The teen years are a time of major changes. For some, these stressors can overwhelm their ability to cope. They may feel trapped and hopeless. For these youths, suicide may seem like a solution.
If your teen or someone you know shows warning signs, take them seriously. Get them expert help right away.
Depression
Depression can cause a young person to feel hopeless, isolated and trapped. The stress of everyday life can be overwhelming for teens, especially if they have other major concerns, like academic pressure, bullying or family issues, such as parental drug or alcohol abuse or divorce.
Teens may express their feelings of despair by self-medicating with drugs or alcohol, expressing their anger and frustration through violence or feeling emotionally numb and disconnected from others. They might also try to cope with their feelings by hiding them, which can make them more prone to depression and thoughts of suicide.
It is important for adults to take warning signs of youth suicide seriously. They should not be ignored, and they should be accompanied to an emergency department or a mental health clinic to ensure their safety. In some cases, a teenager who is threatening suicide or attempting to harm themselves needs residential treatment to stabilize their condition. These services are often provided by non-profit organizations.
Relationship Issues
Sadly, some adults think kids who say they’re thinking of killing themselves are just attention-seeking and can be ignored. This can actually increase the risk of suicide for teens because it makes them feel helpless and hopeless.
Teenage suicide attempts are often triggered by relationship conflicts, especially significant “break ups” with close friends and family members. They may be unable to imagine a future for themselves and can get trapped in a cycle of stress, depression, anger and hopelessness that can be difficult to break out of without professional help.
Cha and her colleagues are currently testing whether helping teenagers visualize a different future in more realistic, detailed and textured ways can provide them with a foundation for hope. They are also studying how best to incorporate families into the treatment process. Ultimately, researchers are working to build comprehensive community-based programs that include increased identification of unmet mental health needs and lethal means counseling. This is especially important for youths of color and LGBTQ+ who face a higher risk of suicide due to generational trauma, poverty and stigma.
Financial Instability
The suicide rate among young people has been rising and has even surpassed the national average in some areas. It has become common for high profile college students to take their own lives. For example, the goalkeeper for the Stanford University women’s soccer team took her life in 2022. Another high school student committed suicide after being told he would not be allowed to attend the elite college that he attended.
Studies show that economic instability can contribute to youth suicide. Unemployment and financial strain are associated with increased suicidal behavior and ideation at both the aggregate and individual level. In particular, periods of economic crisis are associated with higher suicide rates (7-9).
It is important to talk to your teen about depression and suicide. Never keep a suicidal teen’s thoughts or actions a secret. Instead, encourage them to seek help. If your child is struggling, consider utilizing resources like The Trevor Project, which offers confidential support via text and chat, or the Trans Lifeline, a 24/7 hotline.
Isolation
The stress of school, family life and peer relationships can lead to feelings of isolation. In addition, factors like divorce or remarriage, changes in friendships and increased mobility can also lead to feelings of loneliness. These changes can put teens at risk of suicide.
Research suggests a correlation between social isolation and suicide but does not establish a cause-and-effect relationship. Age, psychopathology and specific circumstances are all critical to assessing risk.
Cha and her team are investigating how to increase adaptive abilities for youth at risk of suicide by helping them imagine their future in a more realistic and mentally tangible way. This research may eventually help improve the effectiveness of suicide prevention interventions for this group. In the meantime, Poncin says parents should talk to their kids if they are worried about them and ensure they are getting adequate care and support. This can include a pediatrician, primary health care provider or a mental health clinician.