Suicide

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The rate of teenage suicide in the United States remains comparatively high in the 15 to 24 age group with 3,971 suicides in 2001 and over 132,000 suicide attempts in 2002, making it the third leading cause of death for those aged 15 to 24.^[1] In the United Kingdom the suicide rate for males aged between 15 and 24 rose substantially between 1976 to 1991 (when it peaked at 15.8 deaths per 100,000 people), although it has been declining since. This compares with the rate of suicide among females in the same age group remaining largely static.^[2] However, given the overall decline in the suicide rate in the UK, the rate of suicide amongst the 15-24 male population remains high.^[3] More preventive measures have been taken in the last ten years, including increased understanding of the risk factors and causes and spreading information to schools and parents.

Contents 1 Population differences 1.1 Sex ratio 1.2 Ethnic groups 1.3 2007 study 1.4 LGBT youth 2 Causes in teenage suicide 3 Suicide prevention 3.1 Means reduction 3.2 Suicide awareness programs 3.3 Threats of suicide 4 Treatment 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Population differences

[edit] Sex ratio

In the U.S., male adolescent(s) commit suicide at a rate five times greater than that of female adolescents, although suicide attempts by females are three times as frequent as those by males. A possible reason for this is the method of attempted suicide for males is typically that of firearm use, with a 78-90% chance of fatality. Females are more likely to try a different method, such as ingesting poison ^[4]. Females have more parasuicides. Another reason could be that females are much more likely to attempt suicide for attention. This includes using different methods, such as drug overdose, which are usually less effective.

[edit] Ethnic groups

Suicide rates vary for different ethnicities due to cultural differences. In 1998, white Americans accounted for 84% of all youth suicides, 61% male, 23% female. However, the suicide rate for Native Americans was 19.3 per 100,000, much higher than the overall rate (8.5 per 100,000). The suicide rate for African-Americans has increased more than twofold since 1981. A national survey of high school students conducted in 1999 reported that Hispanic students are twice as likely to report an attempted suicide as white students ^[4].

[edit] 2007 study

On September 6, 2007, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported suicide rate in American adolescents (especially girls, 10 to 24 years old) increased 8% (2003 to 2004), the largest jump in 15 years. Specifically, in 2004 - 4,599 suicides in Americans ages 10 to 24, up from 4,232 in 2003, for a rate of 7.32 per 100,000 people that age. Before, the rate dropped to 6.78 per 100,000 in 2003 from 9.48 per 100,000 in 1990. The findings also reported that antidepressant drugs were more likely to reduce suicide risk than increase it. Psychiatrists found that the increase is due to the decline in prescriptions of antidepressant drugs like Prozac to young people since 2003, leaving more cases of serious depression untreated. In a December 2006 study, The American Journal of Psychiatry said that a decrease in antidepressant prescriptions to minors of just a few percentage points coincided with a 14 percent increase in suicides in the United States; in the Netherlands, the suicide rate was 50% up, upon prescription drop.^[5]

[edit] LGBT youth

A 1989 U.S. government study found that LGBT youth are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide than other young people.^[6] This finding was supported by a 2001 study that found LGBT adolescents 2.3-2.5 times more likely to commit suicide than their heterosexual peers.^[7]

[edit] Causes in teenage suicide

Teenage suicide is not caused by any one factor, but likely by a combination of them. Depression can play a massive role in teenage suicide. Some contributing factors include:

• Drug abuse
• Divorce of parents
• Parental unemployment
• Household financial problems
• Peer pressure
• Victimization from bullying
• Social rejection
• Anger or Guilt
• Relationship breakup
• Loss of a limb, blindness, deafness or terminal illness
• Domestic violence or abuse
• Lack of academic success in school
• The dislike of school
• Being cheated on
• Mental disorders such as major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, or schizophrenia

Perceived lack of parental interest is a major factor in teenage suicide. According to one study 90 percent of suicidal teenagers believed their families did not understand them.^[8]

Depression is the most common cause of suicide. About 75 percent of those individuals who commit suicide are depressed. Depression is caused by a number of factors, from chemical imbalances to psychological make-up to environmental influences.^[9][10]

[edit] Suicide prevention

This section has been nominated to be checked for its neutrality. Discussion of this nomination can be found on the talk page. (May 2008)

Promoting overall mental health among adolescents is key to reducing possible suicidal thoughts.

[edit] Means reduction

Johnson and Coyne-Beasley have argued that limiting young people's access to lethal means, such as firearms, has reduced means-specific suicide rates.^[11] A 2004 study based on suicides between 1976 and 2001 found an 8.3% reduction in suicides by 14-17 year-olds with the implementation of state child access prevention (CAP) laws.^[12]

[edit] Suicide awareness programs

School-based youth suicide awareness programs have been developed to increase high-school students' awareness of the problem, provide knowledge about the behavioral characteristics of teens at risk (i.e., screening lists), and describe available treatment or counseling resources. However, the American Surgeon General David Satcher warned in 1999 that "indiscriminate suicide awareness efforts and overly inclusive screening lists may promote suicide as a possible solution to ordinary distress or suggest that suicidal thoughts and behaviors are normal responses to stress."^[13] The 1991 study Satcher cited (reference 45 in the report) for this claim, however, surveyed only two schools over 18 months, and the study's authors concluded that the suicide awareness program had no effect.^[14] Satcher's claim, while it may be correct, was not based on a consensus among public health professionals.

[edit] Threats of suicide

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention advocates taking suicide threats seriously. Seventy-five percent of all suicides give some warning of their intentions to a friend or family member.^[15]

[edit] Treatment

A common treatment for a young, suicidal patient is a combination of drug-based treatment (eg. imipramine or fluoxetine) with a 'talking-based' therapy, such as referral to a cognitive behaviour therapist. This kind of therapy concentrates on modifying self-destructive and irrational thought processes. ^[16] In a crisis situation professional help can be sought, either at hospital or a walk-in clinic. There are also several telephone help numbers for help on teenage suicide, depending on one's location (country/state). In the US, 1-800-SUICIDE[1] will connect you to the nearest support hotline. Sometimes emergency services can be contacted.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• The Honouring Life Network - Suicide prevention information and resources for First Nations, Inuit and Métis youth in Canada. Also includes statistics, fact sheets and forum for youth workers.
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• Stamp Out Suicide Has a resources page with contacts, some especially for teenagers and young people in the UK and Ireland.
• Kids in Trouble Help Page The Kids in Trouble Help Page has helped many teens by being a user friendly place where kids and teens can find the help they need in all kinds of situations including suicide, child abuse, depression and runaways. Site includes links to all kinds of helpful info, and stories of other kids who have dealt with similar issues.
• ULifeline Suicide Prevention - section about suicide on ULifeline, a mental health resource for college students.
• Second Wind Fund - a teenage suicide prevention fund.
• The Trevor Helpline: 1 866 - 4U TREVOR - nationwide (US) 24-hour, free, confidential suicide helpline for gay and questioning teenagers, United States. See The Trevor Project.
• Research from the UK government into the suicide rate in the UK.
• Rachel's Challenge - a school presentation to stop teen suicide and school violence
• UK official statistics for suicide.
• National Hopeline Network
• Mind (National Association for Mental Health) UK
• Suicide prevention resources relating to Teens
• Teen suicide U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2006) via WebMd. Retrieved on September 3, 2008