TEEN SUICIDE
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www.TheCitizensWhoCare.org
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Serious about commiting suicide call here:
1-800-SUICIDE
The statistics contained
in this article are gathered from studies done by
the National Institute of Mental Health.
Persons under 25 account for 15% of all
suicides.
Between 1952 and 1995, the incidence of suicide
among adolescents and young adults nearly
tripled.
Many who make suicide attempts never seek
professional care immediately after the
attempt.
Suicide was the eighth leading cause of death of
all Americans, the third leading cause of death for
15-24 year olds, behind unintentional injury and
homicide.
More men than women die by suicide. The gender
ratio is 4:1.
The risk for suicide among young people is greatest
among young white males although the suicide rates
increased most rapidly among young black males.
73% of all suicide deaths are white males.
80% of all firearm suicide deaths are white
males.
Although suicide among young children is a rare
event, the dramatic increase in the rate among
persons aged 10-14 underscores the urgent need for
intensifying efforts to prevent suicide among
persons in this age group..
More teenagers and young adults die from suicide
than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth
defects, stroke, pneumonia and influenza, and
chronic lung disease, combined.
Teen
Suicide Warning Signs
Studies show that 4 out of 5 teen suicide
attempts have been preceded by clear warning signs.
Make sure you know them.
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry has assembled this list of indications.
If one or more of these signs occur, parents should
talk to their teenager and seek professional help.
If this is an emergency - contact 911.
Pay attention to these suicide warning
signs:
Unusual
changes in eating and sleeping habits
Withdrawal from friends, family, and regular
activities
Excessive drug and alcohol abuse
Unusual neglect of personal appearance
Marked personality change
Persistent boredom, difficulty
concentrating, or a decline in the quality of
schoolwork
Frequent complaints about physical symptoms,
often related to emotions, such as stomachaches,
headaches, fatigue, etc.
Loss of interest in pleasurable
activities
Not tolerating praise or rewards
Complaints of feeling “rotten
inside”
Giving verbal hints such as “Nothing
matters,” “It’s no use,” or
“I won’t be a problem for you much
longer”
Putting his or her affairs in order by
giving or throwing away favorite possessions or
belongings.
Source: Maureen Empfield,
M.D. and Nicholas Bakalar
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©2007-2009,
www.TheCitizensWhoCare.org/brookings/teensuicide.html
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