Referat Teen Suicide
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3. The Generation Game
Teen Suicide
Every teen-ager no matter the color of his skin, his beliefs or his
origins is sometimes confused about his life. Some of the youngsters
don’t have someone to talk to or don’t feel comfortable talking to
their parents and relatives about their problems and doubts. One of the
solutions that teen-agers find is escaping from reality through the
consume of alcohol and narcotics or they run away from home.
The worst end of a youngster’s adolescence is death.
More and more, teen-agers seem to be turning to suicide as a desperate
solution to seemingly insolvable problems and feelings. Suicide is the
sixth leading cause of death for 5- to 14-year-olds and the third
leading cause for 15- to 24-year-olds. Alarmingly, the numbers are
growing.
Whether a teen-ager actually wants to die or not, his suicidal behavior
speaks of deep feelings of impotence and helplessness. Given the changes
and challenges that adolescence poses, including physical, hormonal
changes, social and academic demands and a shifting role in the family,
youngsters may well feel overwhelmed and alone. In addition, today’s
society offers a series of environmental stresses- divorce,
single-parent homes blended even families, poverty, overtaxed school
systems, negative peer pressure, as well as increased exposure to
violence and illicit drugs- that even the most resourceful youngster can
have difficulty managing.
Suicidal attempts are not uncommon with children and adolescents who
have drug problems or conduct disorders or whose behavior seems
aggressive rather than despondent. Although it may be tempting to
dismiss such attempts as manipulative, they must be taken seriously, not
only in terms of their immediate danger but also as possible expressions
of extreme frustration, pain, anger and impulsiveness. Youngsters with
conduct disorders are notoriously inarticulate and may illustrate their
pain with self-destructive acts.
At the same time, teen-age behavior may seem perplexing to parents. They
may wonder if what they observe is indeed a cause for concern. From time
to time, they will likely notice a number of problematic behaviors in
their teen-ager that could be warning signs for suicide. These include:
-Withdrawal or isolation, especially if your child has always been
gregarious and outgoing;
-Signs of self-mutilation;
-Violent behavior such as punching holes in walls, getting into fights
or self-destructive violence;
-A consistent pattern of running away from home;
-A significant change in sleeping patterns: suddenly sleeps all the time
or does not sleep at all.
-Neglect of personal appearance (most adolescents always want to look
their best, even if their idea of looking good is completely at odds
with yours;
-Lingering lethargy, a drop-off in schoolwork, loss of interest in
school;
-Loss of interest in recreational activities;
-Lack of interest in praise or rewards;
-Weepiness; abrupt or constant crying;
-Expressions of low self-esteem; feeling of worthlessness; “ I’m
simply no good “;
-References to the fact that he will not be around much longer to be a
burden to everyone;
-Indications that he is completely overwhelmed: “ What difference does
anything make “ or “ Life makes no sense ‘;
-Actions that reflect sudden interest in giving important or favorite
possessions away, putting his affairs in order, making amends and saying
good-bye;
-Sudden and unaccountable cheerfulness, sense of relief or resoluteness
after an extended period of depression;
-An abrupt change of personality, dress, style, friends, etc.;
-Alcohol or other drug use.
If the parents suspect their teen-ager is depressed, they should ask
him. The parents must be tentative and respectful. The child may feel
comforted by their concern. He may want more than anything to talk about
what he is feeling. Just listening may counteract some of his feelings
of worthlessness.
Other adolescents may be so depressed that they may not talk about it
directly. They may not be able to identify or put into words just what
is making them feel so despondent.
If the parents have any doubts, they should consult their physician or
the child’s doctor. Therapy may be prudent, not only for the teen-ager
but also for the rest of the family. The provider will look for the
above warning signs as well as a step-wise criterion that includes
suicidal ideation (thought), suicidal intent, mental health condition,
previous attempt and family history.
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