Dr. Henry Paul, MD

Psychiatrist, Author and Educator

THERE IS A “SUICIDE EPIDEMIC” – SO WHAT DO PARENTS DO?

March 28th, 2014

Sadly, teen suicide once again takes front and center in the news. Suicide is never more devastating than when a teenager makes the decision to end his or her own life. Last Saturday, New York City School Chancellor Carmen Farina said that ten students in the New York City public school system had taken their own lives in the past seven weeks creating a “suicide epidemic” in our schools.

City Health Department stats are showing a rise in youth suicides, with suicide the third leading cause of death for New Yorkers ages 15 to 24. In 2010, 58 people in that age group took their lives. In 2011, the toll was up to 64, and in 2012,it reached 66.

So how worried do parents have to be that their own teens may make this terrible choice? This is frightening for parents, particularly when you hear the current numbers. Most teens of course never consider suicide, but if you are worried there are things you need to know and signs to watch for.

What you need to know is that there are many theories out there as to why teens commit suicide; focusing on stress and family turmoil; confusion, self-doubt, the impact of recent humiliations; and the effects of alcohol and drugs. Moving, feeling isolated, sexual or physical abuse, and divorce and family break-up have also been implicated as triggers. Family history may also play a role: teens with relatives who have committed suicide may be more likely to consider it themselves.

Perhaps, the most plausible overall reason for teenage suicide is only this: the teenager feels hopeless! This is often a symptom of major depression, as well as feeling caught in inner conflicts and/or environmental constraints or difficulties from which the teenager feels there is no escape. Because the most common psychiatric diagnosis associated with suicide is depression, it is crucial for parents to watch for symptoms that commonly indicate this condition. If your child is suffering from a recent onset of sad mood, irritability, withdrawal, eating or sleeping disorders, seems to have shown a marked decline in school performance, can’t concentrate, is fixating on a particularly painful experience of humiliation, or is afflicted by headaches of gastrointestinal complaints, regard it as an urgent “heads up.”

Often teens who are suicidal give verbal hints about suicide. “I cannot take it anymore” or “you’d be better off without me” are the kinds of warning statements a suicidal teenager often makes – warnings that are too frequently dismissed as evidence of passing adolescent mood swings. Also, talk of the afterlife, joining someone in heaven or dark and morbid interests and preoccupations. Also, dark music, internet searches having to do with death and/or suicide are red flags. Lastly writings or postings online are often warnings. Lastly a quick switch from depression to a good mood possibly associated with having “cleaned house” is a serious development.

If your teen has attempted suicide before, you need to be particularly alert: seek professional help right away.

I will follow-up with a blog tomorrow that deals with “What to Do.” Check out my February blogs on Suicide, too.  Certainly, if you have any questions, please email me.

Statistics of Suicide
The Warning Signs of Suicide
What to Do If You Feel Your Child Might Be Suicidally Depressed

CBS Local   Report: NYC Public Schools Have Seen 10 Student Suicides In 7 Weeks
New York Post  10 NYC schoolchildren have committed suicide in 2014

DISCLAIMER

Information contained in this blog is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical or psychiatric advice for individual conditions or treatment and does not substitute for a medical or psychiatric examination. A psychiatrist must make a determination about any treatment or prescription. Dr. Paul does not assume any responsibility or risk for the use of any information contained within this blog.