Coping with Adolescent Depression and Suicide
Guidelines for Physicians to Share with Parents
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people 15 to 24 years old. The Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration has declared adolescent suicide a national mental health problem.
Why do teens kill themselves? Experts cite divorce, family violence, the breakdown of the family unit, stress to perform and achieve, and even the threat of AIDS as factors that contribute to teen suicide. More than 50 percent of teens who commit suicide also have a history of alcohol and drug use. Also, stressful life events, such as the loss of a significant person or school failure, often trigger suicides among teens.
Adolescent Suicide is Treatable and Preventable
Many teens who are considering suicide suffer from depression. People who are depressed and thinking about suicide often show changes in their behavior that are usually an outgrowth of depression and are warning signs. If teens show these warning signs, talk to them about their concerns and get them help.
The warning signs include:
- noticeable changes in eating or sleeping habits;
- unexplained or unusually severe, violent or rebellious behavior;
- withdrawal from family or friends;
- running away;
- persistent boredom or difficulty concentrating;
- drug or alcohol abuse;
- unexplained drop in the quality of schoolwork;
- unusual neglect of appearance;
- drastic personality change;
- complaints of physical problems that are not real;
- a focus on themes of death;
- giving away prized possessions; and
- talking about suicide or making plans, even jokingly.
Before committing suicide, people often threaten to kill themselves. These threats should always be taken seriously, as should previous suicide attempts. Most people who commit suicide have made at least one previous attempt.
According to a 1991 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, 27 percent of high school students had thought about suicide, 16 percent had a plan, and 8 percent made an attempt.Remember, depression and suicidal feelings are treatable mental disorders. First, listen to adolescents. A professional must then diagnose a teen's illness and determine a proper treatment plan. Many suicidal teens are pleading for help in their own way. Teens need to feel that there is hope--that people will listen, that things will get better, and that they can overcome their problems. Teens need to share their feelings.
Strategies for Helping Depressed Teens
- Talk, ask questions and be willing to really listen. Don't dismiss teens' problems as unimportant. Parents and other influential adults should never make fun of or ignore adolescents' concerns, because they matter a great deal to them and are making them unhappy.
- Be honest. If you're worried about a teen, say so. You will not spark thoughts of suicide just by asking about it.
- Share your feelings. Let teens know they are not alone and that everyone feels sad or depressed at times.
- Get help for teens and yourself. Talk to their pediatricians, teachers, counselors, clergy or the trained professionals. Don't wait for the problem to go away. Although feelings of sadness and depression can disappear as quickly as they came, they also can build to the point that adolescents think of suicide as the only way out. Be careful not to assume that teens' problems have been so easily solved.
A teen attempting suicide should immediately be taken to a hospital emergency room for a psychiatric evaluation. If a depressed adolescent is assessed to be safe to go home, it's a good idea to remove from the home any lethal, accessible means to commit suicide, such as medications, firearms, razors, knives, etc.
This information was excerpted from the brochure "Surviving: Coping With Adolescent Depression and Suicide" (copyright 1990-Rev. 2/95) with permission from the American Academy of Pediatrics
Sources for Suicide Prevention Information
American Academy of Pediatrics
141 Northwest Point Blvd.
Elk Grove Village, IL 60009-0927
(847) 228-5097
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
3615 Wisconsin Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20016
(202) 966-7300
American Psychiatric Association
1400 K St., NW, Suite 501
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 682-6000
American Psychological Association
750 First St., NE
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 336-5700
National Mental Health Association
1021 Prince St.
Alexandria, VA 22314-2971
(800) 969-6642
American Association of Suicidology
4201 Connecticut Ave., NW
Suite 310
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 237-2280
This information was reprinted with permission from the National Rural Health
Association. For more information, contact the National Rural Health Association,
One West Armour Blvd., Ste 301, Kansas City, MO 64111; (816) 756-3140 or access
our World Wide Web site at http://www.NRHArural.org.
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