America faces a growing crisis, with teens losing their lives to suicide. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the rate of suicide deaths among individuals 10-24 years old increased 56 percent between 2007 and 2017. The CDC noted in 2015 that the suicide rate for males aged 15–19 years was 14.2 percent per 100,000 population.
As the issue continues to affect teens, parents need to understand the signs of suicide.
Consider the Data of Teenage Suicide
In the United States, suicide is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-34. The number of student suicides is staggering, but it’s even more troubling that one out of every 15 high school students report attempting suicide each year. With figures like this, you can understand why one out of every 53 high school students needs professional care.
Parents, guardians, and family members can play a crucial role in preventing suicide. You don’t need to go through this alone; seeking professional help will allow you and your teen the education and treatment options necessary to overcome thoughts and behaviors related to suicide.
Signs of Teenage Suicide
Signs of teenage suicide can include a change in behavior, depression, and anxiety. Other symptoms include talking about death or wishing they were dead. Pay attention to statements indicating they feel hopeless, helpless, trapped, have no reason to live anymore, or think life isn’t worth living anymore. Further signs include:
- Having trouble sleeping or eating well
- Sudden change in behavior or mood, such as a noticeable increase or decrease in school performance
- Unexplained withdrawal from friends and family members
- Making frequent and detailed plans for death, such as writing out instructions on how they would like their body disposed of after death
- Expressing feelings about the world being better off without them around
- Saying that life that makes no sense and expressing an inexplicable desire to die
- Talking repeatedly about wanting to” go away”
- Feeling hopeless about the future without any specific reason given for their feelings
- Neglecting personal appearance and hygiene
- Running away from home
- Risk-taking behavior, such as reckless driving or being sexually promiscuous
Triggers of Teenage Suicide
The factors that could trigger a teenager’s decision to commit suicide vary from person to person. Some triggering factors include mental illness, substance abuse, bullying, social media, physical or sexual abuse, or a family history of substance use disorders. It also involves them experiencing intense stress at home, work, and school with no apparent cause to explain such stress. Other triggers include:
- Problems with drug or alcohol use
- Witnessing the suicide of a family member or peer, especially a close one
- Problems at school, like failing classes or struggling to comprehend school material
- Loss of a parent or immediate family member through death or divorce
- The stresses of physical changes associated with puberty, chronic illness, and sexually transmitted infections
- Uncertainty surrounding sexual orientation
- Struggles with an eating disorder
The Impact of Suicide Attempt
The impact of suicide attempts can vary depending on the severity and type of incident. Some physical effects include:
- Bruising,
- Broken bones,
- Organ damage from falls;
- Loss of consciousness due to a concussion or other brain injury may occur as well.
Psychological effects such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD are common in cases with self-harm.
Helping Your Teen
There are specific steps you can take to prevent teen suicide. You must remember that this is a mental illness and not something someone wakes up one day and decides. Please provide your child with the support they need. There are many different ways to do this:
- Unconditional love,
- Listening without judgment
- Talking with them about what they’re going through and how you can help them
Such actions will help make the teen’s home safe and protected. Providing your child with these kinds of support will give them hope that they can overcome their struggles and get back on their feet.
Seek Professional Help
Consider sending them to a treatment center like Clearfork Academy. Such facilities provide comprehensive care and therapies. Mental health professionals offer teens coping and problem-solving skills to help teens deal with their struggles without becoming overwhelmed. Treatment centers ensure teens have access to good resources and tools to allow self-reflection and growth in areas important to teens. They also help with medication management, provide support groups and remain a source of support should they need help in the future. With proper help, your child can get through this challenging time and find their way back to health.
If your teen has been exhibiting signs of contemplating suicide, you need to talk with them. Remember to remain open to any concerns your child may have, no matter how vague they seem. Sometimes talking through this process will help them realize that there are other options than taking their own life. You should also plan to seek professional help. Being open and honest with your child about the support they need from you and professionals could help them find the courage to embrace treatment. At Clearfork Academy, we utilize treatments and therapies to help parents and teenagers deal with adolescent depression and the causes behind their suicide ideation. Our participants receive a safe place to discuss their feelings and receive support from professionals, family, friends, and peers. Our admissions staff is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Find out more about our programs and contact us by calling (817) 259-2597.
Originally from the Saginaw, Eagle Mountain area, Austin Davis earned a Bachelor of Science in Pastoral Ministry from Lee University in Cleveland, TN and a Master of Arts in Counseling from The Church of God Theological Seminary. He then went on to become a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor in the State of Texas.
Austin’s professional history includes both local church ministry and clinical counseling. At a young age, he began serving youth at the local church in various capacities which led to clinical training and education. Austin gained a vast knowledge of mental health disorders while working in state and public mental health hospitals. This is where he was exposed to almost every type of diagnosis and carries this experience into the daily treatment.
Austin’s longtime passion is Clearfork Academy, a christ-centered residential facility focused on mental health and substance abuse. He finds joy and fulfillment working with “difficult” clients that challenge his heart and clinical skill set. It is his hope and desire that each resident that passes through Clearfork Academy will be one step closer to their created design.
Austin’s greatest pleasures in life are being a husband to his wife, and a father to his growing children. He serves at his local church by playing guitar, speaking and helping with tech arts. Austin also enjoys being physically active, reading, woodworking, and music.
