Suicide Among Teens Essay, Research Paper
Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among humans between the ages of 15-25 years old. It is the 6th leading cause of death among children 5-14 years of age. Every day more and more people are taking their own lives. They assume that life is not worth living or pointless (Teen Suicide, an epidemic). Thousands of young people die every year, not by the hands of others, but instead, their own (Some Facts).
The problem of suicide occurs all over the world. Statistics show that in the United States alone, 13 teens out of 100,000 take their own life (Teen Suicide, an epidemic). Hungary is at the top of the list when it comes to suicide with 38 out of every 100,000 people. Approximately 500,000 teens attempt to commit suicide, but only about 500 succeed. Suicide has become a major problem among youths in other countries, where it is considered a felony (Some Facts).
People are becoming more lethal when it comes to taking their own life. They are using such things as drugs, rope, knives, and guns. In the United States, 61% of the reported suicides involved a gunshot. Hanging or strangulation was next on the list with 14.5% of reported suicides. Gas poisoning came in with 7.5%, other poisoning, 10%; and other, 7% (Gelman, David). It seems as though teens are becoming more and more creative with their deaths. Making their suicide seem quick and easy.
Suicide was not a problem that has been conceived by the stresses and pressures of our increasingly fast paced world. One of the earliest recorded suicides dates back to 7th century B.C. when Shamash-shum-ukin, a crown prince of Babylon, burned himself to death. In the play Romeo and Juliet, suicide was the tragedy that brought the two lovers together in the end; this play dates back to 1594. Suicide has dramatically increased since the late 1890?s to early 1900?s (Britanica, computer software).
There are many causes and reasons why a young one might want to commit suicide. One of the most common reasons for suicide is depression (Some Facts). Depression can be caused by stress, loss of support, or isolation, not feeling able to fit in. Other reasons for suicide may be caused by mental disorders or physical illness (Craig, Judith). Only the person wanting to act out suicide knows the true reason why they would want to do so.
Someone who takes their life affects everyone around them, especially those who care about them the most. The friends and family of those who are lost to suicide are put through the agony of losing someone dear to them. Even those that one may not seem close to are effected also, simply because it is so close to home or the community in which that person may have lived. The school in which the youth may have attended would also be affected, including the teachers who dealt with the teen for most of the day out of the week. The death of a person would effect the population of society on this earth as well.
There are several warning signs to a person who might be considering suicide. Out of the suicides that have occurred 8 out of 10 suicide victims gave clues (Some Facts). Some of the clues may include a change in habits such as: withdraw from friends or family members, neglect in their personal appearance, or a loss of interest in pleasurable activities. Other signs may be more intense, fore say: drug and/or alcohol abuse, violent behavior, and increase in anger or frustration (Warning Signs).
There is no real solution to a problem such as suicide. It would all depend on how determined the one who wants to die is about taking their life. A threat of suicide is usually some form of cry for help. Counseling may be a solution to someone who does not really want to kill his or her self. They could use the counseling as a form of ventilation. Friends or family members may be easy to converse with because that person may feel uncomfortable speaking their feelings with someone who is professional. It all depends on the severity of their thoughts, feelings, or problems.
One may also consider hospitalization or a suicide prevention program. Others who understand the intensity of their feelings will surround them. They will find others who may relate to their problems and may not feel as secluded. The one wanting to act upon suicide may also find reasons not to just by meeting others who may have problems more intense than their own.
Every reason for every problem is different and varies from person to person. It?s neither a fact of how nor which problem may be eliminated; it?s the severity of the problem of who is experiencing those thoughts. In a sense, several of the reasons that give one thoughts of suicide may be reduced drastically, only if the surrounding, in which the person lives, changes. No one person is completely satisfied with himself or herself, if there were such things as perfect beings, the world would not experience such problems.
The world consists of stereotypes: beauty, education, financial status, or just simply the way you dress or act. Most of the stress put among teens is from the catagories they are put in by their surrounding peers. Not many people would simply look at a person from within without looking on the outside first. If people realize that we are the ones causing shame, hurt, and pain to others, maybe then suicide among teen will decrease. Until then, teens will still live a life stressed by trying to simply fit in and feel wanted.
Bibliography
Teen Suicide, An Epidemic. Online Available HTTP:
http://library.thinkquest.org/12333/page.html
Some Facts. Online Available HTTP:
http://library.thinkquest.org/12333/page5.html
Warning Sign. Online Available HTTP:
http://library.thinkquest.org/12333/page2.html
Craig, Judith. ?Escape from unbearable pain.? Spring 1995:
13-18; Death and Dying. Vol.4 Article 65
Gelman, David. ?The Mystery of Suicide.? Newsweek 18 April
1994: 44-49; SIRS; Death and Dying. Vol. Article 47
Encyclopedia Britanica CD. Computer Software. Standard
Edition, 1999.