Suicide Warning Signs in Teens

 There are a number of factors that can lead to teens facing thoughts of suicide, or having problems with substance abuse, self-harm, depression or risk-taking. They include but are not limited to being exposed to traumatic loss, going through a life-threatening event, and seeing violence. It is important that those around teens, their parents, as well as adults at schools, should be observant and know what some of the warning signs are. This is the best way that suicide prevention can happen. Almost two-thirds of teens in schools have said they have thought about suicide. Boys are more likely to die by suicide, and girls make more attempts. Signs should not be ignored or dismissed.

Why do teen suicide rates continue to rise?

There are a number of reasons for the teen suicide rate being on the rise. The pandemic certainly had a negative impact as at-risk youths had to spend more time in homes where they were not safe or loved. It is also easier now than it ever has been for them to find the tools they want to use, most commonly girls prefer pills and boys choose guns. When the difficulty is at school youths are not getting the break from bullying when they get home because it continues online.

Teens are also under a lot of pressure, grades, getting into the right schools, peer pressure, parental pressure and more. More children grow up in homes where there is only one parent, or where both work and so are not home and time is limited. Most teens who think about suicide feel that their families do not get them or care. Suicide prevention means changing the way some parents communicate with their kids.

Warning signs of suicide

Things to look for or that indicate a teen could be at risk include;

1. Having tried to die by suicide before. It becomes a coping style that a lot of teens will repeat.
2. Making arrangements for their belongings, giving away jewelry, pictures, clothes and such.
3. Leaving suicide notes - any such things should never be brushed off as them just looking for attention.
4. Making threats about hurting themselves, sometimes direct ones like I want to kill myself, or indirect ones like No one would miss me if I was gone. Sometimes it is said in a joking manner, sometimes it might be revealed in school work like essays or stories they have to write, or in artwork or music.
5. Acting out, which can include risk taking like driving too fast, aggressive actions, and substance or alcohol abuse.
6. Hurting themselves cutting or marking their body, running into traffic, jumping from risky heights.
7. Being depressed. While not every teen with warning signs of suicide is depressed, some are. This can include thoughts of things being hopeless and feeling helpless.

Conclusion

In order to prevent teen suicides we need to ensure there are more resources directed towards the issue, and that people are talking about it. That does not mean sensationalizing it. But talking about suicide is not going to drive youths to do it. In fact, when communication is open and done properly, it can prevent it.