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Suicide PDF Print E-mail

“Suicide is not chosen; it happens when pain exceeds resources for coping with pain.”

Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of the death among college students and the third-leading cause of death among the overall teen population. This is when a person takes his or her own life. Since 1970, the suicide rates for teenagers have tripled.

If you look around in a class of 25 students, at least 5 of the students have probably considered suicide and at least two people in there have tried to kill themselves in the past year.

Why do people kill themselves?

It's very hard to narrow down all the reasons why teenager or any person at all, would want to die. For some teenagers, certain problems in their life may seem too overwhelming to deal with, so they look to suicide as a solution. Even if the problem may seem small to another person, to the individual, it is unbearable. Teenagers who want to die feel that it is too painful to live. They feel that they may not have the strength or desire to continue living.

The majority of teenagers who die have suffered from a mental disorder (like depression) or stressors (like loss of a friend, family history of suicide, family violence, substance abuse, etc ).

Suicide is a high rate for teenagers. Therapists feel that teenagers feel the need to fit in and be accepted. A teenager wants to be cool or is being pressured to being a good kid can all build up into an overwhelming amount of stress. This is when a teenager starts to think about healthy and unhealthy coping mechanisms.

  • The warning signs of suicidal feelings, thoughts, or behavior are:
  • prior suicide attempt
  • talking about suicide
  • making a plan
  • giving possessions away
  • signs of depression
  • hopelessness and anxiety
  • increase of drug activity
  • extreme addition to cutting
  • verbal hints "If anything happens to me, I want you to know.."
  • Suicidal notes, writing, or images
Suicide should be taking serious. The warning signs above don’t automatically mean that the person is going to kill themselves. A person who is suicidal does not want to die. They just feel like that's the last option that they have in feeling better.

If you know a friend who is suicidal, BE a friend. Show concern for them and make sure you listen to what they are feeling. If the person has officially verbalized that they want to die, get help- call a crisis line, tell a school staff, or adult. Your friend needs professional help.

An adolescent who attempts to suicide will require a physical evaluation and treatment until he or she is feeling more stable. Treatment may include therapy, medication, or hospitalization.

Suicide Hotlines

HOPE
1.800.SUICIDE
1-800-7842433

SUICIDE PREVENTION
1-800-273-TALK
1-800-273-8255