Suicide in Adolescence: Warning Signs and Causes

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Suicide in Adolescence: Warning Signs and Causes

Introduction

Adolescence is a life stage that precedes reaching psychological maturity and social independence. For that reason, it involves the risks of extreme reactions to negative experiences, including impulsive decisions to end ones life. Adolescent suicide research sheds light on eight signs pointing to suicide risks, depression/relationship issues as the key causes contributing to suicidal ideation, and preventive recommendations, ranging from psychological assessments to crisis teams.

Suicide Signs, Causes, and Prevention: Research/Data: Warning Signs

In the adolescent population, the emergence of new behavioral patterns and interests can point to suicide risks. As per research reviewed by Feldman (2018), including over ten trials conducted between 2000 and 2013, eight warning signs are singled out in the adolescent population. Among them are drastic behavioral changes, preoccupations with death themes in art, talking about taking ones life, and declines in academic performance (Feldman, 2018). Other signs include making suspicious arrangements, trying to write a will, food intake abnormalities, and the symptoms of general depression, including mood, sleeping, and communication issues (Feldman, 2018). Thus, suicidal ideation has various direct and indirect manifestations in adolescence.

Common Suicide Causes and Differences between Adolescence/Adulthood

In adolescence, individuals may develop the idea of killing themselves due to dissatisfying interpersonal connections and persistent low moods. The prevalence of adolescent suicide has nearly tripled in the last 30 years to exceed 12 successful attempts per 100,000 individuals every year (Feldman, 2018). The most common causes of suicidal feelings in this demographic have not changed, with depression, family difficulties, including abuse, and issues in peer relationships acting as the leading contributors to reported incidents (Feldman, 2018). Suicide rates are much higher in adults aged 65 and older compared to adolescents, and the key motivations for taking ones life also differ considerably between the groups (Feldman, 2018). Adolescents are much less likely than their adult counterparts to attempt suicide due to severe psychiatric conditions, physical diseases causing unbearable suffering, including cancer, and financial issues (Feldman, 2018). Overall, these dissimilarities are reflective of their varying degrees of financial self-reliance and ability to withstand peer pressure.

Solutions/Suggestions for Prevention

Previous investigations into adolescent suicide suggest strategies to solve the problem and help those considering killing themselves. Case studies of an epidemic of self-killing in an unnamed Pennsylvania school in the late 1980s suggest that suicidal behaviors can be psychologically contagious (Feldman, 2018). These trends point to the need for forming school-based crisis intervention teams after a single suicide case as a preventive solution (Feldman, 2018). Guns availability in the U.S. facilitates suicidal adolescents access to the most effective means for fulfilling their plans, so stricter gun storage guidelines can also be seen as solutions (Feldman, 2018). Family violence screening strategies and school-based mental health assessments, including depression questionnaires, are other viable recommendations (Feldman, 2018). Concerning helping those with suicide-related thoughts, individual vulnerabilities, such as homosexuality, can be associated with receiving little help, suggesting the need to refer suicidal adolescents to specialized preventive services for their risk group (Feldman, 2018). Another suggestion refers to antidepressant drugs positive link to suicide risks (Feldman, 2018). It implies that helping adolescents that already receive depression treatment but suddenly develop suicidal thoughts should involve supporting their active communication with prescribers.

Conclusion

Finally, considering taking ones life as the only way to cope with suffering is a serious issue in adolescence that manifests itself in behavioral changes and unusual new interests. In this demographic group, resorting to suicide commonly stems from depression and unhealthy relationships with ones immediate social surroundings. The recommended interventions include hindering adolescents access to weapons, using crisis teams, and mental health/abuse screening at school.

Reference

Feldman, R. S. (2018). Child development (8th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

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