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NiklausSchoedel
Ms.Clarito
EvanstonHighSchool/WesternWyomingCommunityCollege
English1020:EnglishCompositionII
Apr26,2022
WhyisTeenSuicidesoCommon?
Inthetenyearsbetween2007and2017,suicidedeathsamongpeoplebetweentheages offifteenthroughtwenty-fourhaveincreasedbyastunningfifty-sixpercent(source).Inan articlefromTheNewYorker,Nast(2020)says, “Itisextremelydifficulttogeneralizeabout youthsuicide,becausethedataaresomuchsparserandmorefragmentarythanforadultmental
Aboyiswalkingalonedownthestreet,silenttearsrolldownhisfaceandsplatteronthe asphalt.Heseestheheadlightscomingathim,butcannothearthesoundoftheblaringhorn, tellinghimtogetoutoftheway.Hehearsnothingbuthisthoughts-then,nothingatall.Whilein thiscasetheboyisfictional,therearemanyscenarioswheretheboycanbeanyonewhomakes thesameorsimilardecisionsthatresultintheendingoftheirownlives.Suicideamong teenagersisatragicissuethateffectsmorepeoplethanwecanthinkof.But,therehastobea waytoendthisproblem,ortoatleasthelp.AccordingtoCurtin(2020),“Arecentreportfrom theNationalCenterforHealthStatisticsfoundthatthesuicidedeathrateamongpersonsaged 10–24increased56%from2007through2017”(para.4) Becauseoftheconstantstressesand pressuresplacedonteens,suicideinthatgroupisincreasing,buttheredoesn’tseemtobeany signofchangestryingtobemade.Societyandthepeopleinpowerneedtoreachoutandhelpby settingupprogramsandsupportforchildrenandteenagersandinstitutingmorementalhealth educationforparents,teachers,andteenagers.
WhyisTeenSuicidesoCommon?
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Thepersonwhocommittedsuicideisnevertheonlyvictim.Teensuicidesaffectfamilies, friends,coworkers,andotherpeoplewhomayhaveknownthedeceased,evenifjustbarely.As saidbySandler,(2018)“thepeopleimpactedmostdramaticallyarethoseclosesttotheperson whodied:family,friends,co-workers,classmates…thepeoplewhointeractedregularlywiththe individualwhoendedtheirlifewillmissthephysicalpresenceofthatpersonandtypicallyfeel thelossmostintimately”(para.4).Aspreviouslymentioned,eventhosewhobarelyknew,or didn’tknowthevictimcanbeindirectlyaffectedbytheirdeath.Inasmallarticlefrom Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide,(2017)“Asuicidecanhave animpactevenifyoudidnotknowthe person. Itmaybethatyousomehowbecameinvolvedinwhathappened(e.g.youfoundthe body)orthattheywerepartofyourcommunity…itisimportanttorecognisethatthesuicideof
3 illness”(para.12).Noonereallyknowsforsurewhytherehasbeenagreatincrease,butthere aremanyguessesoutthere.It’salsohardtotrytopinpointaspecificcauseorsetofspecific causesbecause,aswithanysuicide,peopleactontheirownemotionsandthewaysthatpeople’s emotionsareinfluencedvariesfrompersontoperson.Ontopofnotbeingabletofinda definitivecause,andthesenseofhelplessnessthatariseswiththat,thereisalsotheundeniable factthatsuicideis,asstatedbyStone,(2017)“...apowerfulpresenceinoursemi-consciousness. Itisasocietalblackcloud…webackawayfromsomeonewhosementalhealthisindoubt…it makesusfeelhelpless,unsure,afraid”(para.12).Peopletendtobackofffromsomeonewhose “mentalhealthisindoubt”becausethereisastigmaaroundmentalhealth.Ifsomeoneis struggling,thenpeopledon’twanttoaddressitbecausethatlooksbad.Right?People don’t wantthemselvestostartfeelingthesamewaysotheyjustletpeoplesufferinsilence.Human beingsare soafraidofbeingheldaccountableforfailingtostopthemthattheydon’teventryto help.Maybe,asanimals,peopleareafraidofwhattheydon’tunderstand.
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astrangercanstillhaveaprofoundeffectonyou-itmaynotcauseyoutogrieveinthesameway asfamilyandfriendsbutitcantriggerstrongemotionsandquestions”(para.28).Obviously,the familyofthevictimisgoingtobethemostaffected.Mothershavelosttheirbabies,withwhom theyhadbeenveryclose,whotheycherished.Fathersweepandblamethemselvesforhowthey mighthavedonethingsandtreatedtheirchildrendifferently.Siblingsnowhaveapieceof themselvesviciouslyrippedaway,nevertobereplaced.Asomberandsometimesawkwardaura remainsinthefamilyforaverylongtime,sometimesforever.Thatsameaurasurrounds belongingsofthedeparted;thebedstheylaidin,toystheyusedtoplaywith,clothingleftonthe hangers;allofitlefttogatherdustandremindthefamilyoftheirtremendousloss.Friendsnow gathertogether-minusone.Aseatatthelunchtablesitsempty,wheretherewasoncelaughter andjoy,isnowquietandsad.Insteadofthinkingofjokesorcomebackstosaytoeachother,the groupnowthinksonlyoftheirlostfriend.Whilesuicideofanykindclaimsvictimsofanysexual orientation,itisboyswhoaremostlikelytobesucessfulwiththeirattempts.Inafactsheetfrom theUniversityofRochesterMedicalCenter,Watsonetal.(2019) says,“Boysare4timesmore likelytodiefromsuicidethangirls.Girlsaremorelikelytotrytocommitsuicidethanboys” (para.1).Surelywiththeincreasingnumbers,mentalhealthexpertsanddoctorshavebeenableto findacauseforallthis,right?Unfortunately,thisisnotthecase.Evenasmoreandmoreofthe nation’syouthdie,nobodyseemstobeabletogiveareasonwhy.Whyaretheseteens;someof whomarejustbarelythat,takingtheirownlives,completelyerasingalife,anddeeplyscarring thosearoundthem?Whilethere’snotonemainreasontobefound,therearevariousdifferent andindividualreasonswhypeoplemightchoosethisroute.It’snosecretthatmanypeopleacross thecountry,andeventheworldstrugglewithmentalhealthissues.Thingssuchasstress,
depression,andanxietycanallgrowandgrowuntileventuallythevictimcantakeitnomore; leavingthemwithwhattheyseeastheironlyoption:suicide.Inaninformativefactsheetfrom BostonChildren’sHospital(2022),thedoctorssay,“…forsomeonewithmentalhealthconcerns suchasdepressionoranxiety,stressfullifeeventsorprolongedstresscancausedeepfeelingsof distressandhopelessnessandincreasetheriskofsuicide”(sect.2).Manypeoplearefamiliar withthechallengesofbeingateenager.Thingslikeincreasedhormonelevels,popularity,self image,school,work,friends,whattodoaftergraduation,etc.Thesecanallbemajorcausesof stressforboysandgirlsinmiddleandhighschool.Inadditiontothesestresses,lifejusthappens, sotospeak;thingsaren’talwaysgreatathome,familymembersmaygetsickorinjuredandpass away,moneygetstightwhilerentandbillsstillneedtobepaid.Lifeisdifferentforeveryone, butasWatsonetal(2019)saysinthefactsheetaforementioned,“Theteenyearsareastressful time.Theyarefilledwithmajorchanges.Theseincludebodychanges,changesinthoughts,and changesinfeelings.Strongfeelingsofstress,confusion,fear,anddoubtmayaffectateen’s problem-solvinganddecision-making.Theymayalsofeelapressuretosucceed”. Thereisnodenyingthefactthatanyoneisatriskofsuicide;itdoesn’tmatterifthe potentialvitctimisrichorpoor,skinnyorbigger,smartorstrugglinginschool;anyonefitting anyofthosedescriptionshasabreakingpoint,whethertheyreachthatpointcanbeinfluenced bythosearoundthem.Anyonemaybeatrisk,butanyonecanalsohelpreducethatrisk.Abitof textfromanarticleentitled, About Teen Suicide (For Parents) byCammarata(2017)says, “Thingsthatincreasetheriskofsuicideamongteens include…lackofasupportnetwork,poor relationshipswithparentsorpeers,andfeelingsofsocialisolation”(sect.3).Whenteensare strugglingmentally,it’snotalwayseasyforthemtoreachoutandtalkabouthowtheyfeel.
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Holdingongetsevenharderwhentheyfeelthattheyhavenowheretogoandnoonetoturntoin confidence.Given
Acommonyetunderstandablethingregardingsuicidesissecrecy.Suicides,from beginningtoendareriddledwithsecrets.Victimshidethoughtsandfeelingfromthosewho couldhelp,peoplewhoareentrustedwiththevictim’ssecretsareoftensworntosecrecy themselves,andfearthatiftheytellanyoneit’lljustfurtherpromptthepersonintosuicide.But, inthistimewherethere’sagreatincreaseintragedy,issecrecydoinganyoneanygood?Brody, (2019)saysinanarticlefromtheNewYorkTimes,“Hadanyotherfatalorpotentiallyfatal conditionleapfroggedlikethis,theresultingalarmwouldsurelyhaveinitiatedafranticsearch foritscauseandcure.Buttoooftensuicideattemptsanddeathsbysuicide,especiallyamongthe young,becomefamilysecretsthatarenotinvestigatedanddealtwithinwaysthatmightprotect
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alltheinformationthat’sbeenprovidedabove,andtakingevenapassingglimpse intothenewsandtheworldaroundus,it’snothardtoseethatnotmuchattentionisbeinggiven tothisissueasawholeortotheteenswhoareaffectedbyit.Warningsignsforsomeoneonthe vergeofcommittingsuicidedoexist,andwhenweknowwhattolookforthey’renothardto identify.Theissuehowever,isthatthereisastigmathatexistsinregardstomentalhealth. Peopleoftenhaveahardtimeacceptingthatthesefeelingsarerealandactuallyaffectthelifeof thepersonexperiencingthem;thisisespeciallytruewiththeparentsandotherfamilymembers oftroubledteens.AsstatedbyMcCarthy,(2019)“Parentsmaymisssignsofdepressionintheir teens,orquitegenuinelymisinterpretthemorattributethemtosomethinginnocent;afterall,it’s naturaltowanttobelievethatyourchildisfine,ratherthanthinkingthattheymightbesuicidal. Andgivenhowmuchdramacanbeintrinsictothelifeofateen,it’sunderstandablethatparents couldmisinterpretstatementsaboutdeathordyingas,well,justteendrama”(para.4).
7 othersfromasimilarfate”(para.5).Thelossofanyoneclosetousisalreadyverysadandleaves apitinside,butwhenthepersonlostisyourownfleshandblood,andtheirdeathwasself inflicted;thepainisunimaginable,foranyonewhohasn’texperiencedit,andwordsarealmost meaninglesswhentryingtoexplainitforthosewhohave.It’snowonderthen,thatfamilieslike tokeepitprivate.Inthissecrecyhowever,theprocessoffindinga“cure”andpreventingothers frommakingthesamechoicesisgreatlyhindered;wecan’tunderstandwhatwedon’tknow about.
Iftheproblemofteensuicideisnotfixed,andnosolutionsarefound,weareputtingthe livesofouryouthatriskandpotentiallymakingtheissuegrowworse.Alllivesarespecialand valuable;thelossoftheselivesimpactseveryoneinpositiveandnegativeways.Whensomeone takestheirownlife,thelossisveryfelt-likehasbeentalkedaboutpreviously.Thepeoplewho hadarelationshipwiththedeceasedmaystarttoexperiencesimilarfeelingstowhatledthe
Thereare,ofcourse,suicidalindividualswhosewarningsignsareveryobvious,but manytimesit’sthelittlethingsthatsaythemost.Dramaticchangesinmood,noteatingasmuch ormorethanusual,talkingslower,allofthesethingsaresubtleandmightnotalwaysbesigns, butit’sbettertoerronthesideofcaution.Inanarticlefrom HelpGuide.org,Smithetal,(2019) says“Ifyouspotthewarningsignsofsuicideinsomeoneyoucareabout,youmaywonderifit’s agoodideatosayanything.Whatifyou’rewrong?Whatifthepersongetsangry?Insuch situations,it’snaturaltofeeluncomfortableorafraid.Butanyonewhotalksaboutsuicideor showsotherwarningsignsneedsimmediatehelp—thesoonerthebetter.”(para.7).Itcanbe challengingandscarytotalktosomeoneaboutwhatyounotice;whatifthey’rereallynot suicidal? But,sometimesthatconversation,nomatterhowdifficultitmaybe,canliterallybethe differencebetweenlifeanddeath.
Evenpeoplewhohavenotlostanyonetosuicideorknownpeoplewhohaveare indirectlyaffectedbyit.InarelativelysmallfactsheetfromtheCentersforDiseaseControland Prevention,“Theeconomictollofsuicideonsocietyisimmense. Suicidesandsuicideattempts costthenationalmost$70billionperyearinlifetimemedicalandwork-losscostsalone”(para. 5)Itmayseeminappropriatetospeakofmonetaryvaluewhendiscussinganissuesuchas suicide,wherefarmoreisatrisk.However,thismaybetheonlywaytogetsomepeopleto listen.Intheyear2020,therewere45,799suicidescomitted.Ifwetakeseventy-billiondollars anddividethatamong45,799people,thefinancialcostperperson(assumingallcostsarethe same)is 1,528,417.65.Overone-and-a-halfbilliondollarsperperson.Thatnumbermayseem likealot,anditis,butthevalueofalifeisfargreaterthananymoneyanyonecanshellout.
persontotakethistragicaction.Feelingsofguilt,sadness,andangercanallleadtodepressions, selfharm,andsuicidalthoughtsandactions.InapublichealthreportfromtheNationalLibrary ofMedicine,Cereletal(2016)says“Suicidehasbeenidentifiedasamajorpublichealthissue. Exposuretosuicide(i.e.,knowingsomeonewhodiedbysuicide)isfarmorepervasivethan previouslyconsideredandmightbeassociatedwithsignificantadverseoutcomes”(para.1).
Negativeeffectsoflosstosuicideareinevitable,thoughthesenegativeeffectsareprominent, somepeoplewhohaveexperiencedtheseareabletoturnthatwhichisglumintoresourcesof hopeforotherpeoplewhomaybeexperiencingmentalhardshipsintheirownlives.Also,many peopleareabletochangehowtheyliveforthebetteraftertheysufferaloss.Amother recountingherstory,Woodland,(2019)says“Thelosschangedmylife’strajectory.Iamnotthe samepersonIwasbeforeRyandied.Thereisadistinctbeforeandafter.”
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Sincethisisbeinglookedatasafinancialburdenhowever,itseemsmorethanappropriatetosay
thatlotsofthismoneycouldbeputtowardsotherthingsifthenumberofsuicidesdecreases.So howdoesthenationgetthere?
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Anyonecantakeactiontohelppreventsuicides.Ashasbeendiscussedpreviously, suicideisamajorissuewithmanyvictimsandatgreatcosttomanypeople;soitmakessenseto wanttostopthisissue,butmanypeopledon’tknowhow.What’stheappropriatewaytogoabout helpingsomeone?HowdoIevenknowifsomeoneneedshelp?Thesearequestionsthatmany peoplewhofindthemselvesinpotentialat-riskscenariosmightaskthemselves.Inanarticle fromHelpGuide.org,Smithetal,says“Suicidepreventionstartswithrecognizingthewarning signsandtakingthemseriously.Ifyouthinkafriendorfamilymemberisconsideringsuicide, youmightbeafraidtobringupthesubject.Buttalkingopenlyaboutsuicidalthoughtsand feelingscansavealife”(para.1)There’susuallygoingtobesomeamountofhesitationwhen confrontingsomeonewhomaybeatriskofcommittingsuicide,butit’simportantthatnomatter howsmallthesignsmaybe,toreachouttothem.Ifsomeoneisthinkingaboutcommitting suicide,chancesarethey’refeelinglikethere’snobodyforthemtoreachouttoornobodythat caresaboutthem.Byreachingouttothesepeople,andofferingthemsupportandhelp,anew senseofhopecanstarttobuildwithinthem,andalifecanbesaved.“Ultimately,weallneedto becompassionateandonalert.Anopenlineofcommunication,intentionalinteractionthat includeslistening,accessibilityandsympathizingaretheprevalentneedforallindividuals suffering.”Thisquote,takenfromHelpGuide.org,andwrittenbyLowder,(2018),isagreatset ofbasicprinciplesthatcanmeanthedifferencebetweenlifeanddeath.Many,manypeopleare instatesofmentalandemotionalsuffering,andtheydesperatelyneedsomeone;anyonetoshow thattheycare.Compassionisahugelyimportantemotionforpeopletoshowwhendealingwith
Sometimesitmayfeellikeit’snotourplacetostepinandinterferewithpeople’slivesandthe choicesthattheymake;afterall,someoneelsecandoit,right?Anyonecanstepupandtake initiative,evenifthepersonintroubleisn’tclosetous,wecangetclosertothem.Itissaidinan informationalarticlefromSAVE(2022),“Friendshipsincreaseopportunitiesforsocialcontact anddecreasesocialisolation—aknownriskfactorfordepressionandsuicidalthoughts.Friends makeuslaugh,listentoourproblems,andarethereforuswhenweneedthem.Havingevenone closefriendcanmakeusfeellovedandimportant,andthatfeelingcanbelifesaving”(para.2). Oneofthebestwaystohelpothersistosimplybeafriend.Mostpeoplearetaughtfromayoung
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Asdiscussedpreviously,reachingoutandofferingsupportaregreatwaystohelp. AnotherquotationfromtheSuicidePreventionLifeline,(2019),says“Evidenceshowsthat providingsupportservices,talkingaboutsuicide,reducingaccesstomeansofself-harm,and followingupwithlovedonesarejustsomeoftheactionswecanalltaketohelpothers.”
peopleinlife-threateningsituations.Showingthatthepersontheyreachedouttodoescareand wantstohelpincludesjustafewthings.Bybeinganopenlineofcommunication,makingtime forthoseinneed,andbeinganactive,andsympatheticlistener,anewlifecanbecreatedforthe personindistress.AquotefromtheNationalSuicidePreventionLifeline,(2019),says“Suicide isnotinevitableforanyone.Bystartingtheconversation,providingsupport,anddirectinghelp tothosewhoneedit,wecanpreventsuicidesandsavelives.”Anyoneonearoundus,whether closeornot,canbeatriskoftakinganultimateandirreversibleactiontoendagreat,yet temporaryamountofpainandsuffering.Asthequoteabovesays,startingthatdifficult conversation,offeringourfullsupport,andgettingmorehelpandresourcesforthoseinneedis tremendouslyfundamentalinsavinglives.
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agethatit’simportanttobeafriend,oratleastfriendlywithotherswhomaynothavesomany friends.Astimeprogresseshowever,allthoselessonstaught,thebooksreadtous,andtheidea ofbeingafriendtootherswhoaren’talreadyinourfriendgroupsgetforgottenorignored,and peopleareleftbythemselves.Tosome,itmayseemchildishtotryandbefriendswithpeople; afterall,we’readultsnow,andadultsdon’thavetimeformessingaroundandhavingfriends. Thatsimplyisn’ttrue.Therearemanythingsthatindicateafriendshipthataren’tplayingaround anddoingchildishandimmaturethingstogether,ortalkingaboutlatestcrusheslikeeveryonedid askids.Beingafriendmeansbeingthere.Ifyourfriendneedsyou,thenyou’rethereassoonas possibletohelpthemout.TheAmericanPsychiatricAssociation,(2016),says“Ifsomeone indicatestheyareconsideringsuicide,listenandtaketheirconcernsseriously.Don'tbeafraidto askquestionsabouttheirplans.Letthemknowyoucare,andtheyarenotalone.Encouragethem toseekhelpimmediatelyfromaknowledgeableprofessional.Don'tleavethemalone.”Bethere. It’snotalwayseasytomaketime,evenforthepeoplewhoaremostimportanttous;everyone hastheirownlivesthatthey’reliving.Everyonehastheirownstressesandproblems,andmost everyonewishestheyhadsomeonetohelpthemout.There’salsothismentalitythatifsomeone isinneedthenit’snotnecessaryforusourselvestoofferhelp,becausesomebodyelsewill. Waitingforsomebodyelseendslivesandcannotcontinuetobeingrainedinsocieties’minds. Itmayseemobnoxioustocontinuetalkingaboutthis,butresearchshowsthatreaching outandofferingaidcanmakeallthedifference.Really,themainwaystocurbthesuicide epidemicisforeachandeverypersontobeanactivist.Everyoneneedstobeapersonforpeople toturnto.Inadditiontothis,itisalsofundamentaltoincreasementalhealtheducationinschools andforparentsandotheradultswhoareclosetothepeoplewhohavesuicidalthoughtsand ideations.TheNationalSuicidePreventionLifeline,(2019),said“…providingsupportservices,
talkingaboutsuicide,reducingaccesstomeansofself-harm,andfollowingupwithlovedones arejustsomeoftheactionswecanalltaketohelpothers.”Sometimes,whensomeonetriesto somebodywhoisstrugglingwiththeirmentalhealth,otherissuesasidefromsuicidearise.Many ofthepeoplewhocommitsuicidehavepasthistoriesofself-harm.Thisharmingcantakethe formsof;substanceabuse,cutting,burning,orself-starvationorgluttony.Selfharmisperformed inmanywaysandbymanypeoplejustsotheycanfeelsomething.Lifehasbeensoabusiveand painfulthatnow,they’vebecomenumbandlongtosomething-anything,evenifit’spain.When thesignsofselfharmareseen,itcancausepanicinusandleadustojumptoconclusionsthat maynotbetrue.AnarticlebyAFSP,(2020),says“Askdirectlyaboutsuicide,calmlyand withoutjudgement.Showunderstandingandtaketheirconcernsseriously.Letthemknowtheir lifematterstoyou.Thatoneconversationcouldsavealife.”Withanysensitivematter,itis importanttolistenverycarefullyandseriouslytowhattheotherpersonissayingwhenthey explainhowtheyfeelandwhatthey’regoingthrough.Inevitably,questionswillarise,andwhen theydo,itisimportanttoaskdirectlyandcalmly.Alotoftimes,peoplewhoarestrugglingdon’t hideeverythingcompletelyfromeveryone.Manypeoplehavetherapysessionsthattheyattend todiscusstheirlifeandwhat’soccurringtomakethemfeelgoodorbad.Ifthepersoninneedhas atherapistthattheycantalkto,offertohelpgetthemthereorcallthem.Afactsheettitled, What You Can Do to Prevent Suicide: Warning Signs, Risk Factors, Support in a Crisis says,“Calmly asksimpleanddirectquestions,like“CanIhelpyoucallyourpsychiatrist?”Sometimespeople strugglefar,farworsethantheyeverhavebefore.Itcangettothepointwherethey’rea completeemotionalwreckandtrydesperatelytomakeanescapefromtheirsuffering.Theymay talkabouttheirplansforsuicideandthefirstreactionmanypeoplemayhaveistogetfreaked
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13 out,butthisisentirelyinappropriate.Whenapersonisindireneed,itisabsolutelynecessaryto getthemthehelptheyneed,asfastaspossible.
Thereasonslistedabovearehugelyimportantinendingthetragic,heartbreakingissue thatisteensuicide. Smithetal,(2019)says “Butanyonewhotalksaboutsuicideorshowsother warningsignsneedsimmediatehelp—thesoonerthebetter.”Byofferinghelp,manylivescan potentiallybesavedandadditionally,manyotherlivescanbesavedindirectlybypreventing families,friends,andpeersfromfeelingthetremendousheartacheandpaincausedbyasuicidal loss.Theeventsandstressesthatcanleadsomeonetotaketheirownlifehavebeentalkedabout greatlythroughoutthispaper AsCammarata,(2017),says“...lackofasupportnetwork,poor relationshipswithparentsorpeers,andfeelingsofsocialisolation”-canallleadtopeople committingsuicide.Sotofixthat,bridgesneedtobebuiltbetweenpotentialvictimsandthe peoplewhocanofferassistanceandresourcesforthosepeopleindistress;indoingso,people willhavemoreoutletstotalkabouttheirproblemsandfeelings,andtoreceivethehelpthey need,whetheritbetherapy,medications,orinstitutionalization.Parentsneedtobeeducatedon howtotalktotheirchildrenandteensabouttheiremotionsandwhatevermightbegoingonin theirlivesinawaythatmakesthechildrenfeelcomfortableandliketheyaren’tbeingjudgedor goingtobepunishedforhowtheyarefeeling.AsstatedbyMcCarthy,(2019)“…it’snaturalto wanttobelievethatyourchildisfine,ratherthanthinkingthattheymightbesuicidal.Andgiven howmuchdramacanbeintrinsictothelifeofateen,it’sunderstandablethatparentscould misinterpretstatementsaboutdeathordyingas,well,justteendrama”.Parentsandotherfamily membersneedtobeeducatedinordertobreakthestigmathatmentalhealthisexcusableasjust partofgrowingupor“teendrama”.Obviouslyifhowtheyfeelisjustshotdownandsaidtobe
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themjustbeingdramatic,thenteensaren’tgoingtowanttoreachoutforhelpbecausethey’ll justreceivealectureaboutbeingdramaticandhowtheirsituationisn’tthatbad.But,ifthiscan bechangedtothepointwhereteenagerswillgetactualadviceandhelpfromtheirparents, potentiallylessandlesspeoplewillchoosetoresorttosuicidetoendtheirproblems.
Becauseoftheconstantstressesandpressuresplacedonteens,andthelackofgood, usablehelp,suicideinthatgroupisincreasing.Therearemany,manyreasonsforwhyteenagers areendingtheirownlives,andifthepeopleinpowerandsocietyingeneral breakthestigmaof silencearoundsuicidesandpoormentalhealth,thesereasonscanbegreaterunderstoodand moreefficientmethodsofhelpandpreventioncanbeprovided.Greateroutreachandresources needtobemadereadilyavailableforanyoneinthosecircumstancesaswell.Mentalhealth education,withhowitisrightnow,isnotgoodenough;itneedstobetaughtmorein-depthand toabroaderaudiencethroughoutthenation.Onlythroughthesechangescantheworldbe changed.Onlythroughthesechangescananew,beautifulsenseofhopebegiventothosewho havenone.Onlythroughthesechanges,cantheissueofteensuicidebeeradicated.
Alvord,M.,Kaslow,N.,Owens,S.,&Gurwitch,R.(2008).TeenSuicideIsPreventable. Https://Www.apa.org.https://www.apa.org/research/action/suicide
AFSP.(2020,January5). When someone is at risk.AmericanFoundationforSuicide Prevention.https://afsp.org/what-to-do-when-someone-is-at-risk
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AmericanAcademyofChildandAdolescentPsychiatry.(2018,June). Suicide in children and teens. Americanuicide-010.aspxhttps://wwwAacap.org..aacap.org/aacap/families_and_youth/facts_for_families/fff-guide/teen-sPsychiatricAssociation.(2016). Suicide Prevention (R.Prekh,Ed.). Psychiatry.org.https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/suicide-prevention
Brody,J.E.(2019,December2).TheCrisisinYouthSuicide. The New York Times. Cammarata,https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/02/well/mind/the-crisis-in-youth-suicide.htmlC.(2017). About Teen Suicide (for Parents) - KidsHealth.Kidshealth.org. Centershttps://kidshealth.org/en/parents/suicide.htmlforDiseaseControlandPrevention,OfficeoftheAssociateDirectorforPolicyand Strategy.(2021,August17). Suicide Prevention | Health Topics | Polaris | ADP for Policy and Strategy.Www.cdc.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/policy/polaris/healthtopics/suicide/index.html
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NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline.(2019). We Can All Prevent Suicide. Nikam,https://suicideprSuicidepreventionlifeline.org.eventionlifeline.org/how-we-can-all-prevent-suicide/Y.L.U.,Choudhary,S.E.,Kharbe,M.,&Gochade,M.(2021).Depressionin Teens:AOverview. International Journal of Recent Advances in Multidisciplinary Topics, 2(8),46–47.https://www.journals.resaim.com/ijramt/article/view/1233/1181 Sandler,E.P.(2018). The Ripple Effect of Suicide | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness. idehttps://wwwNami.org..nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/September-2018/The-Ripple-Effect-of-Suic SAVE.(2022). Get Connected.SAVE.https://save.org/getconnected/
Stone,J.(2017,January11). “When it comes to suicide, our ignorance and denial are killing us.” Mamamia.https://www.mamamia.com.au/how-to-talk-about-suicide/ Suicide and Teens | Boston Children’s Hospital.(n.d.).Www.childrenshospital.org. https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions/suicide-and-teens
Smith,M.,Robinson,L.,&Segal,R.(2019,February13). Suicide Prevention. https://wwwHelpGuide.org..helpguide.org/articles/suicide-prevention/suicide-prevention.htm
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