Suicide is Preventable. Signs to watch for.

“It’s never going to happen to me.”

“They would never do that.”

“Oh, quit being stupid, you’re not going to do that to yourself.”

And then it’s too late and you wish you would have paid attention.

The Teen Suicide Statistics and Facts states the causes and signs that relate to thoughts and attempts of suicide and I’ve documented them below.

Causes of teen suicide:

• Divorce of parents.
• Violence in the home.
• Inability to find success at school.
• Feelings of worthlessness.
• Rejection by friends or peers.
• Substance abuse.
• Death of someone close to the teenager.
• The suicide of a friend or someone he or she “knows” online.

Signs that your teenager may attempt suicide:

• Talks about death and/or suicide (maybe even with a joking manner).
• Plans ways to kill him or herself.
• Expresses worries that nobody cares about him or her.
• Has attempted suicide in the past.
• Dramatic changes in personality or behavior.
• Withdraws from interacting with friends and family.
• Shows signs of depression.
• Shows signs of a substance abuse problem.
• Begins to act recklessly and engage in risk-taking behaviors.
• Begins to give away sentimental possessions.
• Spends time online interacting with people who glamorize suicide and maybe even form suicide pacts.

Effort.  It takes effort to realize or start to acknowledge that something just isn’t right with your teenager, friend, neighbor, relative, etc.  You have to be aware and in tune with their day to day activities and living and notice when things are starting to change.  You can try to prevent it as much as humanely possible, however I suggest not pushing too far to the point that it negatively affects the person you are addressing. 

Counseling.  Individual or as a family.  Discuss.  Interact.  Talk about things that are bothering them, ask what is wrong, but proceed carefully to not push that person overboard.  They are tender right now; remember that. 

Medical Help and/or Treatment.  Talk to a doctor.  Again, proceed with caution and tread carefully as to not make the person feel like they are a failure or a loser for needing help.  They are already hurt and feeling lifeless, remember that.  Depending on the severity and increased risk or concern of attempted suicide; send your child, teen, young adult, middle aged adult – ANYONE of ANY age to a treatment facility.  Drop them off and leave.  Do not give them a chance to say no; you are doing this because you care and love them.  Tough Love is an understatement.

Medication.  You cannot force anyone to take a pill everyday.  As much as you want to, you can’t.  Some will absolutely refuse it; some people (like me) will gladly accept it and take it everyday because they know it will make them feel better.  From my personal point of view, you need to exhaust all efforts prior to medication.  You cannot just take them to a doctor, get a medication and think that will fix the problem because 9 times out of 10, it’s not just getting that “happy pill” that fixes everything.  Counseling, inpatient or outpatient therapy, talking, group therapy, etc are all important factors in this treatment process.

Love.  Love beyond measure, pray with all you have and show compassion in ways you never thought you could.  A person who is on the verge of suicide or severely depressed is likely going to turn their back on anyone showing any affection to them because they do not want to deal with it; nor do they believe what that person is saying to them even though the person expressing their love is doing it in the most sincere caring way possible.  Tender, fearful, worried, depressed, worthless… these are all feelings going through someones mind on the verge of suicide.  Show them love in ways that you don’t usually do it.  Don’t drown them with all things love; that may make them realize that you’re catching on to their motives or thoughts and make them either A) get more depressed or B) push them further to the edge.  Show care and concern discreetly; keep it light but extremely heartfelt.  You know what I’m talking about.

Remember.  They are not themselves right now.  They do not see that there will EVER be a light at the end of the tunnel.  They truly think that life is only going to get worse.  It’s a feeling of doom, guilt, fear, depression, neglect amongst several other things that is holding them in the black hole they are in.  That person that appears to be always happy, always thoughtful, always shows concern; that may be the person that is hurting the most.  Pay attention.  Be attentive to your friends and family; realize when friends start being hurtful, mean, etc, and listen to your child, friend, neighbor, etc when they are crying out for help.  They may not do it in a way of sadness, fear, crying; it may be something completely opposite like turning to drugs, alcohol, hanging out with the wrong crowd, not caring about school anymore or grades, not carrying about their behavior, etc.  Just be attentive and alert to what’s going on in their life.

The National Institute of Mental Health shows several statistics that are worth reading. 

They say suicide is a major, preventable public health problem.  In 2006, it was the eleventh leading cause of death in the U.S., accounting for 33,000 deaths.  The overal rate was 10.9 suicide deaths per 100,000 people.  An estimated 12 to 25 attempted suicides occur per every suicide death.  Suicidal behavior is complex.  Some risk factors vary with age, gender, or ethnic group and may occur in combination or change over time.

They state as well, some additional risk factors for suicide that include:

• depression and other mental disorder, or a substance-abuse disorder (often in combination with other mental disorders).  More than 90 percent of people who die by suicide have these risk factors.
• prior suicide attempt
• family history of mental disorder or substance abuse
• family history of suicide
• family violence, including physical or sexual abuse
• firearms in the home, the method used in more than half of suicides
• incarceration
• exposure to the suicidal behaviors or others, such as family members, peers, or media figures.

However, suicide and suicidal behavior are not normal responses to stress; many people have these risk factors, but are not suicidal.  Research also shows that the risk for suicide is associated with changes in the brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, including serotonin.  Decreased levels of serotonin have been found in people with depression, impulsive disorders, and a history of suicide attempts, and the brains of suicide victims.  *My input:  This can be a huge point to explain to your child, teen, friend, neighbor, etc that you are fearful for in regards to suicide that it’s not just them; this affects thousands of people.  They cannot help the chemicals in their brain and what happens with them. 

Are women or men at higher risk?

• Suicide was the seventh leading cause of death for males and the sixteenth leading cause of death for females in 2006.
• Almost four tiems as many males as females die by suicide.
• Firearms, suffocation, and poison are by far the most common methods of suicide, overall.  However, men and women differ in the method used, as shown below.
• Percentage of Suicide methods in Males:
• 1. Firearms:  56%
• 2. Suffocation:  23%
• 3. Poisoning:  13%
• Percentage of Suicide methods in Females:
• 1. Firearms:  31%
• 2. Suffocation:  19%
• 3. Poisoning:  40%

Is suicide common among children and young people?

In 2006, suicide was the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24.  Of every 100,000 young people in each age group, the following number died by suicide:

• Children ages 10 to 14 — 1.3 per 100,000
• Adolescents ages 15 to 19 — 8.2 per 100,000
• Young Adults ages 20 to 24 — 12.5 per 100,000

Gender differences in suicide among young people include:

• Over four times as many males as females ages 15 to 19 died by suicide.
• More than six times as many males as females ages 20 to 24 died by suicide.

Are older adults at risk?

Older Americans are disproportionately likely to die by suicide.

• Of every 100,000 people ages 65 and older, 14.2 died by suicide in 2006.  This figur eis higher than the national average of 10.9 suicides per 100,000 people in the general population.
• Non-Hispanic white men age 85 or older had an even higher rate, with 48 suicide deaths per 100,000.

Are Some Ethnic Groups or Races at Higher Risk?

Of every 100,000 people in each of the following ethnic/racial groups below, the following number died by suicide in 2006.

• Highest Rates:
• American Indian and Alaska Natives — 15.1 per 100,000
• Non-Hispanic Whites — 13.9 per 100,000
• Lowest Rates:
• Hispanics — 4.9 per 100,000
• Non-Hispanic Blacks — 5.0 per 100,000
• Asian and Pacific Islanders — 5.7 per 100,000

What are some risk factors for nonfatal suicide attempts?

• As noted, an estimated 12 to 25 nonfatal suicide attempts occur per every suicide death.  Men and the elderly are more likely to have fatal attempts than are women and youth.
• Risk factors of nonfatal suicide attempts by adults include depression and other mental disorders, alcohol and other substance abuse and separation or divorce.
• Risk factors for attempted suicide by youth include depression, alcohol or other drug-use disorder, physical or sexual abuse, and disruptive behavior.
• Most suicide attempts are expressions of extreme distress, not harmless bids for attention.  A person who appears suicidal should not be left alone and needs immediate mental-health treatment.

If you are in a crisis and need help right away:
Call toll-free, 24 hours a day, every day:  1-800-273-TALK (8255).  You will reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a service available to anyone.  You may call for yourself or someone you care about.  All calls are confidential.