Adolescent Suicide and What Everyone Should Know.

Adolescent Suicide and What Everyone Should Know

By Meena Thimmana

CMYR 2000 6.0 H

Karen Armstrong

Thursday May 25, 2004

Adolescent Suicide and What Everyone Should Know

To most, the thought of suicide is one that never enters their mind. For many others, it’s a daily consideration that haunts them. Suicide does eventually enter all of our lives, either directly or indirectly but the situation becomes more cruel and unfair when a youth commits suicide. Even though this is a current crisis in today’s society, youth for all of history and in all cultures have resorted to this ultimate form of self-destruction in some way. It is important for we as teachers to know as much as we can about this serious issue because if we have not encountered it yet, we will at some point in our teaching lives. Teachers must know about the risk factors, the warning signs, the reasons, how to intervene and how to prevent suicide because nowadays there is huge potential for somebody considering such a thing to enter a classroom. The reason that I chose this, as my topic is because of a story that I was once told about a boy in grade 8 who was from a happy healthy family life, went to a respected school and lived in a respected neighbourhood. He hung himself from his stairs only to be found by his mother coming home from grocery shopping. The boy lived quite close to me and went to school with many of my friends. This shocked the whole school, neighbourhood and of course his family. Even though everything in this boys world was perfect, though it seemed, the boy was still feeling as if his life was not worth living and that the only solution was suicide. I’m sure that his parents, teachers and friends had no idea because it never would have crossed their mind. This shows that they did not know enough about the situation because they were not looking for it, because they thought that it would never even be a possibility. The main focus of this paper will be to alert awareness in its readers and to show them that this can, and may happen at some point in their lives, and to be aware of the potentials of suicide because knowing may help save lives.

Some basic facts about adolescent and teen suicide is necessary to see how severe the problem is. Suicide is more frequent in teenagers but one must keep in mind that it does occur in those of younger ages as well. The teen years are not the best years of one’s life, it is usually more of an anxious and unsettling period, as boys and girls are forced to redefine themselves as adults. This is a stressful and confusing time in their lives and often leads to confusion and sometimes isolation from family or peers. In our society “Suicide is the second leading cause of death, followed by motor vehicle accidents, among teenagers and young adults” (Davis, 11). On average “adolescents within the ages of 15-19 have an annual suicide rate of 12-13 out of 100 000 people” (Flanders 34). Even more frightening is that for “children 12-16 years of age, suicide is of consideration among 10% of boys and 20% of girls” (Haim 12). “Suicide attempts are 14 times higher for gay and lesbian adolescents than their heterosexual peers” (Haim 12). Girls tend to attempts suicide more often than boys but boys are about 4 times more likely to succeed. This is due to the method that boys tend to choose, which is often using firearms or hanging, and are far more lethal than those chosen by girls, such as drug overdoses or cutting themselves. These facts are in Canada, the United States have different statistics. In the States, in 1997, “more adolescents died from suicide than AIDS, cancer, heart disease, birth defects and lung disease” (Hyde 16). “The rate of adolescent suicide in adolescent males has tripled between 1960 and 1980” (Hyde 18). Rates of suicide for female adolescents have increased two to three fold. There are far more suicidal attempts and gestures than actual completed suicides and one study shows that “there were 23 suicidal gestures and attempts for every completed suicide” (Davis, 11). It is very important however, to pay attention to those who attempt it because in one study 10% of those who attempt suicide went on later to complete it. This is why the warning signs are of much importance.

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Even though there are many common signs of a student having suicidal thoughts, it is still relatively hard to predict. It is even more difficult to distinguish between those who are likely to attempt suicide from those who will actually succeed in it. However, in “roughly 80% of cases, adolescents who complete suicide have shared their thoughts, feelings, and intent to kill themselves prior to the act” (Flanders 23). Of course it is not possible to prevent every suicide, but it is possible to recognize changes in behaviour and the existence of common issues that may bring on suicidal behaviour. Teachers and family members can help. Knowledge of the warning signs and risk factors may help people to intervene and take action to alleviate it. The warning signs that may show up in the classroom include a marked decline in school performance and levels achieved, skipping classes and opting out of school activities, poor concentration, sleepiness, inattentiveness, unusually disruptive or rebellious behavior, death or suicide themes dominate written, artistic or creative work, loss of interest in previously pleasurable activities and inability to tolerate praise or rewards. Unhappy events in a child’s life may also cause some warning signs so to know about what is going on in student’s lives outside of school is vital. For example the student may have experienced an event in his or her life that may have triggered suicidal thoughts. These include, a friend, peer, family member, or hero (such as a sports figure or musician) that may have recently attempted or committed suicide, unrealistic or high expectations to perform from a parent, having a parent with depression or substance abuse problems, loss of a parent or close family member through death or divorce, breakup with girlfriend or boyfriend, disruptive or abusive family life, abuse of drugs or alcohol, fear of pregnancy, major disappointment or humiliation, incest, uncertainty surrounding sexual orientation (such as bisexuality or homosexuality), exposure to violence in the home or social environment and history of sexual abuse. Some “changes may also appear in a child’s interpersonal behaviour such as, giving away prized possessions, sudden changes in relationships, mood swings and occasional outbursts, withdrawing from friends and social involvements, feelings of guilt, failure, having no control over their lives, taking excessive risks and not wanting to be touched by others” (Hyde 67). The list of warning signs and trigger events that could appear in a child goes on and on. These are just a few of the possible signs that teachers, parents and others should be aware of. If any of these signs do appear however, it does not mean that the child is going to commit suicide or is thinking about it, it is just better to be safe and eye on the child, monitor their behaviour and talk with the student. On the other hand, even if a child shows only one of these signs, he or she may be having suicidal thoughts but does not display any stress. Distinguishing between when to worry and not went to worry is impossible. Teachers should always be aware and establish and maintain a positive relationship with their students so that if a students does have issues he or she can feel comfortable talking to the teacher.

There are other reasons that adolescents nowadays feel the need to turn to suicide to make their problems go away. One of them is depression. About 8 out of 10 suicides, according to a study, are committed by people who are depressed. Depression is a “mental disorder and it causes chemical imbalances in the brain” (Davis 34), which can lead to hopelessness, lethargy or general apathy towards life. It is usually characterized by long-lasting feelings of sadness and hopelessness and it has huge negative effects on their personal and social lives. Children “have changes in their appetite, activity level, sleep pattern, loss of interest in activities that they normally enjoy, social withdrawal, thoughts of death or punishment” (Davis 55), and many others. Reports of feeling symptoms of depression have been made by almost half of 14 and 15 year olds, which makes coping with the extensive stresses of adolescence even more difficult. Often symptoms of depression in youth are overlooked or passed off as being typical “adolescent turmoil.”

Substance abuse is also a possible cause or cover-up for a child who is suffering from suicidal thoughts. Sometimes teens try alcohol or other drugs to try to relieve their stresses or depression. Unfortunately, the drugs themselves have a depressant effect and lower their ability to think clearly therefore, aiding themselves in impulse behaviour. Teenagers may be involved with legal or illegal drugs in many ways. Experimentation with drugs during adolescence is quite common, however, teenagers often don’t see the link between their actions today and the consequences tomorrow. They also have a tendency to feel indestructible and immune to the problems that others experience when they are on drugs. Other horrible commonalities, such as using alcohol and tobacco at a young age, increase the risk of using other drugs later on. Some teens will experiment and stop, or continue to use occasionally, without experiencing significant problems. Others will develop a “dependency, moving on to more dangerous drugs and causing significant harm to themselves and possibly others” (Haim 109), which has been known to happen quite a bit. Adolescence is a time for trying new things and experimenting, and often children use these experiments as escape routes from the stress of daily life. Teens use drugs for many other reasons including, curiosity, because it feels good, to feel grown up or to fit in and often to feel numb. It is difficult to know which teens will experiment and stop, and which will develop serious problems. Quite often suicides occur under the influence of some sort of drug or alcohol, therefore knowing if a child is abusing such things will help with preventing certain things from occuring.

Another common factor attributing to adolescent suicide is behaviour problems. Children who get in trouble with the law, principals, teachers, parents, etc, are at a risk for suicide. Often misleading conceptions of possible suicide victims are those who are sensitive, shy people who are overwhelmed by life. It is not often thought that the cocky, obnoxious adolescent in the classroom are potentially the self-destructive one. They continue to get in trouble, and keep the world at arm’s length and perhaps it is just a call out for help or attention, but often it is too late. Frequently, hyperactivity disorder and anxiety are found in children who have suicidal thoughts. It is important to note that all factors and warning signs being discussed are simply the common ones, and not all adolescents experience these things.

Covering the signs for teachers too look out for is a very important aspect when dealing with suicide but also, if not more, important is how to help a student who is dealing with these kinds of thoughts. Support is one of the most important factors that a teacher can do to help a troubled child. Some examples of what teachers can do include, listening actively and teaching problem solving skills to help a child deal with their problems in a better way. Encourage positive thinking, instead of saying that he cannot do something, say that he will try his best. Help the student write a list of his or her good qualities. Give the student opportunities for success and give as much praise as possible. Help the student plan a step-by-step plan to achieve his or her goals. Talk to the students’ family so they can understand better how he or she is feeling. It may be beneficial for the student to have assertiveness training. Encourage them to help others because it may raise their self-esteem. Get the student involved in positive activities in the school or the community. If appropriate, involve the student in his or her religious community. Parents must also take a huge role in the recovering process and the child must always get professional help, whether it be mental or medical, no matter how “harmless” parents think their child is. Parents are often in denial about their children feeling this way and they have a hard time understanding that it is possible. What they need to do is support the child, show love and care and never make the child feel embarrassed about how they feel, instead help them to feel different. Parents really need to listen and avoid any sort of criticism and always remain connected to the child. It also would help the parents to be more informed about the issue of adolescent suicide by joining local support groups or reading about it in books or on the Internet.

Prevention of suicidal thoughts in children and teenagers start with knowledge in the classroom. It includes education efforts by schools and communities to alert children of the issues in suicidal behaviour. This may be done in a health class and having outside speakers discuss it with a class may be helpful as well. Awareness should address the factors that make individuals more vulnerable to suicidal thoughts, and how there are ways of dealing with them. Introducing students to different places where they can go for help like the counselor, teachers, parents, and other organizations will help the students realize that there are people who will help them. Teachers should review the facts and myths about suicide and alert them to warning signs so they can detect if a friend or fellow peer is having suicidal thoughts. Schools and communities can develop programs to encourage students to share their feelings and develop their interpersonal coping skills. These programs are meant to provide alternatives for solving problems other than suicide and to provide training in stress management and coping skills to help students deal with their problems. Promoting the development of listening and interpersonal skills to help students improve their relationship with peers, parents, teachers and others will help them reach out for help if they ever need it. Overall, the more students know about suicide and the sources of help, the more likely they will be to ask for help for themselves or others.

Intervention is aimed at protecting and helping students who are currently in distress and are suicidal. Many schools have a written protocol for dealing with a student who shows any signs of suicidal or other dangerous behaviour. Teachers should check with their schools for the policies for dealing with children who are in crisis situations in the classroom. If a child is in distress however in the classroom, there are some actions that a teacher must take. First is to calm the situation immediately if possible and never leave the suicidal student alone. Ask the student if he or she has any dangerous items with them, and if so, try to calmly, verbally persuade the student to give them to you. Do not engage in any sort of physical struggle. Call administration. Attempt to calmly escort the student away from other students to a safe place where he or she can be dealt with either by you or a profession if one comes to help. Be sure that there is always access to a telephone. It is important to always remain calm and to make sure that the other students are protected.

Postvention is what occurs after there has been a suicide in the school community. An attempted or completed suicide can have a powerful effect on the staff and on the students. There is no doubt that individuals close to the dead student may have years of distress. It is aimed to help those affected by the recent suicide and in all cases it is a good idea to have a clear plan in place in advance. Both staff members and administration should be involved. There should be clear protocols and clear lines of communication to avoid any chaos during the sensitive time. With careful planning and organization it will be quite effective. In the case of a suicide occurring to a student in a school there are some things that should be done. Schools should have teachers and staff learn about the suicide in the same manner, and they should tell the students also in that same manner because it is important that everybody hears the same thing. After they have been informed they should have the opportunity to talk about it, and those who wish, should be excused to talk to crisis counselors. Extra counselors should be available for students and staff who need to talk. Students who seem to be the most severely affected may need parental notification and possibly outside mental health referrals. Controlling rumors is also very important. It is also imperative to deal with the media properly. Overall this should be a time where those who are grieving should be able to do so anywhere and with anybody they can to help the healing process.

I think that through researching for this essay that I have gained a lot in important knowledge about adolescent suicide and it is now more of a concern with me as a teacher, and future parent, because it does happen often. I decided to do some fieldwork of my own on the topic and I talked to a three grade 11 girls who went to the nearby high school. I asked them first if they had ever had thoughts about suicide and none of them had ever considered it. When I asked them if they knew anybody who had attempted suicide, they all said yes. When I asked them if they knew anybody who had committed suicide, one had said yes, and the other two had said they knew of people in nearby schools who had. I found it interesting that I had only asked three students if they knew of anybody that had suicidal thoughts and they all did, which shows how common it actually is. It really scared me that this could be occurring so frequently in the safe area that I live in, but is never talked about. I’ve never had a workshop at high school dealing with it, or teachers talking about it, or teaching us about it. I truly think that changes need to be made and hopefully they will be made soon and not when the problem grows even more.

Adolescent suicide has become a growing, national tragedy. Some people consider adolescence to be a time “to have fun and enjoy life” before becoming weighed down with the responsibilities of adulthood, in reality however, it is not that at all. Adolescence nowadays has been described as “a critical period associated with many emotional and social conflicts, tensions, pressures, stresses, and home and school difficulties” (Hyde 2). It is during this time that adolescents are faced with the task of establishing a sense of personal identity. Attempted suicide is believed to be an effort to gain attention or to manipulate others rather than an actual desire to die and this is where it is most important to know the signs and be able to avoid such an act. Awareness in parents, teachers and peers can help avoid such a cry for help by always being there for the child and knowing how to help them. Many adolescents are believed to have died because their cries for help were not answered or those who heard it did not respond. With the information that has been researched to formulate this essay I feel that now I have obtained the first step towards addressing this tragedy, and now have a better understanding of suicidal behaviour in adolescents. I can now learn how to recognize and respond to these type of behaviour because I am fully aware of them now. I feel now that it is important for others to learn what I have learned because I feel that with this new knowledge I will be more aware of the horrible possibilities that may occur at some point in my career as a teacher. Reflecting back on what I have learned I feel as if people in my community are not aware enough about these issues. I look back at my adolescence and I know of at least 3 people in my community that have committed suicide, one of them went to my high school. I knew of at least 7 people who used to slit their wrists. One girl was quite close to me and I did not find out until quite a bit after she began to heal. It shocked me and I felt uncomfortable because I did not know what to say to her or how to deal with it. With all that I have researched I realize now more than ever that this is a major issue that teachers need to know about and address. It is something huge and people should know about all the warning signs and possible trigger events, and how to deal with certain situations and how to help those who need it, before it is too late. We as teachers are here not only to teach, but to reach out to students and help them because in the world that we live in now, children need more help than we know, and we have to be there for them.

Bibliography

Haim, Andre. Adolescent Suicide. New York: International Universities Press, Inc., 1976.
Davis, Patricia A. Suicidal Adolescents. Illinois: Thomas Books, 1983.
Flanders, Stephen A. Suicide. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 1991.
Hyde, Margaret O., and Forsyth, Elizabeth Held. Suicide. New York: Franklin Watts, 1991.
Richard O’Connor, Ph.D.