How to Save a Life
Teen suicide is a serious problem that takes the lives of thousands of teenagers each year. In fact, teen suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people. Attempted suicide is a call for help and it is figured that there is at least 25 suicide attempts made for every one that is completed. Females are more likely to attempt suicide than boys, however it is shown that boys are four times more likely to die from suicide attempts than females, due to the more violent methods boys tend to take. Risk factors include aggressive behavior, disruptive behavior, substance abuse and depression.
You may wonder if there is anyway you can tell if a teenager is having suicidal thoughts. Research has indicated that 80% of suicide attempts have had clear warning signs. A few of the warning signs teenagers might have include behavioral problem, sleep changes, declining grades in school, disinterest in activities they once enjoyed, and a withdrawal from both family and friends. Teenagers might also indicate that they are planning to commit suicide by the things they might say or the actions they might take. For example, a teenager could actually say “I won’t trouble you anymore” or they could be more discreet by giving away favorite belongings to family or friends. It is very important to contact someone who can help a teenager that might have some of the indicated warning signs, because in most of these cases, teenagers don’t know how to deal with the problems they are experiencing, and they are in fact looking for someone to help them.
If you have had a teenager that has attempted suicide there are certain factors that must be looked at before a treatment plan is developed for a teenager. Some of the things to take into consideration are the extent of a teen’s symptoms, the teen’s medical history, the opinions of the parents, and a teen’s tolerance to medications and therapies. Three of the common options include individual therapy, family therapy, and hospitalization. Individual therapy is where the teenager works one on one with a counselor, for example, while family therapy provides a supportive environment as the family learns to detail with the problems together. Hospitalization is for more extreme cases of suicide which can provide both safety and a supervised environment with therapeutic aspects. Hopefully, you will be able to identify the warning signs before a teenager can get to the point where they feel that suicide is their only solution.
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