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Preventiion Action Alliance
Know!
The Facts on Youth Suicide
Suicide is now the second leading cause of death among youth and young
adults ages 12-24, second only to accidental death; and for every
suicide, there are 100-200 suicide attempts. This is a vital topic we
must be discussing, and revisiting regularly, with our youth.
In the previous tip, Know! Momo and her Deadly Challenge to our Youth,
we talked with suicide prevention experts about an internet “game” with
potentially harmful, even deadly consequences, and how it is targeting
teens.
In this tip we continue the conversation with Shawna Hite-Jones and
Austin Lucas of the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation to learn more.
Q. Teen suicide rates have been steadily increasing since 2007. Why the
rise and how much of a role does social media play?
A. That is the million dollar question. The unfortunate reality is that
we don’t have one direct reason we can point to for the increased rates
of youth suicide. There is research out there looking at the link
between social media and suicide, and bullying and suicide. We do know
that youth who spend more time on social media report higher levels of
depression. But even at that level, it is just a link. Same with
bullying and suicide. Youth do have a lot more pressures today. There
are concerns regarding the expectations for youth succeed in terms of
grade-point averages even above the 4.0. There are concerns as far as
expectations for youth to be in a million different activities. Is all
that contributing to it as well, because they are not learning how to
manage all the stress that is present in their lives? There is also
some theorizing going on as to whether or not there is increased
acceptance of suicide in our youth that wasn’t there before. Are they
seeing it as a more acceptable action than they used to?
Q. Are some children at greater risk for suicide than others?
A. Yes. There are many factors that put a child at greater risk. We
look at the experience of childhood abuse; we look at not having a
positive role model in one’s life, not having parents present in one’s
life; and we look especially at undiagnosed and untreated mental health
conditions like depression. We reference the statistic that 90% of
individuals who die by suicide have some type of mental health
condition at the time of death. Sometimes it has been diagnosed, but
many times it hasn’t.
According to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, other major risk
factors include:
Prior suicide attempt(s)
Substance abuse
Mood disorders
Access to lethal means
Keep in mind, risk factors are not warning signs. Hite-Jones points out
that a youth can have a number of risk factors and not experience
depression or suicidal thoughts. She also point out that most people
who do have a mental health condition, when actively managed, go on to
engage in and enjoy life.
As for major protective factors, the Suicide Prevention Resource Center
shares the following:
Effective mental health care
Connectedness to individuals, family, community, and social institutions
Problem-solving skills
Contacts with caregivers
The experts at the Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation say while teens
are known for being moody, we (as parents, teachers and other important
people in the lives of youth) must learn the warning signs of suicide
so that we are aware when it may be something more.
The major warning signs for suicide include:
Threatening to hurt or kill oneself
Seeking a means to kill oneself
Hopelessness
Increasing alcohol or drug use
Dramatic mood changes
These warning signs indicate that someone may be at immediate risk for
suicide and you should seek help without delay.
Contrary to popular belief, talking with your child about suicide will
not “put the idea of committing suicide into their head.” Lucas says
research proves the opposite and that bringing it up and asking
directly, “Are you thinking about taking your life,” can actually
relieve the child’s anxiety and for them, it feels good to know someone
cares enough to ask the question. He says it opens up the conversation
for intervention and gives the opportunity for referral to mental
health resources.
If you feel your child is considering self-harm or experiencing
suicidal thoughts, please connect with the National Suicide Prevention
Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), contact the Crisis Text Line by
texting 4HOPE to 741741, or go to
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ for information or to chat
online with a professional. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and
confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis
resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for
professionals.
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