Adolescence is a time of significant cognitive, emotional and social change. These changes can create significant stress that is beyond the coping abilities of some youths.
Kids who feel loved and supported, have good problem solving skills and strong connections with family and friends are less likely to think about suicide. However, some kids are at higher risk.
Depression
Depression can cause a host of symptoms, including low energy, loss of interest in activities, changes in sleep, weight change and feelings of hopelessness. It is the leading cause of suicide among adolescents and can lead to a variety of negative outcomes, including self-harm.
Research has shown that a person’s suicidal risk is often based on a combination of factors. These include family and mental health history, life events and current emotional state.
A good treatment plan may include a combination of talk therapy and medication. It should also include family members and support from teachers, coaches and friends. It’s important to remember that suicidal thoughts and behaviors can come and go. The person must be monitored and treated until they are stable. This is often done in an inpatient facility to ensure their safety.
Addictions
The teen years are a time of major physical, social and emotional changes. These changes can create feelings of stress, confusion, fear and hopelessness that can interfere with problem-solving and decision-making skills. They can also lead to self-injurious behavior, like cutting or burning oneself.
A teen with suicidal thoughts may display warning signs, such as giving away personal belongings for no reason, making plans or talk about suicide, acting anxious and agitated or having trouble sleeping. They might become withdrawn from family and friends and have difficulty staying focused at school.
Statistical analyses of youth suicide have shown that cigarette and alcohol use, as well as other drug abuse/dependence, are associated with the risk of making a suicide attempt. However, the association is stronger for higher level drug abuse/dependence than lower levels.
Family Issues
During the teen years, kids can experience major physical and emotional changes. This can be stressful, confusing and overwhelming for some. They may feel pressure to succeed, or they might become withdrawn and isolate themselves.
Studies suggest that kids who have a strong sense of belonging and connection to family, friends and community are less likely to engage in risky behaviors like suicide. In addition, kids who are able to express their feelings in healthy ways and have good problem-solving skills are also at lower risk for suicidal thoughts.
Kids who are separated from their families or community due to divorce, abuse, incarceration, addiction and other issues face increased risks for suicide. These factors can be especially difficult for youth from racial and ethnic minority groups.
Social Issues
Many young people struggle to cope with the demands of life. These might be medical, physical or social, such as a family break up, bullying, academic pressure, the death of someone close, or sexual or physical abuse.
Studies show that suicide is often the result of a complex combination of factors, including social stressors and a person’s ability to effectively solve interpersonal problems. Teen girls with poor problem-solving skills may be particularly at risk for thinking about and acting on suicidal thoughts.
A randomized controlled study led by University of Connecticut sociologist Robert Aseltine found that programs that help teens learn to recognize and cope with their emotions reduce suicide attempts by 40%. CBMH is collaborating with Yale to test the effectiveness of these programs, including one that asks students to describe a specific future event as a way to generate hope.
Mental Health Issues
Suicide is often the result of a long-term mental health issue or a sudden crisis such as a friend or relative’s death, an act of bullying or the loss of a job. Teens who are homeless, in foster care or in juvenile detention may be particularly vulnerable to suicide. They may self-medicate with drugs and alcohol or express their rage through violence, especially when dealing with a family breakup, domestic violence, bullying or the death of a loved one.
Adolescents in historically disadvantaged communities and those who have experienced discrimination face higher risks due to poverty, economic hardship, lack of access to health care and other factors. They also have greater access to lethal means. Learn more about warning signs, what to do and how to help.