1. Youth Suicide, an Epidemic
By: David Julian
Certified School Social Worker
One of the most prevalent issues facing the American society today is the
prevalence of youth suicide. Why are our children killing themselves? Why do our
children feel that their only course of action is death? This article will look at youth
suicide and hope to answer the above questions, while raising the awareness of the
problem and the need for prevention and intervention programs.
To start, let me provide you with a definition of suicide. Webster’s defines suicide
as: “the act or instance of taking one’s own life, voluntarily and intentionally, especially
by a person of years of discretion and sound mind”.
“In 2002, it was estimated that about three million high school students per year
have considered suicide and about 400,000 attempted to end their lives” (Asbury Park
Press, 2/18/2004). These numbers are very startling. Again we must ask ourselves,
why are so many of our kids looking to death as a way out? In 1999, the homicide rate
was 5.7 per 100,000. The suicide rate for 15 to 19 year olds was 8.89 per 100,000.
Therefore, in1999, more of our children killed themselves than there were people
murdered, (Sourcebook 2000). It is estimated that approximately 12 young people
between the ages of 15 – 24 years old die everyday as a result of suicide.
What causes teens to turn to suicide? Let’s take a look at some back lying
reasons for youth suicide. The following factors can all be found behind youth suicides.
The factors need to be considered as early warning signs. That is not to say that these
factors can predict suicide.
• Psychiatric disorders (i.e. depression)
• Suicidal ideation (past or present)
• Impulsive / aggressive behavior (i.e. anger)
• Exposure to another’s suicide (attempt or completion)
• Severe stressors (i.e. sexual orientation)
• Family issues / concerns (i.e. significant conflict)
• Substance abuse
• History of childhood abuse (i.e. physical and sexual)
To get a better handle on these warning signs, let’s examine a few in greater depth and
how they correlate to youth suicide today.
Depression
“The teenage years also constitute the age period when there are marked
changes in emotional disorders. Depressive disorder becomes much more frequent at
this age. Rates of suicide and attempted suicide increase dramatically”, (Rutter et al.,
1998). “The most fertile ground for suicide is in cases of clinical depression”, (Kinney,
2000).
Depression is defined as: 1. the act of depressing or the state of being
depressed, 2. a reduction in physiological vigor or activity, 3. a lowering in amount,
degree or position, 4. an inward displacement of a body part, 5. a hollow or sunken
area, 6. the condition of feeling sad or despondent, 7. a psychiatric or neurotic condition
2. characterized by an inability to concentrate, insomnia, and feelings of extreme sadness,
dejection, and hopelessness, (The American Heritage Stedman’s Medical Dictionary,
2002). Meriam-Webster Medical Dictionary 2002 further states, “a significant increase
or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness
and sometimes suicidal thoughts or an attempt to commit suicide.
On February 17, 2004, The Asbury Park Press ran a story entitled, “You’ve Got
‘Emo”. In this story, it was reported that: “In a study done by the Cincinnati Enquirer last
year that included 21,915 students 63% said they felt depressed an at least one
occasion in the previous 30 days. Another 11% reported feeling depressed more often
than not.” It is not uncommon to feel blue or depressed from time to time. In fact, it is
quite natural to have periods of blueness. Forms of sadness is actually a normal part of
adolescence. However, some teens do not bounce back out of these phases and
eventually may commit suicide. So although depression is normal, it can become
serious. It is important to keep an eye on friends and family.
Sexual Orientation
It is unfortunate but being a Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual or Transgendered (GLBT)
youth places one at risk of suicidal behavior at sometime in their life.
Homosexually oriented males account for more than half of the male youth
suicide problems, but mainstream suicidologists generally continue to ignore this aspect
of the problem. Unfortunately, many gay boys feel that it is better to be dead than to be
gay. Youth today are still finding it hard to “come out” as a gay person. They have the
feeling that they want to live a normal (heterosexual) life but can’t. They know how hard
and un-accepting it is to be gay.
“By the time I got to Junior High School (seventh grade), I had learned what the
word ‘gay’ meant to everyone I went to school with. It meant that you were a ‘fag’. You
were someone to be laughed at, joked about, beaten up, and taunted. It meant that you
were sick, perverted, an abomination, and unlovable” (www.youthsuicide.com). It is
thoughts such as this one that cause a GLBT teen to turn to suicidal thoughts and
actions.
The American Academy of Pediatrics concluded in 1993 that GLBT youth were at
risk for suicidal ideation and thus warranted concern by pediatricians. “With regard to
suicide attempts, several state and national studies have reported that high school
students who report to be homosexual and bi-sexual have higher rates of suicidal
thoughts and attempts in the past year compared to youth that are heterosexual,”
(www.safeyouth.org).
Anger
“Specifically, reduced central serotenergic activity (meaning reduced activity in
the chemical process involved in the transmission of signals in the brain) is associated
with suicidal behavior and with irritable impulsive aggression” (Rutter, Giller, Hugell,
p.162). So what exactly does that mean? It means that there is a correlation between
anger and suicidal behaviors in people. This holds true for young people today.
“A second way toxic anger affects longevity is through suicide. The ‘anger turned
inward’ that characterizes many depressed people is sometimes released in one
3. extreme act of self destructive behavior” (Gentry, p. 64). “Toxic anger syndrome is
defined by a level of anger that is experienced by otherwise normal people much too
frequently, is too intense, and lasts too long” (Gentry, p.12).
Are our kids really that angry? “Among them: a 6 year old who told his teacher to
‘shut up bitch’, a first grader whose fists of anger ended with his peeling off his clothes
and throwing them at the school psychologist, and hysterical kindergartners who bit
teachers so hard they left tooth marks” (Wallis, 2003). The more appropriate question
here is not are our kids really that angry but rather, Why are our kids that angry? What
does a child really have to be angry about anyway?
Unfortunately, for us our children are growing up angrier and angrier. Most
children (youth) that attempt suicide have a great deal of pent up anger, they are angry
enough to kill themselves. This should be alarming to not just parents, and caregivers,
but to everyone. The American society is actually fostering a higher level of anger in
the youth today than in the past. Turn on the television and watch shows such as
“South Park”, go to the movies and see something such as “Man on Fire”. Talk to a
child and take the time to learn about their actual life thus far, and you will be surprised
at just how much we as a society feed their angry thoughts and feelings on a daily
basis.
“Scotty a 13 year old boy from a small town in Northern New England, recently
said to me, ‘Boys are supposed to shut up and take it, to keep it all in’. It’s harder for
them to release or vent without feeling girly. And that can drive them to shoot
themselves”, (Pollack, pg. XX). Anger is not doubt the primary motivation for many
adolescent suicides.
Substance Use / Abuse
It should not come as a shock that the use or abuse of substances can place
someone at higher risk of suicidal behavior. It is unfortunate, but more and more
teenagers are engaging in the use and abuse of substances both in the forms of drugs
and alcohol.
“Alcohol plays a significant role in suicide. Studies indicate that in 1/3 of suicide
attempts the individual had been drinking”, (Kinney, p. 28). Once again our society
seems to foster this aspect of the suicide problem. Although there is a lot of prevention
programs in place for substance use, television shows and movies tend to send a
different message to our most vulnerable, our children. It is a fact that most television
shows and movies, tend to send the message that it is cool to use drugs and alcohol.
“Alcohol is associated more often with impulsive suicide than it is with premeditated
suicides”, (Kinney, p. 28).
Today, more and more of our children are using drugs and alcohol. It is
estimated that approximately 40 % of all completed suicides are alcohol related.
Teenagers are drinking for various reasons: to act cool, peer pressure, and to escape
from their reality if only for a little while.
“Taking downers as a means of dealing with feelings of depression or low self-
esteem is probably the riskiest way of using them. Like alcohol, these drugs may mask
the symptoms temporarily, but over time, they often increase anxiety and depression,
4. encouraging further drug taking in a downward spiral that can end in suicide”, (Weiz &
Rosen p. 72).
Juvenile Justice System
Just like their adult counterparts, youth that have constant contact with the
authorities and the juvenile correctional facilities are at a higher risk for suicidal
behaviors than those with little or no contact. “Since studies have shown that the more
contact a has with the juvenile justice system, the lower his self-concept becomes, it
would appear that a child who has moved through the system to an institution would be
a prime candidate for suicide”, (Haviland & Larew, 1980).
In New Jersey, when a child enters the state juvenile correctional facility from the
local county juvenile detention center, they are placed in isolation on suicide watch for
the first twenty-four hours. This just speaks to the fact that these youth are at a higher
risk of suicidal behavior. It is estimated that suicide in detention and correctional
settings is more than 4 times greater that the overall number of youth suicides.
“Adolescent suicide is increasing in the U.S. and the incidence of suicide gestures and
attempts in juvenile correctional facilities is high”, (Haviland & Larew, 1980).
In a survey conducted September 1998 to June 1999 students in grades 6-12
were asked, “Have you been in trouble with the police?”
Never Seldom Sometimes Often A lot
Grade 6-8 80.1 11.1 4.8 1.8 2.2
Grade 9-12 73.0 15.9 6.7 2.1 2.3
Grade 12 71.9 17.4 6.9 1.7 2.1
(Sourcebook, 1999)
Students who reported carrying a weapon in 1999
Grade 9- 17.6; Grade 10- 18.7; Grade 11- 16.1; Grade 12- 15.9
Discussion
Due to the stigma attached to suicide, available statistics may well underestimate
the actual problem. “On average; one young person every one hour and 57 minutes
commits suicide. That means 12 young people will take their lives today”, (Shackford,
11/7/2003).
“In 1998 more teens died from suicide than from: cancer, heart disease, AIDS,
birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, and influenza and chronic lung disease combined”,
(www.safeyouth.org).
The number of youth suicides is quite staggering. In 1998 for example, suicides
for those aged 10-19 was 2,054. In 1999 there was a total of 29,350 suicides nation
wide. It is estimated that at least 14% of those were people under the age of 25.
Something needs to be done and done fast to address the issue of youth suicide.
On May 13, 2002, the New Jersey State Legislature introduced a bill, Senate Number
1515 requiring reporting by certain persons of attempted or completed suicides by youth
5. and established the NJ Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council. On January 9,
2004, the New Jersey State Legislature finally approved this bill. The legislative
process is long and cumbersome I will admit, but why is such an important bill almost 2
years in limbo from introduction to passing? I believe it is because many like to close
their eyes to the problem of youth suicide.
Publicity
In New Jersey for example, the following articles have appeared in the Asbury
Park Press (Ocean and Monmouth Counties):
• 8/8/2003: 20 year old attempts suicide by cop
• 11/20/2003: Student suicide; Red Bank Catholic High School
• 11/26/2003: Brick Township; 2 13 year olds suicide plan thwarted
• 3/17/2004: 20 year old attempts suicide by cop
• 5/6/2004: 2 students and 1 teacher suicide; Southern Regional High School
On 1/13/2004, CNN.com reported: Two students arrested in Columbine style plot. That
brings us back to Columbine High School in April of 1999, which ended with the
suicides of Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris. In Toms River, NJ a high school student
committed suicide after being charged with a gang rape of a fellow student.
Summary
Does suicide happens suddenly and without warning? No, most suicidal acts
represent a carefully thought out strategy for coping with personal problems. Those that
want to truly commit suicide have an elaborate plan to ensure success of terminating
their life.
Suicide currently ranks as the third leading cause of death of people aged 14-24
years old. As a society, we need to stop responding to tragedy and start preventing it
and work to eradicate youth suicide as a leading cause of death for our children.
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MacDonald, Jeffery G., When Silence Can be Fatal. Christian Science Monitor,
11/18/03.
Matthews, Stefanie You’ve Got ‘Emo. Asbury Park Press 2/17/2004
Milam, Dr. James and Ketcham, Kathleen (1981) Under the Influence. New York:
Bantam Books.
Pollack, William S. (2000) Real Boys’ Voices. New York: Random House.
Rutter, Michael; Giller, Henri; and Hagell, Ann, (1998) Anti-Social Behavior by
Young People. Cambridge University Press.
Shackford, Shane Suicide Detention if Juvenile Lockups. New Jersey Training
School for Boys, 11/7/2003.
Snyder, Howard N. and Sickmund, Melissa Juvenile Offenders and Victims 1999
National Report. National Center for Juvenile Justice 9/1999.
Wallis, Claudia Does Kindergarten need Cops? Time Magazine Vol. 162 No. 24,
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