Teen Suicide

Karra is a sixteen-year-old girl who has been under an extreme amount of stress lately. She has been struggling in school and is failing one of her classes. She just broke up with her boyfriend and her parents are going through a divorce. She feels like there is no way out of her saddened life. She feels like her only option is…. suicide.
Suicide is a real issue looking today’s youth in the face each and every day. Maybe you have been in Karra’s situation where you feel there is no other way out. Maybe you know someone who has thought about attempting suicide, or maybe you know someone who has taken their life because they thought there was no other way out. Statistics show that one in every ten teens has suicidal thoughts. In Clay County Missouri the number of suicides and suicidal attempts has become an issue. In 2006 eight people in Clay County, between the ages of 15 and 24, committed suicide. Of those eight attempts, three of them were committed by the use of a firearm and five of them by the use of other means (U.S.DHSS, 2007). Although there are no cures for the successful attempt, there are signs, which everyone can look for to help either yourself or a friend in need.
Suicidal thoughts enter the minds of teens due to feelings of sadness, stressful events, feelings of being overwhelmed, and the fear that their depressive state will never get better. Some events that may cause these feeling include but are not limited to the death of someone close, violence in the home, divorce of their parents, struggling in school, depression, drugs and alcohol use or abuse, break- ups with boyfriends or girlfriends, feeling like they do not belong, feeling alone, etc (USDHSS, 2006).
If you know someone who has suicidal thoughts, or you yourself are having suicidal thoughts, there are things that can be done to help. The most important thing you can do is take the suicidal thoughts seriously. Do not tell them that these thoughts will go away or they will get better on their own. The next thing you should do is notify an adult of the suicidal thoughts. This can be your parents, a teacher, a counselor, a doctor, etc. Tell someone who can help. You can also listen to them while they talk about their feelings. Never tell them not to worry about their feelings, or that the feelings will go away on their own and they will get better on their own. Never leave anyone alone that you feel may be in danger of hurting themselves. There are also hotlines, which can be used if needed. The hotline centers have trained professionals who can talk about problems and sort through their feelings (U.S. DHSS, 2006).
If you know someone is suicidal there are things, which can serve as protective factors. This includes but is not limited to clinical care for those with psychological disorders, limited access to items that can be used to attempt suicide, a strong support system of friends, family, and health care personnel, help developing skills to cope with stressful situation, and a strong support system of religious beliefs (U.S.DHSS, 2006).
The most important thing to remember is to always take any suicidal thoughts seriously. These thoughts are not a joke, and this is a sign that the person in need, needs help.

References:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2006). Teen suicide. WebMd. Retrieved on September 3, 2008 from:
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/teen-suicide

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services /MICA (2007). Missouri Information for Community Assessment. Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. Retrieved on September 3, 2008 from:
http://www.dhss.mo.gov/MICA/