Facts About Teen Suicide: Causes of Teenage Suicide

Adolescence has always been a period of confusion with varying temperaments where teens have to deal with academic, social and individual pressures. Additional stress factors like violence in the family, poor performance, fear of punishment, rivalry etc can make them feel there is nothing to live for. Teen suicides are like precious lives turned futile causing an irreparable loss to the individual as well his close concerns.

Feelings that need to be addressed
Death is chosen because suffering becomes intolerable. (as per the teen perception) There is little hope for change, improvement or possibility of a better future with the life that they experience. They have an easy solution in mind i.e death means no pain. Most of the teen suicidal attempts are consequences of improper dealing with feelings of depression.

Facts about Teen Suicide

• Clear warning signs precede suicides in more than 90% of cases
• More suicides occur because of depression than being afflicted by fatal diseases
• Not all teenagers who commit suicide are mentally ill
• Possibility of completing a suicide increases with the number of attempts
• Most teen suicides can be prevented by effective communication and psychotherapy
• Pay attention to the post depressive period, when the individual looks near normal, it could be an unsafe period

Causes of Teenage Suicide

• Disharmony in the family
• Unhealthy or abusive relationship or break-up
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Feelings of anger and guilt
• Physical or mental disorders
• Poor academic performance
• Sibling rivalry
• History of suicide within close circle
• Experience of a personal loss
• Inability to handle hardships due to low energy and depression

Notice the Red Alert Signs of Teenage Suicide
Parents need to look out for the warning signs and differentiate them from the normal teen angst over helplessness. Expression of feelings related to depression and worthlessness definitely means something is going seriously wrong. These symptoms may be present together or in varied combinations and are most effectively addressed if noticed earlier.

• Complaining of sadness, fatigue and emptiness
• Statements and jokes about death and suicide
• Loss of interest in fun and recreation
• Neglect of appearance
• Not responding to praise
• Social withdrawal and staying aloof most of the time
• Aggressive expressions of hatred and anger
• Insomnia and sleep disorders
• Trouble concentrating on studies
• Signs of hallucination and weird thoughts
• Physical signs like body aches and pains
• Indigestion and major changes in weight
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• Meeting people one cares about
• Setting affairs in order
• Throwing away important possessions
• Verbal hints like "I won’t cause a problem much longer"

Preventing Teen Suicide – Get Help Immediately
Immediate consultation of mental health professional is a must in extreme to moderate cases. An in-depth psychological evaluation with appropriate medications followed up in a timely manner is crucial.

Parents should watch over their teenagers and help them clear their distortions about life and bring back hope; vigor and joy of life back again. No magical spells are needed, help them open up and express whatever they feel. Do not leave the individual lonely and let there be more than one person he can turn to for help. It can be his guardian, friend, teacher, counselor, family doctor or anybody he can trust. Assure him that such feelings are temporary and will surely pass. Keep weapons like guns, blades and medications away from his reach. Agree to help the person whenever he wishes to speak out his feelings. Do not argue and find faults. The fact that someone is helping him figure out a way to betterment has a healing effect on him.

Know more about How to Deal with Youth Depression: Parenting Depressed Teens