Suicide

Suicide is a topic that has always been around and hard to deal with. It is a hard topic that people prefer to avoid thinking about. Having the knowledge someone is planning to commit suicide can be scary and hard to deal with. Teens should always tell an adult if they are worried about a friend, even if it means betraying the friend’s trust. Having that kind of knowledge is a kind of power that no one wants to hold. To ease that burden and ensure your friend doesn’t commit suicide, tell a trusted adult. If any person is attempting suicide, an adult should dial 9-1-1 or take the person to the emergency room.

There is a myth that daring to ask someone if they’re planning to commit suicide will plant the idea in their brain and make it more likely for them to follow through on any plans. Terri Buysse, Ph.D in Clinical Psychology says, “A lot of people are afraid to ask about suicide because they’re afraid they’ll plant the idea in that person’s head.... That’s not how suicide works; a person usually feels suicidal because they’re in a lot of pain and feeling helpless to improve whatever situation they’re stuck in.”

While suicide could happen to anybody, Dr. Rodolfo Trivisonno, professor of psychiatry at the University of Washington says suicide is more prevalent in certain groups of people. For example, suicide is more common in Caucasians in the U.S. This could be due to cultural factors and differences in family structures. In the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Asexual, Pansexual (LGBTQAP) community suicide rates also tend to be higher. It is about one and a half to three times as common for teens to make a definite plan according to a variety of studies done by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center.

According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, teens who do drugs or alcohol are more likely to commit suicide. Sometimes a teen’s suicide could be considered an accident. Teens on drugs or alcohol are more likely to put themselves in potentially life threatening situations. This could be anything from getting in a fight to trying to balance on a bridge high up in the air. Doing this is considered suicide because the teen was the one to put themselves into the situation where they died. While many consider it an accident, there is a clear difference according to Buysse.

Bullying also plays a big role in suicide rates. Teens who have been bullied, were a bully, or even witnessed bullying are much more likely to commit suicide.

One last, much more preventable reason is a recent breakup. This could have no effect whatsoever if you surround yourself with positive people, but according the the National Alliance on Mental Illness, teens who have recently experienced a breakup are at a higher risk of suicide.

Having a good support system, whether it includes friends, family, a religious leader, or a trusted teacher, can stop the feeling of being alone or isolated. If a teen is worried about a friend, confiding in someone, prompted or spontaneously, can relieve the pressure of keeping a secret and save a life.

To help prevent suicide, it is important to be well informed of the warning signs of suicide. One of the main warning signs is a person talking a lot about death and wanting to kill themselves, even if it seems like a joke. Another is giving away possessions to people they think would want them. One last, slightly less common sign is actually a person appearing happier. Sometimes, if a person has a plan that they are 100 percent sure they will go through on, they will seem happier because they believe they are going to a better place soon.

These are just a few of the signs of suicide. For more information on them, or more signs, go to the website for American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Remember, these signs don’t mean a person is going to commit suicide, they are just something to watch for. The only sure way to know a person is going to commit suicide is to ask them straight out because sometimes a person’s brain will trick them into seeing clues when there is really nothing there.

The most common age for suicide is between 15 and 24, but it can still happen in middle school. One of the best ways to prevent suicide is to ensure parents are educated in the warning signs of suicide and what to do if they find out their child is considering it. Suicide is something that has no real solution; however, all adults have a responsibility to make sure all children and teenagers know they have someone to talk to and someone who would stop them from following through on any suicide attempts.

People who threaten to commit suicide aren’t weak, and even celebrities have gone through some hard times. Graham Moore mentioned his struggles in his speech at the Oscars: "I tried to commit suicide at 16 and now I’m standing here. I would like for this moment to be for that kid who feels like she doesn’t fit in anywhere. You do. Stay weird, and when it's your turn and you're standing on this stage, please pass the same message to the same person who comes along.” Moore says not to give up on yourself just because of what is happening in your life in the moment.

Psychotherapists are trained to help teens with suicidal thoughts and can help them get their lives back on track.

#iam #alissaberman #20142015