Useful information about suicide awareness and suicide prevention

Useful information about suicide awareness and suicide prevention

Note: The links are provided as a convenience only and should not be taken as an endorsement of any website, content, product or service. Visits to linked websites are at your own risk.

www.metanoia.org: asks and answers the question, "What can I do to help someone who may be suicidal?"

www.helpguide.org: empowers you to make educated health and lifestyle choices to prevent illness and improve your health. This non-profit resource provides over 150 articles reviewed by recognized professionals. This site also covers suicide prevention and what you can do to help.

If you would like to know more about the risk factors and warning signs associated with suicide, please read the leaflet ‘Concerned About Suicide’ which is on the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) website.

Suicide awareness and suicide prevention training

www.livingworks.net: suicide awareness and prevention training. Why not have a look through this website to see if training is available in your area?

What To Do

Here are some ways to be helpful to someone who is threatening suicide:

• Be direct. Talk openly and matter-of-factly about suicide.
• Be willing to listen. Allow expressions of feelings. Accept the feelings.
• Be non-judgmental. Don't debate whether suicide is right or wrong, or feelings are good or bad. Don't lecture on the value of life.
• Get involved. Become available. Show interest and support.
• Don't dare him or her to do it.
• Don't act shocked. This will put distance between you.
• Don't be sworn to secrecy. Seek support.
• Offer hope that alternatives are available but do not offer glib reassurance.
• Take action. Remove means, such as guns or stockpiled pills.
• Get help from persons or agencies specializing in crisis intervention and suicide prevention.

Treatment for Suicidal Teens

Treatment for suicidal teens is possible to come by, if you look in the right places and take the proper steps. Learn what to consider when seeking treatment for a suicidal teen, what is involved in suicidal treatment for teens, and options for treating a suicidal teenager.

The teen years are a confusing time, fraught with questions, problems and intense feeling. Sometimes, and often through a combination of factors, feelings arise that include teen suicide. It is not unusual for teens to have some thoughts of dying. However, such thoughts can be problematic if a teenager begins to feel and express them frequently. Addressing these feelings as early as possible is important in preventing an actual teen suicide.

Factors taken into account when developing treatment for suicidal teens

When a teen feels suicidal, there are certain factors that a physician and/or mental health professional will take into account when helping to develop a suicide treatment plan. Here are some of things to be taken into consideration when developing treatment for suicidal teens:

• The extent of a teenager’s suicidal symptoms
• The overall medical history and health of a suicidal teen
• Tolerance the teenager has with regard to procedures, medications and therapies
• The seriousness of any suicide attempt or warnings by a teen
• Impressions of the risk for teen suicide at a later time
• The opinion of the parent, as well as the teen, regarding treatment preferences

Treatment for suicidal teens is created on an individual basis. Each teenager requires his or her own evaluation and a tailored treatment plan designed to specifically work with his or her needs.

What goes into treatment for suicidal teens that have attempted suicide

There are several things that go into treatment for suicidal teens. Initially, after a suicide attempt has been made, a physical examination and evaluation is necessary. Physical treatment is a necessary part of suicide treatment for a teenager because he or she is in danger of harming him or herself until stability is achieved. The mental health portion of treatment for suicidal teens includes an evaluation of the teenager’s life leading up to the suicide attempt, as well as an evaluation of the family and home situation. These factors are important parts of determining the teen’s individual needs, as well as figuring out which treatment options would work best with the teenager’s situation.

Possible options regarding treatment for suicidal teens

When a teen needs treatment for suicidal thoughts or a suicide attempt, there are a few options that can be incorporated into the treatment. Here are three of the more common options:

Individual therapy. This is suicide treatment that involves therapy just for the teenager to help him or her work through feelings and suicidal thoughts.

Family therapy. Sometimes family therapy works best in instances of teen suicide treatment. This can provide a supportive environment for the teenager, as well as help the family learn how to cope with the problem and work together.

Hospitalization. In some cases, it is necessary to provide a teenager with a secure, safe and constantly supervised environment. Most in-patient suicide treatment includes therapeutic aspects, and offers the kind of supervision that might be necessary in extreme cases.

How to Conquer Teen Suicide and Depression: Who to go to for help

Teens can go for help through



-a teacher
- priest
- a friend
- a family member
-suicide hotlines

The media advertises these hotlines through dramas or comedies and also provides the numbers for the hotlines. The numerous hotlines are,


YellowRibbon.org

National Institute of Mental Health

American Academy of Pediatrics

Youth Suicide Prevention Program

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

1-800-SUICIDE - The Hotline for Suicide Crisis



These associations can help in the prevention of teen suicide by offering an understanding person to talk to, providing factual and pertinent information on the subject.

Family and friends can help by talking to the person contemplating suicide and trying to get them motivated again. They can also help by talking to God through prayer. Family and friends may decide to have an intervention and try to help the person as a team.

Sometimes a person may not want to discuss their feelings with family or friends. In this case, talking to a teacher or priest can also help because they are outside of the family. In many cases they can provide an objective point of view.

Also working with a community can help because they are with a group of people. Doing community work such as volunteering at a hospital or veteran’s home can cheer someone up and boost their self esteem. Often the Church can be of help in finding the services that can help. The Church can help the individual find their own faith, and faith may be one of the strongest remedies for the prevention of suicide.

Education and drug prevention programs can also help by preventing the causes of some cases of depression.

By: Heather F.

How Can Faith help prevent a teen suicide?

Faith can help teens considering suicide to try to ignore the temptation to kill themselves. Reading sections of the bible can also help. Also Praying to God to help lessen the depression helps.

We get a lot of pressure from today’s world, and many of these pressures can make us get depressed. We can get depressed over everything from the news to family problems and peer pressure.

Faith can help through prayer, and doing something to help get rid of the bad thoughts. It can also help to trust in God that He will help those that need it.

Life is a sacred gift from God. Churches can and do provide counseling whether in the form of organized or just someone to talk to. The power of prayer can help immensely. Talking to people in church and your family can help.

The news is everywhere and very hard to avoid. Television channels and internet sites all devoted to the news can make the world seem like a very dark place.

Pressures from work and trying to meet a deadline can also cause sleepless nights, and more depression to set in.

Sometimes teens can feel like they are the cause of family problems, even though in many cases this is far from the truth.

Talking to a friend can also help a lot. They can help by getting you motivated and talking about faith and God. When talking to a friend they can make you feel happier and try to forget your problems.

By: Heather F.

What should the parents do

What do parents do when their teenage children attempt or commit suicide? The parents of the teenagers are devastated by the attempts or worse the actual death. Parents need to be their for their children and discuss the feelings that their children are experiencing. Parents do not need to put added pressure on their children who are already trying their hardest to succeed in academics or athletics. Friends also need to be there for those who are suffering and need to notice warning signs and thoughts of suicide. They need to recognize any signs of depression such as talking about dying, a change in personality or behavior, a recent loss, fear or losing control of themselves, or having no hope for the future. Friends need to be there for their friends who are suffering through depression, so it does not lead to suicide.

I believe the media also has a great deal to do with how a teenager feels about themselves and their body. The media posts commercials of beautiful stick skinny women who are viewed as the ideal type of woman. Even male teenagers suffer by seeing large, muscular men who seem to get all the girls. Teenagers watch television and see these people and believe that their appearance is no good for themselves or anyone else. We are made the way we are and should truly believe that we are perfect in our own minds. Teenagers should not model themselves after the people they see on television of unnatural skinny women or males that are large from taking substances such as steroids.

By: David M.

Who is Effected by Teen Suicide

Teenagers who contemplate whether or not to commit suicide do not truly understand that their actions effect everyone around them. The shock and grief of teenage suicides can forever change friends,family, and even the community. Teenagers who suffer from depression feel as if they are alone and that nobody can help them with the stress that they are going through, but they are greatly mistaken. As a high school student I understand the stresses that come with it. The work, the sports, the friends, everything. I feel as if I need to preform to the best of my abilities to make my parents and family proud of everything that I do and have become.

Teenagers that feel the same or feel rejected do not understand that there families are already proud of them and what they have accomplished. Teenagers who feel rejected by the world need to realize that suicide is not the answer to these feelings. Teens who attempt to commit suicide say that do it to escape a situation that seems almost impossible to get around or escape from feelings that make them feel bad of full of grief. Others say they do it because they are angry, sad or feel guilty about their actions.

We all feel overwhelmed at points in our life, but there are people in this world that can help us feel better such as your family. Parents do not understand why their children do such a thing, how they could have prevented it or even if they were the reason.

By: David M.

Teen Suicide - Statistics (Continuation) & Opinion

Teen suicide is a very serious issue that does not get a lot of attention. I don’t know why it doesn’t get a lot of attention since large percents of people, including teens have once considered it. It is an interesting fact that for some reason more males commit suicide then females. There are many things that can lead to someone deciding to commit suicide and there are a lot of ways to prevent it. In most cases it is not just a spontaneous decision and the victim has likely been depressed for a while. Substance abuse is also another major cause for teen suicide along with depression.

It bothers me that teen suicide does not get a lot of concern. It is a huge problem that most people don’t even consider. If there was more done to help prevent teen suicide, then it would definitely lesson the amount of victims. Because teen suicide is such a big problem there are hotlines and centers that are dedicated to the problem. One of the problems for teen suicide can also be lead back to gun control because suicide is commonly committed with an automatic weapon. When it is an automatic weapon it is usually owned illegally or one of the parents guns. Making the laws on gun control stricter could also help the cause of preventing teen suicide.

People need to start to realize that teen suicide is a big dilemma going on all over the country. It is a problem everywhere too so does not think that the problem is not around you. A lot of people you know have more than likely thought about doing it at least one time in their lives.

By: Tommy L.

Teen Suicide - Statistics

Teen suicide is a very serious problem. The leading death cause of teenagers is suicide. There are many different things that can lead to a teen suicide but the most common are divorce of parents, violence in the home, and substance abuse. Whether it is stuff going on in school or at home a lot of things can have a negative impact on the teen that could in fact lead to suicide.

I find it interesting that the death ratio for teen suicides me vs. women is 5:1. Even though it affects a lot more males then females, it is still a very big problem for both. The problem is not only a problem in the United States, but is a problem in the entire world as well. Suicide is never the right answer and it is important to remember that tough times are apart of life.

It is important to try and recognize possible signs of a suicide as someone who has tried to commit suicide is likely to try again. There are teen hot lines that are specified for helping teams contemplating suicide. 19.3 percent of high school students have considered killing themselves and 14.5 percent have actually made plans to do so. It is actually much more common than people think. Whether they know it or not, mostly everybody knows someone who has once considered it. It is important to spread the word about teen suicide and do anything you can to prevent it. There are always other answers besides suicide.

By: Tommy L.

Teen Suicide Warning Signs

Its important to take the warning signs seriously and see help if you think that your friend or someone you know might be suicidal. Here are a few warning signs that are important to remember:

• Disinterest in favorite extracurricular activities
• Problems at work and losing interest in a job
• Substance abuse, including alcohol and drug (illegal and legal drugs) use
• Behavioral problems
• Withdrawing from family and friends
• Sleep changes
• Changes in eating habits
• Begins to neglect hygiene and other matters of personal appearance
• Emotional distress brings on physical complaints (aches, fatigues, migraines)
• Hard time concentrating and paying attention or thinking clearly
• Declining grades in school
• Loss of interest in schoolwork
• Risk taking behaviors
• Complains more frequently of boredom
• Does not respond as before to praise pulling away from friends or family and losing desire to go out
• talk about feeling hopeless or feeling guilty
• talk about suicide, death, and "going away"
• self-destructive behavior (drinking alcohol, taking drugs, or driving too fast, for example)
• the giving away of favorite possessions (like offering to give away a favorite piece of jewelry, for example)
• suddenly very happy and cheerful moods after being depressed or sad for a long time (this may mean that a person has decided to attempt suicide and feels relieved to have found a "solution")

These signs may not be present in all the cases of teen suicide. Its important to watch for two or three is these signs to indication depression or thoughts of suicide.

It is hard to have to go through the thoughts of suicide but if you are don't be afraid to find help or if you notice signs in others don't be afraid to talk to someone about them to try and help. You could be saving someones life.


Teen suicide warning signs: indications of a suicide plan

There are a few things that teens might do that could indicate they are thinking or even planning a suicide plan. Its really important you make yourself awake of the actions, and use them even as starting points to figure your friend out. Here are some of the indications of a suicide plan:

• Actually says, “I’m thinking of committing suicide” or “I want to kill myself” or “I wish I could die.”
• There are also verbal hints that could indicate suicidal thoughts or plans. These include such phrases as: “I want you to know something, in case something happens to me” or “I won’t trouble you anymore.”
• Teenager begins giving away favorite belongings, or promising them to friends and family members.
• Throws away important possessions.
• Shows signs of extreme cheerfulness following periods of depression.
• Creates suicide notes.
• Expresses bizarre or unsettling thoughts on occasion.

Understanding that warning signs are serious and could be a call for help. Teens share their thoughts and feelings in a desperate attempt to be noticed. In a few cases, they really don't know how to deal with their feelings and problems and are looking for someone to help them. Offering support to a teenager or seeking help for the problem for a teenager who is working through his or her issues is important and can help prevent suicide. Suicide is very dangerous and knowing the warning signs can truly save a life.

By: Raeanne G.

Suicide - Why Do Teens Kill Themselves?

There is no single answer, but a common theme appears to be the need to put an end to intense emotional pain. The cause, or more usually causes, that lead to such pain can vary greatly between individuals. Unfortunately, people on the verge of suicide are often so distressed they are not able to see other alternatives. What is more, we all have the potential to become suicidal.

Some people who end their lives or attempt suicide might be trying to escape feelings of rejection, hurt, or loss. Others might be angry, ashamed, or guilty about something. Some people may be worried about disappointing friends or family members. And some may feel unwanted, unloved, victimized, or like they're a burden to others. Here are some other reasons teens could want to commit suicide:

• -Peer pressure
• -School life
• -bullying
• -home life
• -friends
• -Girlfriends or Boyfriends
• -accidental
• -addiction(s)
• -non-coherent
• -massive embarrassment
• -undiagnosed mental illness(es)
• -selfishness

Most teens interviewed after making a suicide attempt say that they did it because they were trying to escape from a situation that seemed impossible to deal with or to get relief from really bad thoughts or feelings. Teens did not want to die as much as they just wanted an escape from what was going on. And in the moment dying just seemed like the only way out.

There are lots of other reasons that might force teens into the though of suicide or depression or could even lead them into death. In my opinion, teenagers have so much stress on them that parents will either cause or not even take the time to get to know about. Like dating, sexuality, the awakening of desire, friends, parents, mental or physical illness, school, bullying, the future, religion, and peer-pressure. Adults do know what a teenager has to go through, they have been through it themselves but what they fail to do is understand the intensity of life for current teens, nor do they understand when times just become unbearable for teens. Teens then think that committing suicide will be better then having to deal with everything else and that it is their only escape from everything.

I believe that if parents and other adults would just realize how much different the world is today then it was for them back then. Which is another reasons teens commit suicide because their parents or no one understands. Maybe they could understand why every little thing sets off our emotions. Parents teen to be more involved in whats going on in both the real world and their kids lives and then they will understand what its like, but until then, they are not going to understand how much stress is actually going on in their kids lives. And I think that when no one can relate then it just makes teens more upset and depressed. We have not been through as much as they have at their age, so we have no idea how to deal with the pain and the problems in our lives. Parents need to understand and try and be patient with their children and try to help them rather then ignore the problem which will lead to teen suicide.

By: Raeanne G.

Church Belief

The Church strongly opposes any form of suicide or harm to oneself. The Catholic community attempts to reach out to those who contemplate suicide. Organizations, such as the yellow ribbon organization, are established in order to help teens be aware and the educated on the matter. Everyone is responsible for his or her life, as declared by the Church, so that means that person who is contemplating the act is responsible for taking care of it. The person alone must be the one to ask for help because no one will help him if he does not ask for it and admit he has problems. We are stewards, not owners, of the life that God had entrusted to us. Therefore it is not ours to dispose of.

Suicide contradicts our purpose in life, which is to preserve and perpetuate life. Committing suicide goes against the love you are meant to have for yourself and goes against the love of God. The person breaks the bond between themselves and God. God is always there for us and it is only a simple matter of asking for help. Responsibility for one committing suicide can diminish from grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardships, sufferings, or torture.

The Church believes that we should continue to always pray for those to who have taken their own life. For there might be a chance that God may offer a way of salutary repentance for the person who has done it. It is important to look different towards others for any reason, all life must be respected.

By: Patrick L.

Teen Suicide

Teen suicide is a very serious problem that continues to increasingly grow with each passing year. Thousands of teens fall victim to suicide each year and the lives of many to become shattered. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among age group between fifteen and twenty-four and it is the sixth leading cause of death between the age group of five to fourteen years old. It is clear that the chances of suicide drastically increase when children reach adolescence.

The cause of suicide in teens range from dozens of different factors. Teens are pressured on daily basis, for some the pressure is too great. Some of the pressures include the pressure of becoming the best or succeeding in life, confusion, and many others. Stress is the main cause, for all pressures cause great stress and the young mind of a teen does not know how to deal with such stress. Many do not realize the stress that teens are burdened with in today's day and age. Especially with the financial crisis that exists in the world today, it just continues to add onto the burden. The media also plays a big role. The views the media has on a certain individual can increase the risk of suicide.

Not only does teen suicide harm the individual attempting it, but it also harms everyone around them. Whether it is a close family member or a new friend, everyone is affected in some way even if they fail to realize it. All teens should be educated on the risks that follow suicide. They must know that it does not fix anything, but only causes more problems and some could be drastically life changing. The effects of teen suicide, the statistics, warning signs, and just about everything that is meant to be known about teen suicide will be discussed in later postings.

By: Patrick L.