Young people who kill themselves leave clues and warning signs. It’s important for parents, teachers and clinicians to learn them.
Be alert for sudden changes in your child’s friends, classroom behavior, writings and homework. Death and suicidal themes might appear in drawings, assignments or journals. Take any suicide plan seriously.
Feelings of hopelessness or helplessness
Almost all youth suicides involve some form of mental illness. For example, a teenager suffering from major depression may be so overwhelmed that they think their life is meaningless and hopeless. They may also believe that they’re better off dead. In addition, some psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia and anorexia nervosa can have the added risk of suicide.
A lack of support can also make a youth vulnerable to suicide. Teens with supportive relationships through family, friends, extracurricular sports and social activities are less likely to consider suicide.
A teen who is struggling with suicidal thoughts or behavior should never be left alone. Parents should keep an eye on any sudden changes in their child’s mood or behavior. For instance, if they are becoming more withdrawn or irritable or they refuse to talk about their feelings with parents, this is a red flag that something is wrong and it’s time for help. A therapist should be contacted immediately.
Feelings of anger or rage
Many young people who commit suicide are unable to cope with the emotional distress they feel. This may be the result of having a mental health condition, or it may be due to life events that overwhelm their ability to cope. For example, breakups in relationships often trigger suicidal thoughts in adolescents. Other risk factors include having a family history of depression, being exposed to trauma (such as violence or sexual abuse), living in an impoverished area and struggling with their sexual orientation.
Some youths try to escape their feelings of hopelessness and helplessness by abusing drugs or alcohol. These substances can temporarily relieve their symptoms, but they can also interfere with the brain’s natural mood-enhancing chemicals. In addition, most drugs and alcohol are depressants, which can lower the person’s inhibitions. Moreover, the abuse of these substances can lead to an addiction that increases the risk for suicide.
Feelings of isolation
Youth suicide is often associated with feelings of isolation. These feelings are a result of multiple factors, including substance abuse and conduct disorder. In addition, they are often caused by the traumatic experiences of childhood sexual abuse and adult physical violence. These experiences can have a lasting negative impact on a person’s life and cause feelings of loneliness, shame, and anger. It is important to understand the causes of suicide among young people to develop effective prevention strategies.
The various studies that have assessed social isolation and suicidality use a variety of questionnaires and variables. This makes it difficult to determine if one variable is more important than another. In addition, some conditions can cause social isolation, such as autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia.
Increasing the sense of belonging and community in adolescence may be an effective way to reduce suicide. For example, a program called Signs of Suicide (SOS) was shown to increase the likelihood of seeking help and improve adaptive attitudes toward depression and suicide in high school students.
Feelings of failure
Many people who are at risk of suicide feel like they’re failing. They may even make threats to end their life. If you know someone who is considering taking their own life, take the threat seriously and seek help. These threats may be verbal or written on social media. They can also be made through text messages or phone calls. Attempts to kill themselves are often painful. They can cause physical pain, emotional turmoil, and the need to withdraw from family and friends.
Studies have shown that prevention can be effective in decreasing suicides among youth. In one study, a program that increased knowledge about suicide risks and encouraged adaptive attitudes reduced suicidal attempts by 40% in high school students. However, preventing suicide requires more than just education. It also includes ensuring that there are ongoing options for help. These services can include a crisis hotline, mental health services, and support groups. The most important factor is finding an environment where young people can get the help they need.