The Center for Disease Control states that suicide is the third leading cause of death among youths aged 10-24 in the United States (Center for Disease Control: Teen Suicide Statistics, Chart number 1). Understanding the reasons behind teenagers’ decisions to end their own lives has always been difficult. However, it is crucial to approach teenage suicide from a different viewpoint to grasp the despair experienced by its victims. Personally, I have always harbored a profound fear of death and losing loved ones, making it an ongoing struggle for me to comprehend why someone would feel compelled to take their own life.
Although I never really paid much attention to this topic, I was highly aware of the fact that teen suicide was becoming a widespread issue. As a result, I decided to delve into why death and teenagers are often intertwined.
D. Preview: In order to share my findings on why approximately 4,600 young individuals aged 10-24 take their own lives each year, I will outline three key causes for teenage suicide: Stress, Bullying, and Depression. (Center for Disease Control: Teen Suicide Statistics, Chart number 2)
[Transition: Now let’s focus on one of the most prevalent problems faced by high school and college students: stress.]
II. Body
According to the article “Teens, stress, and suicide: A day in the life,” many teenagers who have taken their own lives see it as their only way out from the immense stress they encounter every day. The daily routine of high school students includes waking up at 7 am, having breakfast, attending school, completing assignments and projects, taking quizzes and tests, and dealing with social pressures. They may also participate in after-school jobs, clubs, or sports practices. Returning home around 6-7 pm leaves them little time for personal tasks before diving into hours of homework. Consequently, most high schoolers go to bed around 1 am and get approximately 6 hours of sleep.
The article “Teens, stress, and suicide: A day in the life” reveals that Palo Alto High School in California has unfortunately witnessed seven teen suicides between May 2009 and September 2011. Regrettably, three of these students felt trapped by their overwhelming lives. In response to such tragic events, high schools typically expect students to promptly return to class after a suicide incident and resume their regular activities. Students may only have one day to cope with the situation and potentially attend counseling sessions if they are accessible. However, many students opt not to utilize these resources due to concerns about falling behind academically and jeopardizing their future prospects. It is crucial to acknowledge that although not all teenagers resort to suicide, some engage in other harmful behaviors like cutting themselves, substance abuse, or self-inflicted harm.
[Transition: Now that we have grasped the correlation between suicide and stress, let’s delve into the link connecting suicide and bullying.] The linkage between bullying and suicides holds great importance. In recent times, there have been multiple suicides related to bullying that have gained global attention (Bullying and Suicide, pg.1). Bullying has experienced rapid growth despite not being widely acknowledged as a grave concern among teenagers. Its seriousness should not be underestimated since some consider it a typical aspect of adolescence. Below are several statistics concerning bullying:
According to research from Yale University, individuals who are bullied have a much higher likelihood of considering suicide, with their chances ranging from 2 to 9 times higher compared to those who do not experience mistreatment. Investigations conducted in Britain suggest that at least half of all youth suicides can be directly linked to incidents of bullying. ABC News reports that around 30 percent of students fall into either the bully or victim category. This fear associated with being targeted by bullies leads to approximately 160,000 children choosing to stay home from school each day.
Bullying can manifest in different ways, including physical bullying, emotional bullying, cyber bullying, sexting, and the unauthorized sharing of suggestive photos. Regrettably, those who experience bullying frequently feel despair and perceive their situation as unchangeable. They may also experience shame and opt to keep their struggles secret. Consequently, they do not receive the required support and endure daily acts of bullying due to the unawareness of adults in their lives.
[Transition: After discussing the two main causes of teenage suicide, let’s now explore the connection between depression and suicide.] C. Teenagers experience depression due to various changes in their physical, emotional, psychological, and social aspects during adolescence (Teen Depression, pg.1). The cause of depression typically originates from an imbalance of neurotransmitters – chemicals in the brain. Among teenagers, depressive symptoms often appear in two primary types.
Teen depression can present itself in various forms. Major depression, which is characterized by severe symptoms that may be short-lived but still have a significant impact, can make teenagers feel like there is no end in sight and potentially lead to suicidal thoughts. Adolescents may go through a depressive episode, show improvement for several months or even years, and then experience a relapse.
Another type of teen depression is dysthymia, which lasts longer than major depression but has milder symptoms. Some teens may endure this chronic low-level depression for years without receiving an accurate diagnosis. Nevertheless, it can still contribute to suicidal thoughts if the constant unhappiness takes a toll on the teenager.
Life changes can also trigger depression in teenagers. Adjustment disorder with depressed mood exemplifies this phenomenon and occurs as a result of events such as the loss of a loved one, divorce, relocation to a new place, or changing schools. If the teenager feels hopeless and believes that these negative emotions will never fade away, it can also lead to suicide.
[Transition to conclusion: After discussing the contributing factors of adolescent suicide, it is my expectation that there has been an increase in awareness.]
III. Conclusion
During my final review, I examined the three primary factors contributing to the growing epidemic of suicide among teenagers aged 10-24. Firstly, I discussed the impact of stress on high school and college students, which significantly influences their contemplation of suicide. Secondly, I delved into how bullying affects adolescents’ daily lives and can push them towards such despair that they contemplate ending their own lives. Lastly, I addressed depression as a well-known cause of suicide that affects both teenagers and adults.
The increasing rates of teenage suicide are deeply concerning. Stress, bullying, and depression all contribute to this risk for anyone. It is crucial to raise awareness because our siblings or friends may be struggling with suicidal thoughts.
It is crucial to seek immediate medical help if someone is considering suicide as an escape. If you are aware of someone in this situation, it is important to provide assistance in getting the necessary medical support without passing judgment.
Divya Goberdhan
Works Cited:
Teen Suicide Statistics
Here are some resources related to teen suicide, stress, bullying, and depression:
- http://www.statisticbrain.com/teen-suicide-statistics/
- http://www.mindful.org/mindful-voices/on-teen-life/teens-stress-and-suicide-a-day-in-the-life
- http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/bullying-and-suicide.html
- http://www.teensuicide.us/articles6.html
