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On September 6, 2007, the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] reported [[suicide]] rate in [[United States|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]] reduced 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 [[Clinical depression|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.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/07/health/07suicide.html New York Times, Suicide Rises in Youth; Antidepressant Debate Looms]</ref> |
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On September 6, 2007, the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] reported [[suicide]] rate in [[United States|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]] reduced 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 [[Clinical depression|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.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/07/health/07suicide.html New York Times, Suicide Rises in Youth; Antidepressant Debate Looms]</ref> |
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Teenage suicide is awsome
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==Suicide prevention==
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{{POV-check-section|date=May 2008}} |
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{{main|Suicide prevention}} |
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Promoting overall [[mental health]] among adolescents is key to reducing possible suicidal thoughts. Some people argue that limiting young people's access to lethal weapons, such as firearms, may be a pivotal deterrent. Some school-based youth suicide awareness programs exist to try to increase high-school students' awareness of the problem, provide knowledge about the behavioral characteristics of teens at risk, and describe available treatment or counseling resources. However, some research has shown that this may have an unintended negative effect of suggesting suicide as an option for teenagers <ref>[http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/calltoaction/calltoaction.htm 'The Surgeon General's Call To Action To Prevent Suicide 1999'], United States Department of Health and Human Services, 21 July 2004, retrieved 2 May 2006.</ref>. |
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When talking to a teenage person who is contemplating suicide, it is important to take the threat seriously. Seventy-five percent of all suicides give some warning of their intentions to a friend or family member.<ref>{{cite web |
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| url=http://www.afsp.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_id=F2F25092-7E90-9BD4-C4658F1D2B5D19A0| title=When you fear someone will take their own life |
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| publisher=[http://www.afsp.org/ American Foundation for Suicide Prevention] |
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| date=2006-08-27 |
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| accessdate=2006-08-27 |
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}}</ref> |
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There are many methods of helping teenagers who are considering suicide. In order to help a suicidal person it is important to show the helper can be trusted and will listen. Seeing a [[Physician|doctor]] is widely recommended as well. A course doctors commonly take when presented with 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 therapy|cognitive behaviour therapist.]] This kind of therapy concentrates on modifying self-destructive and irrational thought processes. <ref>{{cite web |
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| url=http://www.depressionet.com.au/treatments/talking/cbt.html |
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| title=Treatments: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy |
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| publisher=[http://www.depressionet.com.au/aboutus.html depresioNet] |
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| date=2004-01-08 |
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| accessdate=2006-08-27 |
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}}</ref> |
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If you know someone who has suicidal thoughts, or you yourself are having suicidal thoughts, there are things that can be done to help. The most important thing you can do is take the suicidal thoughts seriously. Do not tell them that these thoughts will go away or they will get better on their own. The next thing you should do is notify an adult of the suicidal thoughts. This can be your parents, a teacher, a counselor, a doctor, etc. Tell someone who can help. You can also listen to them while they talk about their feelings. Never tell them not to worry about their feelings, or that the feelings will go away on their own and they will get better on their own. Never leave anyone alone that you feel may be in danger of hurting themselves. There are also hotlines, which can be used if needed. The hotline centers have trained professionals who can talk about problems and sort through their feelings (U.S.DHSS, 2006). |
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If you know someone is suicidal there are things, which can serve as protective factors. This includes but is not limited to clinical care for those with psychological disorders, limited access to items that can be used to attempt suicide, a strong support system of friends, family, and health care personnel, help developing skills to cope with stressful situation, and a strong support system of religious beliefs (U.S.DHSS, 2006). |
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When trying to help a teenager who is considering suicide, it's important to try to find out what is troubling the person. Lack of parental interest in their teenage children may be considered a factor in teenage suicide: according to one study 90 percent of suicidal teenagers believed their families did not understand them.<ref>{{cite web |
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| url=http://www.aap.org/advocacy/childhealthmonth/prevteensuicide.htm| title=AAP - Preventing Teen Suicide | publisher=[http://www.aap.org/ American Academy of Pediatrics] |
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| date=2006-08-27 |
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| accessdate=2006-08-27 |
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}}</ref> |
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When confronted by a suicidal teen, it is often an unsuccessful strategy to try to argue them out of committing suicide, or attempt to make them feel guilty for considering suicide (e.g. 'your family loves you so much, how could you think like this?'). This type of intervention can actually serve to alienate the child further. Instead, a better solution may consist of an exploration of the reasons why the teenager is so unhappy and feels that suicide is the best solution. The teenager's [[pediatrician]] will also be able to plan a suitable course of treatment, or make a psychiatric referral, if the teenager is willing to engage with the proposed treatment. |
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In a crisis situation professional help must 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). Also, [[emergency services]] should be contacted immediately, in case the teenager makes a suicide attempt. |
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==Further reading== |
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==Further reading== |
