Suicide is a leading cause of death for adolescents and young adults. It has increased by 62% over the past decade, according to the CDC.
Some youths are more at risk of suicide than others. This is especially true for youth of color and LGBTQ+ youth. Several factors contribute to this.
Depression
Depression is a major contributor to suicide. Teens with depression are more likely to have suicidal thoughts, behaviors and attempts than those who don’t suffer from depression. Depression is a mood disorder that needs to be treated with an effective treatment plan.
Depression can lead to feelings of hopelessness, helplessness and trappedness. Some teens who are depressed have a hard time coping with daily life stresses and may feel they have nowhere to turn. They can become withdrawn and give away their possessions or begin to engage in risky activities.
A teen that is having suicidal thoughts needs to be evaluated by a doctor right away. This will include a physical checkup and a mental health evaluation. Treatment may involve family therapy and an extended hospital stay, if needed.
Anxiety
Those with a history of anxiety have the highest risk of suicide, particularly among young men. This mental illness is often accompanied by depression and can be predictive of other psychiatric disorders in adolescents.
The teen years are a time of major transitions that can cause significant stress. Teens going through divorce or the loss of a parent, a move, school changes or other difficulties can have suicidal thoughts.
Parents should take any talk of suicide seriously and should never ignore it. A person who is thinking about suicide needs to be seen by a mental health professional immediately. Signs that a teen may be at serious risk include:
Agitation
The onset of many major psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and psychosis occurs during adolescence. These conditions, especially when accompanied by agitation and profound hopelessness, increase a person’s risk of suicide.
Teens who express suicidal intent should be taken seriously. Do not trivialize these threats as they can be life threatening. A change in mood that rises above depression or agitation is another warning sign.
Make sure your teen’s home environment is safe and emotionally supportive. Also, remove guns, pills and other tools of self-harm as they can increase a youth’s risk of suicide. Talk to your teen’s doctor or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.(Link opens in new window). It’s free and available 24/7. This toll-free line is staffed by people trained to help.
Family Issues
In the last 20 years, emergency departments have seen a big increase in teens seeking help for suicidal thoughts or actions. For boys, the suicide rate peaked in the late ’80s and early ’90s but has been rising since 2006.
Kids who are struggling with family issues can also be at risk for suicide. This includes kids who have a parent or sibling die by suicide, and kids who experience family dysfunction and violence. Kids who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender and have a hard time coming out can also struggle with feelings of depression and suicide.
Parents, teachers and friends should never take warning signs of suicide lightly or promise to keep them a secret. All suicide threats should be taken seriously and should be immediately evaluated by a mental health professional.
Mental Illness
Several mental health disorders are associated with suicide in youth. Major psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia, anorexia nervosa and depression carry an elevated risk for suicide in adolescents. Symptoms of these disorders may first appear during adolescence. A young person with schizophrenia might think they are being directed to kill themselves by a voice (auditory hallucinations). Depression can cause suicidal thoughts and actions, such as attempting to cut oneself or hanging.
In addition to a mental illness, family and community factors also contribute to suicide in youth. For example, a family history of substance abuse or a history of domestic violence is associated with increased risk for suicide in youth. Research has shown that a stable caregiving environment moderates suicide-related indicators. For instance, children and teens whose caregivers are always available to meet their basic needs are less likely to experience mental illness-related suicide indicators.