Permanent Solution Essay: Preventing Teenage Suicide

“Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem” (Donahue). Suicide is a growing problem in our society, especially for teens. Teens have come to a point in life believing there is no escape, no matter how bad the problem. Teens struggling with depression fail to understand what is really happening, and what depression could be leading to. Suicide is now the third leading cause of death for 15 - 24 year olds in the United States. Causes leading to suicide could be, depression, bullying, or even just feeling out of place. We can all help to prevent suicide. Educate yourself and others, motivate to make a change, stop bullying, and openly talk about the problem. Simply by doing things like this you could start a revolution and save millions of lives.
There are many growing issues in our society, and suicide is one of the largest. Teens everywhere are finding reasons to end their life. The leading cause of suicide in America is a mental disease, next comes depression, and then the feeling

they've done something wrong or they feel they aren't accepted. People don’t understand the severeness of suicide, but truly most people don't understand why. Someone who has at least thought about a tragedy like this has to believe that there is only one escape, and that escape is to end their life completely, to them, it’s their only way out. In fact, it’s not the only way out. There’re many things that can be done to help, the chance to find that help and recognize that they're loved. People will always be there for you, no matter who it is. I suggest that you become aware about this issue and lend a helping hand. Suicide is a growing matter and even you can help to make a change. Reading the New York Times, Jonathan Martin, former N.F.L. player, says he attempted suicide. Martin said that he attempted suicide on “many occasions” after accusing his teammates of bullying. In the locker room, he felt like an outsider (Victor). Bullying can happen anywhere, even at work, it doesn’t go away once you grow up, and Martin’s story is just one example of this.
Suicide is a real issue and it happens more than you would think, suicide takes the lives of over 38,000 Americans every year. Recently, authors have been writing stories about people who have committed, or attempted to commit suicide. In the book The Thirteen Reasons Why a novel by Jay Asher, it talks about a girl, Hannah Baker, and her story about why she committed suicide. Hannah records tapes of herself talking directly to the people she blames for her death, and once she passes she ships the box to those 7 people. The book is set from the perspective of a boy named Clay. Clay listens to each tape, and listens to all of the people and all of the reasons why Hannah Baker committed suicide. Authors are writing stories about hard issues like suicide to raise awareness about this issue. Looking at all the books relating to suicide shows that people care, and want to expose the issue. In this particular book as it relates more to bullying. Merriam-Webster states that the definition of a bully is “ a blustering browbeating person; especially : one habitually cruel to others who are weaker” (Merriam-Webster) Although you may not see bullies attack, they are constantly there, hanging over your shoulder. Constantly being bullied can lead to life threatening depression, Depression is the leading cause of suicide. Depression is a mood disorder that causes a constant feeling of sadness or loss of interest. There are many things that can lead to depression, and bullying is one of them. The only way to help this problem is to get properly diagnosed and to just get help. When dealing with depression you have to be careful and once warning signs are showing it’s important to get diagnosed right away. Depression could lead to suicide. Because suicide is a known issue, thanks to authors like Jay Asher
Suicide can be prevented, but only if you make a change. To put a stop to suicide people needs to be educated and motivated to support people everywhere, to prevent bullying and depression. Educators, celebrities, politicians, and everyday people can fight to make a change. If someone ever has suicidal thoughts the suicidal hotline is open all day everyday and is here to help. A suicidal person may not ask for help, but that doesn't necessarily mean help isn't wanted. People who commit suicide don't always want to end their life, they just want to stop hurting. Although it may be hard to talk about the subject, overall it could end up saving lives. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 1 million people die each year from suicide. If you're noticing some warning signs such as, talking about suicide, seeking out lethal means, no hope for the future, saying goodbye, all things relating to death, simply talk about the issue with that person, something that simple can make all the change in the world.

Although informing people about the issue is good, being educated on it is better, but what could be done to solve the problem completely?

You have to realize that there is more to life than what may be “your worst day.” You will grow older, more mature, you will realize that these so called bullies… are just a bump in the road. As for you bullies you need to be brought to the end, we need to stop all bullies, shut them down completely. Teenagers, bosses, parents, babysitters, all people inflicting pain to the point where its unbearable, take a step back, take a deep breath, realize that there is more to life, more to life than this one moment. That work will get done, that room will be cleaned, that boy will learn who you are and fall for you, and those kids will stop crying, but only if you become the authority figure that they need. Not the kind that yells, but the kind that nourishes. “Treat people how you want to be treated,” it’s the golden rule for a

reason.

To conclude, suicide has always been a growing issue, an issue that can be solved. “Suicide doesn’t end the chances of life getting worse, it eliminates the possibility of it ever getting any better.” – Unknown. Don’t give up on yourself just because it's hard right now. There is always a solution. Soon, people everywhere will become educated, and people will realize a change needs to be made and they will motivate to make that happen. People will start to openly talk about suicide and not cringe at the sound of it. Suicide will come to an end if people work to educate, motivate, and articulate on the subject.