Teen Suicide
Linda was a seventeen-year-old girl. Like other girls her age, she liked going out without telling her parents. On one such occasion, she returned home and was scolded by her mother. In a fit of rage, Linda went into her room, opened a bottle of insecticide and swallowed the contents. She was dead a short while later.
Samuel was a 14-year-old whose parents had decided to separate; he stayed with relatives under questionable conditions. One day Samuel disappeared. He was found 4 days later, hanging from a rope tied to a fan in a nondescript building. An apparent teen suicide.
We hear countless stories of teenagers who decide to take their lives for reasons that may not be clear or logical to us. In their own thinking, there is no point in continuing to live.
furthermore, repeated failure in an exam, excessive bullying at school, or displeasure over parents’ separation are common reasons given. Other reasons may be rejection from a loved one or substance abuse; the reasons are numerous and complicated.
Teen Suicide Statistics
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 24 in the U.S. Nearly 20% of high school students report serious thoughts of suicide and 9% have made an attempt to take their lives.
Signs to Watch out for.
Depression:
Closely monitor a child who is constantly unhappy without any obvious reason.
Withdrawal:
A child that becomes withdrawn and displays a lack of interest in things that usually excite him or her.
Mood swings:
Going from one emotional extreme to the other within a short time.
Sudden changes in behavior.
What Can You Do as a Parent?
1. Create more time to attend to your child’s needs
2. Consider and carry along your child when making major decisions affecting the family.
3. Do not place unrealistic standards and demands on your wards
4. Counseling and follow-up of at-risk children.
How do you think parents can help their teenagers go through seemingly rough times?
Very good advice.
It's so important for us to stay connected with our kids. Find the time of day they feel most like talking and make ourselves available. Many teenagers open up while we're driving them to and from school or other functions. It's important to not tune them out. Be aware of what they're doing. Show interest but don't browbeat. And finally, one of the easiest and most effective ways to increase family communication is through regular family dinner at home. This is a time for the family to come together and talk about their days. Studies have shown the power of this simple technique should not be underestimated. Teens who share regular meals with their families have less substance abuse and other dysfunction.
Great post.
Great practical advice Carrie, thank you. A family meal is indeed a perfect bonding opportunity.
Thank you.
Erm a difficult one if children are enduring the torturous path of puberty as it is often impossible to separate the signs of unhappiness from the ‘symptoms’ of entering adulthood.
I worried about both my sons during this time, the youngest and almost always pleasant son appearing to have a rough time – and (unknown to us) there been underlying (school) problems that he did not disclose for almost two years despite openness in our child-parent relationship.
Eldest son – he was so tortured for a while I truly thought he was developing schizophrenia and was so afraid for him. Luckily I was very wrong and it was teenage angst and racing hormones.
So at times it is very difficult Dr E, but I would agree that the family dinner table is an ideal way of providing an opportunity to our children to voice concerns – if they are willing to.
Outside of puberty it is easier to pick up on an unhappy child.
Anna :o]
Thank you Anna for that practical parental angle; puberty is indeed a period of raging emotions.