Suicide among our nation’s youth, a population very vulnerable to self-destructive emotions, has perhaps received the most discussion of late. Maybe this is because teenage suicide seems the most tragic—lives lost before they’ve even started. Yet, while all of this recent focus is good, it’s only the beginning. We cannot continue to lose so many lives unnecessarily. Some Basic Facts In 1996, more teenagers and young adults died of suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia and influenza, and chronic lung disease combined.
Society has identified depression and suicides among the elderly are a social problem, but little have been done to educate the public. The elderly are estimated to be about 12.5% of the population and according to the National Institute of Aging (NIA), the elderly accounted for about 15.7% of all suicides deaths. In 2007, the rate of suicide for the elderly was about 14.3 per 100,000. The numbers add up to one elderly committing suicide every 97 minutes. Among those that are 65 and older, there were about 14.9 per 100,000 reported... ... middle of paper ... ...ohol abuse play important role in triggering suicide attempts.
According to Harvard School of Public Health (n.d.), suicide affects parents, children, siblings, friends, lovers and spouses; the loss for society is psychological, spiritual, and financial. People who lose a loved one to suicide often experience devastating effects and deal with a complex grief. These “suicide survivors” typically feel a range of emotions from sadness, blame, and guilt to extreme anger and confusion. “Suicide among males is four times higher than among females and represents 79% of all U.S. suicides” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 2012). This gender paradox is one of the most compelling components regarding who is most at risk to attempt suicide.
Suicide ranks as a leading cause of death but by knowing and understanding symptoms and causes suicide can be prevented. Suicide is an intentional attempt to kill oneself whether it is successful or unsuccessful. Suicide accounts for about one percent of all deaths in the United States each year (Disease, Condition or General Health Topic). During the last two decades suicide rates among teenagers has increased three hundred percent (Coleman 1). Suicide attempts far outnumber actual suicides (Disease, Condition or General Health Topic).
Over the past 15 years, the rate among girls has scarcely changed, but the rate among boys has tripled. Also, the rate among non-white males, even though it's still lower than the white male rate, has been rising most quickly of all. Suicide remains the second leading cause of death among whites after accidents and the third among blacks after homicides and accidents. Teen suicide is now considered a national mental health problem. The main two causes for teen suicide is the mental disease of depression and family problems.
Every year, approximately 4,600 young lives are taken because of suicide (Washington State Department of Health “Teen Suicide”). Even more youths attempt suicide and survive and survive than those who were actually lost. Every year about 157,000 youths between ages ten and twenty-four receive medical care for self-inflicted injuries (Washington State Department of Health “Teen Suicide”). The top three ways youth attempt to commit suicide is firearms, such as guns, suffocation and poisoning. Boys are more likely than girls to die from suicide, though girls are most likely to report attempting it.
We should explore ways to increase the amount of reading among all teenagers. Teen depression is a serious problem that can lead to self harm and in extreme cases suicide. Over five percent of our teen population is being affected by this issue. Depression, leading to suicide is one of the leading causes of death for teen (Mcbride, 2012). Increasing reading among teens is one of many ways we should look into to try and help the teen depression crisis.
In young people, the suicide rate is relatively low (13.5/100,000 in 1993), but it is still a leading cause of death. In older people, the suicide rate is very high, but it is not a leading cause of death (in white males over 85, the suicide rate in 1993 was 73.6/100,000). In all age groups, men commit suicide successfully more than women (around four times as much). However, females are more likely to attempt suicide than males do. In 1998, white males accounted for 73% of all suicides.
Some studies show that another reason for suicide would be unemployment. “ A 2010 study by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that adults ages: eighteen to twenty five were far more likely to have seriously considered suicide in the last year than those ages: twenty six to forty nine, and nearly here times more likely those fifty or older” (Cullota) Steve Seweryn, an epidemiologist with the Cook County Department of Public Health, agreed that it’s difficult to find out exactly why young adults take their own lives. Teenagers in high school and just starting their college years are at high risk for suicide. Problems with a relationship or getting rejected from a college, feeling sa... ... middle of paper ... .... That teen might fall behind in school, because she might be the only one to watch the baby. Having a child shouldn’t add to the stress that any normal teenager would have.
Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death for children ages 10-14 and the third leading cause of death for teenagers 15-19. Recent evidence suggests it is the lack of substance abuse, guns, and relationship problems in younger children which accounts for the lower suicide rates in this group. The main way children kill themselves depends on what lethal means are available and their age. In countries where guns are readily available, such as the USA, that is the usual cause of suicide. Other causes are strangling and poisoning.