Teenagers and young adults are often more at risk for suicide because their judgment and decision-making skills have not fully developed. They also tend to have less close social connections.
Kids who feel loved and supported, are good problem solvers, and have access to help are less likely to kill themselves. But there are warning signs that are often missed.
What is it?
Suicide in teens is a public health concern. Fortunately, much is known about prevention and caring for youth after a suicide attempt or death. Parents, friends and caregivers, teachers and school administrators, coaches and extracurricular activity leaders, and counselors can all play a role in reducing risk.
Teens at high risk might have serious mental, emotional or physical problems. They might have a history of depression or other mood disorders, or they may be dealing with a family member who died by suicide. They might be bullied, have an eating disorder or have drug or alcohol problems.
Warning signs include a desire to run away from home, property damage, giving away belongings, joking about or referencing suicide, withdrawn behavior, sleep changes (too much or too little), fatigue, despair and extreme mood swings. It is important to take threats and other warning signs seriously, even if the teenager says they don’t mean it. They may still try to kill themselves.
Why do teenagers commit suicide?
Generally, youth suicide is linked to a mental health condition like depression or anxiety or an addiction to drugs or alcohol. These conditions cause the teen to become overwhelmed by extreme stress or unable to cope with life’s difficulties and can lead them to feel misunderstood, devalued or hopeless.
Teenagers also may feel suicidal because of a personal tragedy, like the loss of a loved one or a family member. They may be feeling the effects of bullying in school or online. Or they may have been traumatized by seeing videos of police killings.
It is important to see warning signs of a youth suicide as seriously as any other illness and to get them help. A good place to start is to talk with them in a nonjudgmental way. It is also helpful to find a mental health professional that is familiar with youth suicide. They can also refer them to a crisis center or treatment program.
What can we do about it?
A majority of people who commit suicide have psychiatric conditions like depression and anxiety, that are treatable. However, if a young person is having suicidal thoughts or making a suicide plan, it is important to get them help immediately.
Talking about feelings of hopelessness, expressing a strong wish to die or preoccupation with death, giving away prized possessions, agitation, sleeping too much or not at all and changing eating or drinking habits are warning signs of suicide. If a person has attempted suicide in the past, they are at a much higher risk of trying again.
It is important for parents, teachers and community members to learn about the warning signs of youth suicide so they can identify the signs in their children or students. The More Than Sad program can help families start the conversation about mental health with their children and find resources for professional help. It is also important to remember that even if a person has no psychiatric diagnosis they may still be at risk of suicide.
How can we help?
Teenagers who contemplate suicide often give warning signs, and it’s essential that parents, teachers, coaches and others who work with youth learn the warning signs. They should pay attention to any talk of suicide, changes in sleeping and eating patterns, withdrawn or sullen behavior, slipping grades, expressions of hopelessness and preoccupation with death (e.g., giving away prized possessions).
Hallucinations and delusions are also common among those at risk for suicide. This includes hearing voices, seeing things that are not there and an excessive preoccupation with certain ideas to the point of being unable to function in everyday life.
If the warning signs are present, a comprehensive mental health evaluation is recommended. This will include the recognition and diagnosis of an underlying mental illness, as well as the safe removal of any dangerous means of self harm. This will require a team approach including the young person, family and friends, medical professionals and community support services.