. imipramine or fluoxetine) with a 'talking-based' therapy, such as referral to a cognitive behaviour therapist. This kind of therapy concentrates on modifying self-destructive and irrational thought processes. [13]
Lack of parental interest in their teenage children is a major factor in teenage suicide: according to one study 90 percent of suicidal teenagers believed their families did not understand them.[14]
In a crisis situation professional help can be sought, either at hospital or a walk-in clinic. There are also several telephone help numbers for help on teenage suicide, depending on one's location (country/state). Sometimes emergency services can be contacted.
[edit] References
- ^ Suicide: Fact Sheet, 30 March 2006, retrieved 2 May 2006.
- ^ http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Expodata/Spreadsheets/D7468.xls
- ^ National Statistics Online
- ^ a b Youth Suicide Fact Sheet, 1 January 2005, retrieved 2 May 2006.
- ^ Gibson, P. (1989), “Gay and Lesbian Youth Suicide”, in Fenleib, Marcia R. (ed.), Report of the Secretary's Task Force on Youth Suicide, United States Government Printing Office, ISBN 0160025087
- ^ "Sexual Orientation and Youth Suicide" by Dr. Gary Remafedi, October 6 1999, retrieved 2 May 2006.
- ^ "Youth suicide risk and sexual orientation - Statistical Data Included" by Rutter, Philip A & Soucar, Emil, Summer 2002, retrieved 2 May 2006.
- ^ Articles Relating to Suicide by GLB Youth, retrieved 3 May 2006.
- ^ Kids' suicides rise, CDC report finds - USATODAY.com
- ^ New York Times, Suicide Rises in Youth; Antidepressant Debate Looms
- ^ "The Surgeon General's Call To Action To PPPPP Suicide 1999", United States Department of Health and Human Services, 21 July 2004, retrieved 2 May 2006.
- ^ "When you fear someone will take their own life". American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. 2006-08-27. http://www.afsp.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_id=F2F25092-7E90-9BD4-C4658F1D2B5D19A0. Retrieved on 2006-08-27.
- ^ "Treatments: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy". depresioNet. 2004-01-08. http://www.depressionet.com.au/treatments/talking/cbt.html. Retrieved on 2006-08-27.
- ^ "AAP - Preventing Teen Suicide". American Academy of Pediatrics. 2006-08-27. http://www.aap.org/advocacy/childhealthmonth/prevteensuicide.htm. Retrieved on 2006-08-27.
[edit] External links
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- Stamp Out Suicide Has a resources page with contacts, some especially for teenagers and young people in the UK and Ireland.
- Kids in Trouble Help Page The Kids in Trouble Help Page has helped many teens by being a user friendly place where kids and teens can find the help they need in all kinds of situations including suicide, child abuse, depression and runaways. Site includes links to all kinds of helpful info, and stories of other kids who have dealt with similar issues.
- Teen suicide and emotional intelligence - Help for teens, parents. Information on emotionally intelligent suicidal teens. Teen suicide peer support chat group.
- ULifeline Suicide Prevention - section about suicide on ULifeline, a mental health resource for college students.
- TeenSuicide.us - suicide information.
- Second Wind Fund - a teenage suicide prevention fund.
- The Trevor Helpline: 1 866 - 4U TREVOR - nationwide (US) 24-hour, free, confidential suicide helpline for gay and questioning teenagers, United States. See The Trevor Project.
- Research from the UK government into the suicide rate in the UK.
- Rachel's Challenge - a school presentation to stop teen suicide and school violence
- UK official statistics for suicide.
- National Hopeline Network
- Mind (National Association for Mental Health) UK
- Suicide prevention resources relating to Teens
- Teen suicide U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2006) via WebMd. Retrieved on September 3, 2008
