Teenage Suicide

Teenage suicide is a serious problem that affects young adults and their families globally. Though teen suicide rates have decreased since their peak in the early 1990s, as recently as 2004 it has been on the rise according to some data.

Historically, teenage suicide rates have been higher for males than females. Though young men are more likely to commit suicide than young women, young women are far more likely to attempt suicide. The disparity in these figures is denoted to the method of suicide chosen by each sex. Men generally choose weapons with a higher lethality, namely, guns. On the other hand, young women statistically choose poison or other methods that are not as effective. The lethality of guns is one reason that parents that do own guns should always keep them locked away from children or teenagers to ensure that these weapons are not used for unintended purposes.

The recent rise in teenage suicide has been blamed on a reduction in the prescription of antidepressants to teens. This has occurred due to the fallout from the addition of the black box on antidepressant bottle labels warning that they can increase the risk of suicide. Whether the increase in suicide rates due to the lack of prescription antidepressants for teens is due to the chemical effectiveness of the drugs or the placebo effect of being treated has yet to be answered.

Regardless, teenage suicide is consistently one of the top five causes of death for teens nationwide. Its causes are mixed, though it is highly linked to depression, which can be intensified by family problems, peer pressure, and drug abuse. The majority of states do feature a teen suicide hotline, and family members should be aware of teens' mental health and work together to prevent or cure suicidal tendencies.

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