Suicide Among Youth

Suicide Among Youth

A suicide attempt is a non-fatal act in which an individual deliberately causes self- injury and should be recognized as a method of communication from a youth who may be experiencing severe problems. Canadian statistics from the Suicide Information and Education Center in 1996 recorded 25 000 attempted suicides and 250 successful suicides. 1 in every 100 people who try to commit suicide will die. Based on the 1996 statistics one can assume that these numbers have increased. It has been suggested that suicide is the second leading cause of death amongst the youth and is more common amongst females than males. Although more females attempt to commit suicide males are more successful in doing so. More often than not we hear of younger people committing suicide rather than those of the elderly. From reading several studies it is hard to say whether it is the youth or the general population that are more likely to attempt suicide and be successful at it.

One may often wonder why a person commits suicide and what lead them to the point where they felt there was “no way out”. It has been suggested youth who are suicidal feel alone, not understood by parents and or their peers, that they are unable to cope with failure, criticism and feel that things will never get better or that no one can do anything to help him or her, amongst other things. Based on these feelings experienced by youths they seek suicide as the “way out”. One reason suggested is that teens commit suicide as a punishment to themselves and to others around them. Suicide is also seen as a method of revenge. Some of the risk factors associated with suicide are abuse (physical, emotional, drug and sexual), as well as family history and change. Youth are affected deeply by change especially with issues involving family and friends. It has been suggested that the greater number of female attempts at suicide is based on

relationship breakups. It is assumed that most often females experience a level of attachment that is much greater than that of males. A female may feel as if no one understands her and that the only important person in her life has now left. Along with the risk factors there are warning signs. I will list a few but the slightest comment could mean that the person feels suicidal. Some of the more common warning signs are loss of appetite, sleep distur...

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...hday, I would never know what it feels like to get married or have children.

Speaking from experience I think that the best way to help youth is to offer programs that can help them. The Support Network here in Edmonton offers confidential 24 hour service to help youth who are experiencing problems. I also think that suicide prevention and education should be taught in schools. I feel this way because this may affect a person’s life in some way or another whether they are the people who attempt or they are someone who has lost a loved one because of suicide. I personally believe that suicide awareness is much more important than learning how to solve for a polynomial or simplifying an equation.

Suicide, whether an attempt or a completion is not something that should taken lightly. It is a life changing experience and never goes away. Suicide will affect all lives and needs to be dealt with. Suicide can be prevented, as long as everyone understands and helps those who appear to need it. Even for those who don’t appear to need it!

Bibliography

Suicide Information and Education Center (SIEC), 1996

Information on pamphlets and handouts from The Support N