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The Silent Epidemic: Teen Suicide
“I told u I was hardcore. ...
Since 1960, the teen suicide rate has more than tripled. This year, at least 700,000 high school students will attempt suicide -- one in every 13 high school students in the United States (Shaugnessy). ... In fact, more teenagers and young adults die from suicide than cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia and influenza, and chronic lung disease combined (NAMI). What’s causing this remarkable rising trend in teen suicide?
There is no one cause of suicide - it is the result of a combination of factors. ... The role of biology in depression, aggression and impulsive behaviors in suicide attempts and completed suicides is being studied more in-depth because of these new startling statistics.
With respect to the psychology of suicide, there is no main theory. ... Disruptions in relationships increase the risk of depression and also the risk for suicide in some groups. ... Durkheim hypothesized that the connectedness of people to their society and the meaning that they find in their social environments are important factors in suicide (Encyclopedia Britannica).
All three theories are important ways of thinking about suicide, and they all have suggestions for prevention and intervention.
The biological aspect of teenagers who commit suicide has to do with chemical imbalances in the brain, physical illnesses, physical or learning disabilities, chemical changes during puberty, or a physical dependency on drugs or alcohol. ... The mental disorders with impulsiveness most linked to suicide include borderline personality disorder among young females, conduct disorder among young males, and alcohol and substance abuse among young and middle-aged males. ... Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder that has impulsiveness as a characteristic is not a strong risk factor for suicide by itself. Impulsiveness has been linked with aggressive and violent behaviors including homicide and suicide, but impulsiveness without aggression or violence present has also been found to contribute to risk for suicide. ... Low levels of serotonin metabolite have been detected in cerebral spinal fluid in people who have attempted suicide, as well as by studies examining certain parts of the brain of a suicide victim. ... Teenagers commit suicide because there is too much pain in their lives and they can do one of the two things: move from the pain or learn to cope with the pain.
Approximate Word count = 1860
Approximate Pages = 7.4
(250 words per page double spaced)
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