Teen Suicide
By: Alicia Torres
We all know that suicide is a person’s choice, but that does not mean we should leave this issue alone. Teen suicide is a growing concern in this generation because it is easily becoming a major threat in every teenager’s life. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) lists suicide as the third leading cause of death in young people ages 15-24. It is also the second leading cause of death in college students (National Institute of Mental Health). Suicide is a complicated issue to prevent because it deals with a person’s feelings and emotions. These things cannot just be erased or shut off. Teen suicide may be a tough problem to fix; however, it is not impossible. We all know about the “sex talk” or the “birds and the bees” that parents throw at their children unwillingly. We have either been through this uncomfortable moment ourselves or maybe heard it from a friend that swears he/she barely survived it. Perhaps you were one of the lucky ones, like me, that did not have to sit through your parent’s grueling stare down. The “sex talk” is a touchy subject that most parents do not look forward to. However, those brave parents that choose to go through with “the talk” feel that it will help their children in the long run. Picture this uncomfortable subject multiplied by a thousand and unfortunately you get a parent’s feelings toward suicide.
Suicide is an extremely delicate subject in every household in the United States and maybe even worldwide. Parents tend to think that their kids will never be in a suicidal situation. They choose to believe that suicide just does not exist where they live. This is why so many depressed teenagers go unnoticed and therefore never receive the treatment they desperately need. Every person who commits suicide battles depression, however, depression is usually hard to spot in a teenager’s many emotions (World Health Organization). Parents cannot tell the difference between depression and the regular emotions such as sadness and anger. It is normal for a teenager to be angry and sad at times; but when these become the only emotions it should become a concern (To Write Love On Her Arms). Parents of suicide victims claim to never even have seen suicidal signs in their child. This is why parents need to become more informed of teen suicide so they can be able to detect warning signs in their children. With the number of teen suicides rising every day, parents cannot continue to ignore it. Every parent should know at least a modest amount of knowledge on teen suicide. These little facts can hold incredible significance and can easily save a child’s life. Parents should know what is going on in their child’s life and be aware of their child’s changing attitudes and emotions. More importantly, they should let their children know that they always have someone to talk to if they have any kind of problem. We all know by now that bullying and cyber bullying are huge risk factors in teen suicide (TWLOHA). Bullying has become a major problem and needs to be taken more seriously by school boards. Parents should not have to worry about whether or not their children are safe at school. Schools are meant to be a comfortable learning environment for every child, but unfortunately this is not the case anymore. I read an article where a girl was bullied by six teenagers until she eventually committed suicide. Her parents had even gone to the school before and demanded that the principal put a stop to it but nothing was ever done until it was too late. Punishment needs to be in order in these situations because bullying has led to thousands of deaths. There should be laws against bullying in general because the “no bullying” rules in public schools are not enough. We need to educate adults who interact with youth on a daily basis, such as teachers, on the lifelong effects of bullying. They need to understand the importance of anti-bullying so they learn to watch over their students better. They also need to be informed on how to recognize warning signs for suicide and how to respond appropriately. This should allow these adults to provide a link between a young person and a mental health professional.
Suicide is preventable; however, it will not be easy. Adults need to be educated on this issue so that they can provide help in their communities. Parents should be active in their child’s life in and outside the classroom. They should be able to talk with their children and be aware of any signs of distress. In conclusion, the rise in teen suicides can be stopped as long as adults and fellow students are not afraid to step up and reach out to those who need it.
References
Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention. (2010). Understanding Suicide. In CDC. Retrieved December 2, 2010, from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/155854/te en_suicide_and_the_impact_of_the.html?cat=25
National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America. In NIMH. Retrieved December 2, 2010, from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1 55854/teen_suicide_and_the_impact_of_the.html?cat=25
To Write Love On Her Arms. (n.d.). Facts. In NIMH. Retrieved December 2, 2010, from http://www.twloha.com/facts/
What is Bullying? (n.d.). In Bullying. Retrieved May 6, 2011, from http://www.stopbullying.gov/
World Health Organization. (n.d.). Suicide Prevention. In WHO
