Youth Suicide

From WikiParenting

With rates of youth suicide (ages 15-24) tripling over the past 30 years, it has become an issue of increasing concern for both parents and society as a whole. Suicide is often a cry for help and considered as the last resort for youth experiencing life problems that are dismissed or ignored by parents, teachers, and others close to them. Suicide occurs in both sexes, across all socioeconomic, racial and ethnic groups, in all regions and environments, and in all religious groupings.

[edit] Warning Signs

While not all people will show signs that something is wrong, it is extremely common for those planning suicide to do or say things that allude to what is to come. It is believed that 80% of people that commit suicide have told someone that they’re thinking of hurting themselves.

Some things to look out for include:

• Changes in sleeping habits, eating habits, weight, interests, activity levels, academic results, and relationships with friends
• Depression or hyperactivity
• Comments such as “well you won’t have to worry about me anymore”, “life doesn’t matter”, or questions about what it may be like to die
• Giving away possessions, particularly prized possessions like electronics, pets or clothing
• Sudden truancy from school or lack of work ethic
• Openly talking about suicide
• Discussing an actual suicide plan

It is important to note that there are often clusters of teenage suicides. When stories of youth suicides are reported in the media or someone they know has committed suicide, others are more likely to copy.

[edit] Some Statistics

According to an article by James Harrison, Jerry Moller, and Stan Bordeaux of Flinders University in Australia:

• Suicide accounts for the deaths of 25% of males and 17% of females aged between 15 and 24
• Suicide is second only to motor vehicle accidents as the main cause of death in this age group. Unlike motor vehicle related deaths which have steadily decreased since 1970, suicide rates have continued to increase. This is more marked in young males than females.
• For every youth that commits suicide, 10 are admitted to hospital having attempted to do so.
• 1 in 5 attempts for males and 1 in 34 for females are fatal. The difference in these statistics is primarily a result of the more lethal methods used by males.
• The rate of male suicide is 5.6 times that of female suicide. Male suicide is more common in virtually every country apart from China.
• Gay teens are 300 percent more likely to commit suicide