Teen Suicide

The teenage years are remarkable milestones, but they are often completely overwhelming.  Characterized by physiological changes coupled with rising expectations, both personally and academically, the teenage years could well become a time of frustration and the inability to cope with the rapidly changing environment, a situation that could potentially culminate in teen suicide. 

 Teen suicide is undeniably a matter of concern.  If the statistics are to be believed, teen suicide is the third leading cause of death amongst the ages between fifteen and twenty four years of age.

The exponential increase in the incidence of teen suicide is scarcely surprising considering that regardless of what they look like physically, these are still young kids that are trying to deal with many difficult issues of which they have no background or experience to know how to handle. 


Risk Contributors Of Teen Suicide

The stress and strain of modern day living and rising expectations of troubled teen parents

Increased violence visibility over the media – television and newspapers

The rising competition for college admissions and exemplary grades

Increasing ease in access to weapons of violence

Limited quality family time due to strained parent relations or long working hours


Parent Awareness Of Their Teenager

The more aware parents are of their troubled teenagers, who are really more than desperate for solutions to their various issues instead of the 'know it all' attitude that they try to portray, is tremendously important in keeping problems from deteriorating to a point that the teen would consider suicide. 

This needs to be adoption of spending quality time together in an atmosphere that enables a free flow of communication with the teen.  Let your teenager give their point of view, whatever it may be, without fear of recrimination or being told that they are wrong; teenagers typically believe that  parents seldom understand or respect the teen viewpoint. 


Teenage Problems Which Are Potential Teen Suicide Tendencies

Teenage problems with potential suicidal tendencies are only going to be noticed by the parent that is aware, as opposed to the parent that is more concerned with disciplining their teenager's behavior; the teen parent needs to place compassion and comprehension above all else.

Sudden slip in school grades

A drastic transformation in personality with an withdrawn attitude

A progressive deterioration of teen peer group relationships – be it getting along with boyfriends/girlfriends or be it colleagues

Ominous signs of drug or alcohol abuse

Showing signs of a disorder and abbreviation of attention spans

Threatening to commit suicide and failed attempts

Altered eating patterns and a concurrent change in sleeping trends

Conceptualizing and writing on death


Happy Teens And Successful Teen Parenting

Successful parenting lies in the inherent instincts of the parents along with a willingness to be proactive regarding problems, instead of ignoring them in hopes that they will somehow solve themselves.  This is not going to happen, and it would be devastating to have your teenager commit suicide and always wonder if there was something that you could have done, something that you should have seen. 

Don't ignore the negatives because they are uncomfortable to confront.  Discuss living and the joys of life, and that the problems of today are not worth solving through suicide and giving these thing up.

Pay attention.  A good listening parent is worth more than a million talkers.

And always, reiterate your love, always reassuring the teenage while remember how vulnerable they are during this time of their life.

Some Concluding Thoughts

Teenager suicide is a growing, and horrible problem of modern times.  This is a problem that often may be avoided by the parent who will replace disciplining the teenager for the teen perspective, which may just be frustration over learning how to grow up.  It may take nothing more than some patient listening, and a constant reiteration of the love that the parent has for the teen.

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