TEEN SUICIDE


I. Causes of Attempting Suicide
A. Depression
1. Untreated Depression
2. Self Esteem
B. Family
C. Drugs
II. Warning Signs and Symptoms of Attempting Suicide
A. Emotions
B. Actions
III. Prevention
A. Things needed
B. Actions
IV. Factors Contributing to Suicide in Teenagers
A. Illness
B. Social Structure and Work
V. Conclusion
A. Statistics
B. Myths proved wrong




Teen Suicide

Suicide is any kind of an act in which a person takes his or her own life. The number 1 cause of suicide in teens is untreated depression. ‘Other factors could be a persistent sad or empty mood. Some teens tend to feel pessimistic, guilty, irritable and anxious. Most have thoughts of suicide, involved in substance abuse, have panic attacks, or disturbances in eating or sleeping patterns.’ (High, pg.1) “Depression is the most common emotional problem in adolescence and the single greatest risk factor for teen suicide.” (Crook, pg. 29) The type of suicide may even depend on the type and severity of the untreated depression. ‘Some major events that could cause depression in teens are death of a family member or close friend, extreme financial setback, a friend moving away, failing academically or something humiliating happening.’ (High, pg.1) “One of the most dangerous times in a teen’s life is when is when he or she has suffered a loss or humiliation of some kind: loss of self-esteem by doing poorly on a test, the breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend or the trauma of a parents’ divorce.” (APA Joint Commission on Public Affairs and the Division of Public Affairs, pg. 1)
Relatively low self-esteem is a risk factor for suicide, suicide attempts and depression, for teenage pregnancy, and for victimization by others. ‘Adolescence is much harder for girls. Boys can learn certain sports or mechanical skills and build confidence through those activities whereas it’s harder for girls.’ (Chiles, pg. 36)
‘Teens who feel unloved, who don’t feel love for others, and who don’t feel like they belong within their families, their schools or their neighborhoods, don’t ride out their problems easily. School failures, problems at home, and arguments with friends add to their feelings of self hatred, worthlessness and loneliness.’ (Nelson & Galas, pg. 14) Teens think differently than adults do and so their ways of communication and expressing themselves may be vary. “For teens everything is taken very personally, teens are hypersensitive to rejection and many interfere with divorce. A girl particularly struggles with her father leaving her mother for another woman because she feels as if the father is rejecting her personally.” (Crook, pg. 30) Some experts think that the teenage suicide wave as a way to ‘get back at parents. ‘Retaliatory abandonment and self-punishment are common motivating factors in teen suicide. When a teen feels the pain of chronic emotional abandonment by parents, suicide may be the only way the teen knows to convey his or her feelings of pain. Although self-inflicted, the aggression is aimed at the parents.’ (Cox & Arrington, pg. 30) Rebellious attitudes in teens may be the start of suicidal thoughts or tendencies. “It’s often to differentiate between what is normal teen rebellion for the sake of separation and what is over the line. When adolescents separate from the family unit; they need to experiment with many styles of dress and manners in order to discover what suits them best.” (Williams, pg. 17) Times have changed since the simpler, straight forward teenagers of the past. “Today’s youth are already accustomed to family breakdown, family and community violence, economic instability, stress, drugs- they are all too familiar. Whereas, historically the family, the church and the community frequently provided a safety net for children, this is no longer the case.” (Slaby & Garfinkel, pg. 8)
Drugs and substance abuse can drastically further suicidal actions and thoughts. “Many teens who feel they have nowhere to turn will “medicate” their pain with drugs or alcohol. Or they will express their rage and frustration in acts of violence or destruction.” (APA Joint Commission on Public Affairs and the Division of Public Affairs, pg. 1) “Like drug abuse and bulimia, a suicide attempt seems to relieve that tension and anxiety. Often, adolescents who make a suicide attempt that they feel better afterwards.” (Chiles, pg. 35)
There are certain warning signs or symptoms to watch for in order to understand teenage suicide and prevent it from happening. “Danger signs of suicide would be talking about suicide in a joking or serious manner, preoccupation with death, isolation from friends or family, disinterest in once loved subjects or suddenly happier or calmer attitudes.” (High, pg. 1) Suicidal gestures are very serious and need to be dealt with immediately. “A suicidal gesture is a deliberate act of self-injury, without the intention of dying. Gestures may include ingesting a non-lethal number of pills, self-injury such as minor wrist slashing or even waving a firearm around a friend.” (Slaby & Garfinkel, pg. 7) “There are four especially serious signals: 1) Threats or talk of killing themselves. 2) Preparing for death evidenced by giving away prized possessions, making a will, gathering pills, and saying goodbye. 3) Talking as if there is no hope, even in the future. 4) Acting or talking as if no one cares.” (Williams, pg. 15) “Warning signs: A change in friends and time spent with friends, sudden change in behavior, dramatic change in appetite, sleeping difficulties [or sleeping too long], problems at school, or inability to concentrate or sit still.” (Williams, pg. 14)
Experts worldwide have different methods and teachings to prevent suicide from occurring in teens. “One interested, caring friend can keep someone from committing suicide because that friend helps satisfy some part of everyone’s basic need for love.” Nelson & Galas continue with their theory of the essential principle of love. “Most people require two basic things to feel positive about their lives: 1) They need love. 2) They need to feel good about themselves. Most behaviors are influenced by two basic principles: 1) People behave according to how they feel about themselves. 2) Every behavior has a purpose; people’s actions don’t just ‘happen’.” (Nelson & Galas, pg. 13 and 15) Sometimes, there are other views about preventing these tragedies. “Options like reaching out and seeking help are rarely considered or are rejected outright, and as the depression evolves the only option that promises to shut off the pain is suicide.” (Slaby and Garfinkel, pg. 5)
Certain illnesses and social standings can contribute to teenage suicide. “Often teen suicide attempts stem from long-standing problems resulting from a specific event, possibly early in childhood. Impulsive, self destructive behaviors can result from feelings of resentment, anger, or guilt.” (Cox & Arrington, pg. 29) “…It should be mentioned that some psychiatric illnesses run in families. Depression, anxiety disorder, alcoholism, and antisocial personality are among them. If one person in a family suffers from these disorders, the odds are increased that another member has it…” (Chiles, pg. 47) Other emotions and events that can not be helped can contribute to suicidal teenagers. “A deep sense of loss is an emotion that can cause teenagers to attempt or commit suicide. Whether it be the loss of a parent through death or divorce, or the loss of a close friend who has moved away, suicidal teenagers are often unable to adapt to this loss or to make and keep a new intimate friends.” (Chiles, pg. 33) Being a teenager in general can be stressful enough to lead to depression and loneliness. ‘Teenage years are a period of turmoil for just about everyone. You’re learning new social roles, developing new relationship, getting used to your body…That can make a person feel very alone.’ (APA Joint Commission on Public Affairs and the Division of Public Affairs, pg. 1)
Some of the statistics and facts about suicide are inaccurate. “Many suicides do not show up in statistics. It is very likely that some deaths that are the result of “accidents”, such as car wrecks, self-poisoning, or a gunshot wounds, may actually be suicides.” (Mendelson & Mello, pg. 25) ‘Suicide is 3rd leading cause of death among those 15 to 25 years of age and the 6th leading cause of death among 5 to 14 years of age.’ (High, pg. 1) It’s nearly impossible to think about 5 year olds committing suicide. “Studies have shown that as many as 50% of the general public have seriously considered suicide as a solution to their problems.” Brenda High also states “Estimated that 500,000 teenagers try to kill themselves every year and about 5,000 succeed.” (High, pg. 1) “A teen suicide occurs every one and one half hours in the United States. Each year, approximately ten thousand teens and youths, ages fifteen to twenty-four, kill themselves. While this is a reported number, the actual number of adolescent deaths by suicide is probably three or four times this number.” (Cox & Arrington, pg. 28) “Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people aged 15-24. More than 13 of every 100,000 people aged 15 to 24 committed suicide in 1990. Experts estimate that each year nearly 5,000 teenagers commit suicide.” (APA Joint Commission on Public Affairs and the Division of Public Affairs, pg. 1) “The Committee on Youth Suicide recently announced that one out of every ten teens will make a bona fide attempt by age 19. The bottom line is that every 18 minutes somebody in this country ends his or her own life and every 105 minutes it is a teenager.” (Jurich, pg. 11)
There are many myths about suicide that have truths behind them. A common error in human thinking is that all suicidal teens want to die. “eople who work with suicidal teens think that most don’t want to die because of the way they die. They mostly attempt suicide in their own homes between the hours of 4pm and midnight. So, basically they try to do it in a place where they’ll be found. The chance of rescue is high, and people who hope for rescue really don’t want to kill themselves.” Nelson and Galas also state that “the most important thing to remember is that most young people who attempt or complete suicide don’t want to die. What they want to do is escape their problems they think are too big or awful for them to solve.” (Nelson & Galas, pg. 12) Other factors in suicide would be race. “Suicide affects every age, race, color, and creed in our society. Every day approximately 74 whites, 5 blacks and 6 non-whites prematurely and end their own lives.” (Jurich, pg.18) Suicide and depression can be treated with patience and time.



Teen Suicide

Reference- Book, Author: Andrew E. Slaby and Lili Frank Garfinkel, Title: No one saw my Pain: Why Teens Kill Themselves. Publisher: Norton paperback 1996

Reference- Book, Author: Anthony P. Jurich, Title: Family Therapy with Suicidal Adolescents. Publisher: Taylor & Francis Group, LCC

Reference- Internet, Author: APA Joint Commission on Public Affairs and the Division of Public Affairs, Title: Teen Suicide Overview. Website: [link]

Reference- Internet, Author: Brenda High, Title: Jared’s Story. Website: [link]

Reference- Book, Author: David Cox and Candy Arrington, Title: Aftershock: Help, Hope and Healing in the Wake of Suicide. Publisher: Broadman and Holman Publishers

Reference- Book, Author: Jack Mendelson, M.D. & Nancy Mello, Ph.D., Title: Teenage Depression and Suicide. Publishers: 1986 Chelsea House Publishers

Reference- Book, Author: Marion Cook, Title: Out of the Darkness: Teens talk about Suicide. Publishers: Arsenal Pulp Press

Reference- Book, Author: Richard E. Nelson & Judith C. Galas, Title: The Power to Prevent Suicide: A Guide for Teens Helping Teens. Publisher: Free Spirit Publishing Inc.


Teen Suicide Interview with Dr. Ronald W. Maris


Q: What do you think the main cause of teen suicide is?

A: Untreated or forced treatment of depression. It all depends on how willing the person is to make the change from unhealthy to healthy thinking.

Q: Do age or gender factor into the statistics of suicide?

A: According to studies, suicide is mainly a male phenomenon. About 90% of all US suicides are committed by whites. The ranking is as follows: 1) white males 2) non-whites 3) white females 4) non-white females.

Q: Does sexual oriental contribute to suicide?

A: More frequently stated reasons for suicide attempts are “family problems” or substance abuse, but bisexual and homosexual teens have a greater number than suicide attempts in heterosexual teens. Pressure from religion or family can break these teens down.

Q: What do you think about suicide in adolescents?
A: Children are expected to remain in school much longer now than at the century. This type of contained isolation of the young in school has contributed to their developing a attitude against dominant adult culture. Child abuse has also shown dramatic increases. Each suicidal adolescent has a unique life story. There are no predictive equations with definitive decision-making rules for determining whether a suicidal behavior will occur.



Dr. Maris offers expert opinions in suicide death investigation, suicide risk assessment and prediction, contested life insurance, product liability (especially for psychotropic drugs), manner of death determination (suicide v. homicide v. accident), jail/prison suicides, hospital suicides, medical and psychological malpractice, workman compensation, murder-suicides, and the standard of care for suicidal patients/clients. The Suicide Center has affiliated physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, and social workers.