Experiencing a sense of sadness, anxiety, and despair is part and parcel to teenage life. In fact, they're normal reactions to loss, rejection, or disappointment, but for those suffering from an underlying mental illness, these "normal"  reactions can prove deadly.  "According to the National Institute of Mental Health, scientific evidence has shown that almost all people who take their own lives have a diagnosable mental or substance abuse disorder, and the majority have more than one disorder."  [1] It makes sense, then, that we educate ourselves as parents and re-focus our parenting lenses in an effort to capture early warning signs before they wreak devastation.

The statistics are grim:

• • For youth between the ages of 10-24, suicide is the third leading cause of death. It results in approximately 4500 lives lost each year. [2]
  • A nationwide survey of youth in grades 9-12 in public and private schools in the United States (U.S.) found that 15% of students reported seriously considering suicide, 11% reported creating a plan, and 7% reporting trying to take their own life in the 12 months preceding the survey. [3]
  • Boys are more likely than girls to die from suicide. Of the reported suicides, 83% of the deaths were males and 17% were females. [4]
  • Girls are more likely to report attempting suicide than boys. [5]

Sadly, it's often the victim who is blamed, and family and friends are left with the aftermath and often times regarded with shame. The shame-based secrecy of suicide leaves us with a considerable public health issue, and those working to prevent suicide are presented with the rather Sisyphean task of fighting a veiled problem.

Some risk factors to look for include [6]:

• Extreme personality changes
• Loss of interest in activities that used to be enjoyable
• Significant loss or gain in appetite
• Difficulty falling asleep or wanting to sleep all day
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Withdrawal from family and friends
• Neglect of personal appearance or hygiene
• Sadness, irritability, or indifference
• Having trouble concentrating
• Extreme anxiety or panic
• Drug or alcohol use or abuse
• Aggressive, destructive, or defiant behavior
• Poor school performance
• Hallucinations or unusual beliefs
• Putting one's affairs in order, such as giving away of throwing away favorite belongings
• History of previous suicide attempts

Substance abuse and suicide often go hand in hand. If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal ideologies and/or drug abuse, then family support and adolescent treatment may be the best first step on the path to recovery. It's in our willingness to let go that we may find freedom from suffering.

References:

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]