Teen Suicide
BULLYING AND SUICIDE The new school year is now well under way, and with it there is sadly the recurring concern of many parents—is my child being bullied? There is evidence that bullying carries serious consequences, including an increased risk of suicide There is evidence that bullying carries serious consequences, including an increased risk of suicide. Every new school bring with it fears of whether children are being bullied at school. The problem isn’t hard to find. Ask any group of high school students and you’ll likely hear what we heard. “Some people could just make fun of some other people and that’s sad,” says one high school student. “I hear a lot of people, they call kids faggots. And they use a lot of mean words. And ah, I see kids getting pushed around. And get things thrown at them. Stuff like that,” says another. “A bunch of kids jump other people for like no reason just because they dislike them or whatever,” another student states. “They push them around and take their lunch money. They are not big enough to defend or they don’t defend themselves and because they are easy targets cause they are rich or something,” says yet another. “Because they are different and they just don’t like that they are different,” the first student adds. The old saying about sticks and stones and how names don’t hurt couldn’t be further from the truth. The problem of bullying is distressingly common, and the after-effects, potentially devastating. Research out of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry shows adolescents, in New York and other states, are at increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior if they are victims of school bullying. One in seven schoolchildren or approximately five million in the U.S. are affected as either bully or victim. In a study of bullying, among both those bullied and even the bullies themselves, 43 percent had suicidal thoughts. Twelve percent actually committed some form of suicide attempt by eight months after follow-up. Parents can look for the signs to intervene and prevent the consequences. Dr. Gilda Carle, a psychologist who specializes in bullying, says, “Parents have got to see the moods of their child, see if there are any changes in behaviors, check out how the child is adapting to his new school year and his grades and all the other things that go on.” The most common types of bullying was exclusion, in other words, excluding someone from an activity or social group, then verbal abuse, physical abuse, and then coercion. Interestingly, it’s the victim who is also a bully, the so called victim-perpetrator, who has a three and a half times risk for suicidal behavior…which is why it’s important for the problem to be identified for both victim and aggressor. “Parents and kids have got to communicate. And that if this is a source of embarrassment for a child, it’s up to the parent to draw the child out and to get the child to express what is on his or her mind,” states Carle. http://wb11.com Friday Apr 21, 2006 |
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| Teen Suicide No. 10; Updated July 2004 Suicides among young people continue to be a serious problem. Each year in the U.S., thousands of teenagers commit suicide. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15-to-24-year-olds, and the sixth leading cause of death for 5-to-14-year-olds. Teenagers experience strong feelings of stress, confusion, self-doubt, pressure to succeed, financial uncertainty, and other fears while growing up. For some teenagers, divorce, the formation of a new family with step-parents and step-siblings, or moving to a new community can be very unsettling and can intensify self-doubts. For some teens, suicide may appear to be a solution to their problems and stress. Depression and suicidal feelings are treatable mental disorders. The child or adolescent needs to have his or her illness recognized and diagnosed, and appropriate treatment plans developed. When parents are in doubt whether their child has a serious problem, a psychiatric examination can be very helpful. Many of the symptoms of suicidal feelings are similar to those of depression. Parents should be aware of the following signs of adolescents who may try to kill themselves: • change in eating and sleeping habits • withdrawal from friends, family, and regular activities • violent actions, rebellious behavior, or running away • drug and alcohol use • unusual neglect of personal appearance • marked personality change • persistent boredom, difficulty concentrating, or a decline in the quality of schoolwork • frequent complaints about physical symptoms, often related to emotions, such as stomachaches, headaches, fatigue, etc. • loss of interest in pleasurable activities • not tolerating praise or rewards A teenager who is planning to commit suicide may also: • complain of being a bad person or feeling rotten inside • give verbal hints with statements such as: I won't be a problem for you much longer, Nothing matters, It's no use, and I won't see you again • put his or her affairs in order, for example, give away favorite possessions, clean his or her room, throw away important belongings, etc. • become suddenly cheerful after a period of depression • have signs of psychosis (hallucinations or bizarre thoughts) If a child or adolescent says, I want to kill myself, or I'm going to commit suicide, always take the statement seriously and immediately seek assistance from a qualified mental health professional. People often feel uncomfortable talking about death. However, asking the child or adolescent whether he or she is depressed or thinking about suicide can be helpful. Rather than putting thoughts in the child's head, such a question will provide assurance that somebody cares and will give the young person the chance to talk about problems. If one or more of these signs occurs, parents need to talk to their child about their concerns and seek professional help when the concerns persist. With support from family and professional treatment, children and teenagers who are suicidal can heal and return to a more healthy path of development. http://aacap.org/page.ww?section=Facts+for+Families&name=Teen+Suicide |
| What Do You Know, Or Need To Know About Teen Suicide? • In 2001 suicide was the third leading cause of death for young people aged 15-24 behind unintentional injury and homicide. In 2001, more teenagers and young adults died from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia and influenza, and chronic lung disease combined. The rate was 9.9/100,000 or .01 percent. • The suicide rate among young children ages 10-14 was 1.3/100,000 or 272 deaths among 20,910,440 children in this age group. The gender ratio for this age group was 3:1 (males: females). • The suicide rate among adolescents aged 15-19 was 7.9/100,000 or 1,611 deaths among 20,271,312 adolescents in this age group. The gender ratio for this age group was 5:1 (males: females). • Among young people 20-24 years of age, the suicide rate was 12/100,000 or 2,360 deaths among 19,711,423 people in this age group. The gender ratio for this age group was 7:1 (males: females). • American Indian and Alaskan Natives had the highest rate of suicide in the 15 to 24 age group (CDC 2004). The risk for suicide among young people is greatest among young white males; however. Although suicide among young children is a rare event, the dramatic increase in the rate among persons aged 10-14 years underscores the urgent need for intensifying efforts to prevent suicide among persons in this age group. If you or someone you care about is considering suicide or if someone you care about displays suicidal tendencies, please contact your local crisis center or call 1-800-Suicide (1-800-784-2433). For more information on suicide prevention see: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/suifacts.htm |
| Jared Benjamin High was born Sept. 23, 1985 and died Sept. 29, 1998 by "bullycide," a teen suicide caused by bullying." He was 13 years and 6 days old. This young man's suicide was such a waste of a beautiful and kind boy and a true tragedy for everyone who knew him. As his family has grieved his loss, we have found some solace in getting answers to the "WHY" questions about his suicide and questions in general on the subject of suicide. |
| THINKING of SUICIDE? call 1-800-999-9999 |
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