Adolescent Suicide is a Serious Problem

Over the past two decades, suicide has become less common among middle age and elderly people, but has become more common in the young. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among college students and the third leading cause among 15 - 24 year olds. 90 percent of adolescent suicide victims had at least one diagnosable, active psychiatric illness at the time of death, most often depression, and yet only 15 percent were in treatment at the time of death. Why are these teens not receiving the help they so badly need? There are many factors involved, but I believe the most common reason is that often parents or guardians do not know that their teen is depressed or suicidal.

When holding depression screenings for adolescents, I learned that many did not want to tell their parents that they were depressed for several reasons. Whether valid or not, they feared their parents would be angry with them, believing it to be an insult to their parenting, or simply not believe them. And it is true that many symptoms of adolescent depression may not appear linked at all. Anger and aggression, both common signals of teen depression, may be viewed as just willful misbehavior. Anger is a second emotion, brought out to conceal the more vulnerable emotions of sadness and fear; while aggressive behavior must always be addressed, we must also consider that the teen may be depressed or anxious. Adolescents are sometimes reticent to tell their parents because of a perceived financial burden. They may feel ashamed or afraid of being branded with a psychiatric diagnosis. And finally, because adolescence is a time of fierce struggle for independence, some teenagers are afraid to put themselves in the vulnerable position of depending on their parents for help. As parents and adults who care about young people, one of our tasks is to believe them when they trust us enough to say they have a problem and not brush it off as "adolescent hormones." Our greatest task, however, is to recognize the warning signs of suicidal intent in adolescents. Talking about committing suicide and/or having previously attempted suicide. Having difficulty eating or sleeping, drastic changes in behavior Having trouble with school work and truancy Withdrawing from friends and social activities and losing interest in things previously enjoyed and in personal appearance Taking unnecessary risks, increasing use of alcohol or drugs Giving away important possessions Experiencing unexplained peacefulness after a severe depression Having had one or more recent severe crises Being preoccupied with death and dying It can be awkward and scary knowing how to communicate with someone who you believe is considering suicide. Below are some tips for helping: Be direct. Talk openly and matter-of-factly about suicide. Talking about it does not increase the likelihood that it will happen. Pay attention. Listen carefully. Don't try to cheer the person up or in any way minimize the depth of his/her feelings. Accept what the person says, without judging. Don't say, "You shouldn't feel that way." Feelings are not right or wrong, they just are. Act calm even if you feel anxious. If you act shocked or agitated, the person may feel ashamed or embarrassed and quit talking to you. Assure him/her that many people go through times of depression and hopelessness, that you will be there for him/her, and that he/she is not alone. Seek help. Don't try to cope with this alone. If you feel the person is not listening to you, you may need to talk to someone who might be a greater influence. It is better to save a life than to worry about violating a confidence. Free emergency professional help is available 24 hours per day by calling Lifeline, a 24-hour crisis hotline, at 373-8240. By recognizing the symptoms of suicidal intent and by talking to the person in a direct but calm, nonjudgmental manner, it is possible to make a huge difference in the life of someone who is hurting. It is possible to alter the course and save a life.