Youth suicide is a serious issue happening today (American Association, 2010). Suicide was the third leading cause of death for youth aged fifteen to twenty-four. In 2010, 4,600 adolescents died from suicide. Of the 4,600 youth who committed suicide, “7.8% self-reported having attempted suicide one or more times in the previous 12 months, 2.4% reported having made a suicide attempt in previous 12 months, 12.8% reported having made a plan for a suicide attempt in the previous 12 months, and 15.8% reported having seriously considered attempting suicide in previous 12 months” (American Association, 2010). Eighty-one percent of the deals were males of the suicides reported; however it has been found that girls are more likely to report an attempt of suicide (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2014). What puts someone at risk for suicide? There are aspects that have been found to be “risk factors”, putting an adolescent at a higher risk for suicide (CDC, 2014). Some of these risk factors are: “history of previous suicide attempts, family history of suicide, history of depression or other mental illness, alcohol or drug abuse, stressful life event or loss, easy access to lethal methods, and incarceration” (CDC, 2014). The topic of suicide can carry a stigma making it a topic that is not often discussed leaving room to miss signals of a youth who is struggling. Social workers in various settings, one being schools, are expected to teach children, families, and faculty about suicide and the prevention of suicide (Singer & Slovak, 2011). According to Singer and Slovak (2011), “school social workers across all school levels reported working with at least one student who threatened suicide, attempted suicide, was hospi... ... middle of paper ... ...ust police or social workers and do not know how to contact counselors”. It is very important that social workers form a trusting relationship quickly when working with suicidal young people in order to provide the best services. Prevention is the key to helping youth who are dealing with issues of suicide. By promoting prevention within one’s scope of practice and competence, one can educate youth on the signs putting one at risk for suicide, promote self-determination when working with the client, and create a movement for social justice/change. Working with the youth in a holistic approach with their parents could help create a sense of understanding and support that they may not have if the child believes no one will understand. Further research needs to be done on youth suicide to close the gap of statistics and the best strategies for working with youth.
Her eyes were heavy, her body weak. As she crawled into the bathroom two feet away, Abby felt her body slowly succumbing to the numbness. All of her pain would be gone in less than 10 minutes, so why would she want to turn back? What about the senior trip Abby had planned with her best friend? What about the chair at the dinner table that would now be vacant? A couple of hours later Abby’s family came home from her little sister’s soccer game. Little did they know what they would find as they approached the top of the stairs. Her little sister, Ali, stood still as she looked down at her feet. There on the cold floor lay her big sister, her role model, and her super hero. Ali was crushed when she saw the pill bottle in her hand and the pale color of her skin. Her mom fell to her knees screaming and crying, wondering where she
There have been many instances of suicide that have occurred in the past years at universities across the country, and since it is such a sensitive subject, there have not been nearly enough coverage as this topic deserves, considering this issue does not seem to be going away. When collecting data about suicide statistics, the age range is broken down as people ages 15-24, which spans most developmental years. Within this bracket are college-age students and this age-group has by far the most troubling statistics around it.
A 17 year old boy, Douglas Stewart, came home from school to find his mother lying on the sofa with a strained back. Being concerned for her he rubbed her back briefly then put on some easy listening music. Douglas then proceeded downstairs to his bedroom. Two of his friends came to the door. His mother waited to see if he would return to answer it; minutes later she answered and then yelled for him to come up. When he did not come, she went downstairs to get him. That is when she found him strangled and her son’s body dangling from the ceiling. This is a senseless tragic sight for a mother to endure. The mortality rate from suicide in 1996 showed 9.5 per 100,000 for 15-19 year olds. This also shows boys are four times more likely to commit suicide then girls. However, girls are twice as likely to attempt suicide. (American 1996) It is imperative to reverse this trend and in doing so we need to understand the characteristics, behaviors and events associated with youth suicide.
Describe the characteristics of children who are at risk for suicide. Include the statistics related to children and suicide and gender differences.
Each year, thousands of our children are dying, not from cancer or car accidents, but by their own hands. They make the choice to take their lives. The number of teenagers who take their lives is rapidly increasing each year. Teen suicide has increased four-fold in the last few decades and is now the third leading cause of death among youth 15-25 years of age('Teen Suicide,';NP). In youth 5-14 years of age, suicide is the sixth leading cause of death('TeenSuicide,';NP). Teen suicide is out of control and no one seems to realize just how bad the issue is becoming. Society needs to be more aware of the causes and warning signs that often lead to suicide in young children.
Lives are slowly being lost due to suicide and not only is it affecting themselves but also the people who are around them. Suicide is defined as taking of one’s own life and it is an issue that should be given all attention to. Teen suicide has been talked about in every source of media and it still continues to have a harmful effect in todays generation. In the United States, the eighth leading cause of death is suicide, within developing teens, suicide is the third leading cause of their deaths (NAMI). There are many signs of someone contemplating suicide.
Approximately, five teenagers attempted suicide each day (Haesler 2010 para. 1). The fact makes some group of people (especially the ones who are part of the society) concerned. Somehow, youth suicide will result in an unintentional sign for help (Carr-Gregg 2003, para. 1). Communities related to the victims will be affected mentally and they will feel grief, pain, and loss that are so great that it overcomes the economic ...
Suicide is known to be the act of intentionally taking one’s life. It’s an action that is usually done in despair and loss of hope, and is a tragedy at any age. However, it is seen to be more tragic for those who take their lives at such a young age as they have just started their paths in life. Unfortunately, suicide is the third leading cause of death in youth. Nearly 5,000 teenagers commit suicide, and they range between the ages of 10-24, according to the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC). A significant reason behind this number is due to the fact that large quantities of youth go through a period of commotion and uncertainty; new social roles are being learned, new relationships are being made, and future roles are
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among young people today. Every year nearly 30,000 people in America commit suicide. Suicide is not only a major problem among people in America; it’s a major problem worldwide. Being as suicide is one of the leading causes of Death among young people today, it is a major problem in American high schools and colleges. In high school and college age students there are lots of factors that could cause a young person to commit suicide. Some of the major issues that could push a student over the edge are bullying, depression, low-self-esteem, grief, and failure.
Introduction Suicide has become a major epidemic in the United States. According to a national study in 2013, every 1 in 25 teens have attempted suicide (Pittman, 2013). Suicide affects all youth, but some groups are at higher risk than others. For example, males are more likely to commit suicide than Females. While it is a problem among all adolescents, sexual minority youth are at a special risk.
Girls think about and attempt suicide about twice as often as boys, and attempt suicide by overdosing. Boys die by suicide about four times as often as girls, due to using more lethal methods, such as firearms, hanging, or jumping from heights. Then he sat down and sat down. There are several different factors that may lead a teenager to take their life, but the most common is depression. Feelings of hopelessness and anxiety, along with feelings of being trapped in a life that one cannot handle, are contributors to teen suicide.
King, K. (2006). Practical strategies for preventing adolescent suicide. Prevention Researcher, 13(3), 8-11. Retrieved from http://madonnaezp.liblime.com/login?url=http://search.proquest.com.madonnaezp.liblime.com/docview/61922041?accountid=27927
Suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15 to 24 year olds, and the sixth leading cause for 5 to 14 year olds. Suicide accounts for twelve percent of the mortality in the adolescent and young adult group. Young males are more common than young woman suicides. These are only children who followed through with the suicide. For every successful suicide there are fifty to one hundred adolescent suicide attempts. In other words, more than five percent of all teenagers tried to commit suicide, and the number is still rising. It is scary to think that four percent of high school students have made a suicide attempt within the previous twelve months. In a small safe town like Avon, in the Avon High School where you and I practically live, you can see the faces of 22 students that have tried to commit suicide. That is enough to fill a classroom.
People who commit suicide tend to have the same feeling - that there is no other escape from their problems but to die (Rosin). Suicide, especially in a young person, can cause hopelessness within their community. Cluster suicides are uncommon, but teenagers are even more susceptible to rash decisions that cause permanent damage. After hearing of a classmate ending their life, suicide becomes an option that they may not have had before. These clusters can be devastating, and show the lasting effect of depression within groups of adolescents (Rosin). The younger the child is, the more likely that their symptoms will be ignored. Children are seen as unpredictable, and teens are expected to behave irrationally. Kids showing signs of depression are often pushed aside; no one wants to admit that their grade school aged kids could have a serious mental illness. Without proper treatment, these kids could grow up to have full fledged depression and anxiety. Children showing signs of restlessness, irritability, and insecurity are at risk, but these symptoms have to be carefully monitored. Some kids do not have depression, but rather a learning disability causing the same sort of frustration, and some have both (Paul). Not all adolescents with depression will have suicidal tendencies, and the younger they are, the less likely it is, Luckily, there is still much that can be done
In 1996, suicide was the second-leading cause of death among college students, the third-leading cause of death among those aged 15 to 24 years, and the fourth- leading cause of death among those aged 10 to 14 years.