Teenagers and Suicide

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Recommended: Causes and effects of teen-age depression

The third leading cause of death amongst teenagers: Suicide

Did you know that suicide is currently the third leading cause of death among teenagers in the United States? (4). In 1992, more teenagers and young adults died from suicide than those who died from stroke, cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, pneumonia, influenza and chronic lung disease combined (4).

Suicide is definitely a compelling problem amongst youth in the U.S today.

It is estimated that 300 to 400 teen suicides occur per year in Los Angeles County; which is equivalent to one teenager lost every day (1). Many concerned people ask, "What is going on?" and "Why is this happening?" Among many things, some suicidal youths experience family trouble, which leads them, to doubt their self-worth and make them feel unwanted, superfluous, and misunderstood. According to one study, 90 percent of suicidal teenagers believed their families did not understand them. Young people reported that when they tried to tell their parents about their feelings of unhappiness or failure, their mother and father denied or ignored their point of view (1). Suicide can be prevented; in fact, suicide prevention has saved over ten percent of teens who have tried to attempt suicide (1). In this paper I will prove that although, suicide is a serious epidemic amongst teens in the U.S., it can also be prevented.

"I'm depressed." You might say it casually to refer to sadness that engulfs you and then goes away. But depression is also a mental health illness that may require help from an experienced professional(1). Depression has been considered to be the leading cause of teen suicide in the 20th century, affecting approximately eight million teens in North America (2). Recen...

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While the above teen suicide facts are astounding, here are some positives about teen depression and suicide:

The number one cause of teen suicide is untreated depression.

Most suicidal teens respond positively to psychotherapy and medication.

Nearly 90 percent of depressed people benefit from medication.

Those contemplating suicide can be "talked out of it."

WWW Sources

1)Teen depression homepage, a rich resource on how to prevent teen suicide

http://www.teen-depression.info/

2)Teen depression homepage, a rich resource on causes of suicide.

http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Teenage_Suicide.htm

3)Teen depression homepage, a personal story on teen suicide

http://www.1-teenage-suicide.com/story.html

4)Teen depression homepage, facts about suicide

http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/mental_health/suicide.html

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