1.

Suicide in adolescents and young adults

Adolescents know that overcoming difficult situations are a part of life. In most cases, when
facing a problem, they get emotional, distressed, and perhaps eat lots of chocolate, but they
somehow overcome this and continue with their life. However, sometimes adolescents
consider some problems too much to handle, feel terribly ill for a prolonged period of time,
and sadly, find that suicide is the only way out.
Suicide is the act of killing oneself intentionally and is a prominent health concern in
Australia. According to the Australian Bureau for Statistics, in !11 suicide as a proportion of
total deaths were ".1# for people aged 1$ % 1& and '.(# for ! % " year olds.
)herefore, suicide represented roughly a *uarter of all deaths in adolescents in !11 +ABS,
!1,-.
.ender is a key determinant where males have significantly higher suicidal rates than
females +/ew 0epartment of Health, !1!-. In !11, ,1 males and &! females aged
between 1$ % " years died by suicide. Although in comparison to previous years, the rates
of suicide have slightly decreased in males, and remain stable in females, the numbers are
still too high and the difference is too small. +ABS, !1,-
1ther key determinants include mental illnesses such as depression which was the most
common diagnosis for those who died by suicide +/ew 0epartment of Health, !1!-, alcohol
and other drug abuse, history of suicidal behaviour or self2harm, and3or family and friendship
breakdown +4ental Health 0ivision, !!&- +4edical /ews )oday, !!&-. )hus, suicide is a
comple5 phenomenon with no single cause and no single answer. However, in many cases,
suicide is preventable and I believe that education is the basis for prevention.
4y intervention involves introducing compulsory gatekeeper training at the beginning of
grade ten and college. .atekeeper training involves the development of knowledge,
attitudes, and skills to identify students at risk, determine the levels of risk, and make
referrals when necessary +American Academy of 6hild 7 Adolescent 8sychiatry, !!&- +)he
9ournal of the American 4edical Association, !!$-. By doing so, it is training towards
suicide intervention as well as personally avoiding suicide. 1r in other words, if one knows
how to avoid suicide themselves, he3she could be the key to preventing someone else:s
suicide. ;urthermore, a study by <alafat and =lias in 1&&" showed how teenagers are more
likely to turn to peers than adults for support in dealing with suicidal thoughts, which is
another strength of this intervention.
A systematic review on gatekeeper training was conducted in !!& which showed that >this
type of training has been shown to positively affect the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of
trainees regarding suicide prevention. ?arge2scale cohort studies in military personnel and
physicians have reported promising results with a significant reduction in suicidal ideation,
suicide attempts and deaths by suicide: +6anadian 9ournal of 8sychiatry, !!&-. )hrough
this idea, everyone is *ualified to support and help one another, not @ust school councilors or
peer support groups. ;urthermore, unlike suicide awareness programs, this idea raises
awareness on suicide as well as giving an individual skills to work towards a solution.
Age is another determinant of suicide where the number of deaths per 1!!,!!! population
from !!' % !11 were !." for $ % 1" year olds and &.A in 1$ to " year olds +ABS, !1,-.
)herefore, although suicide is rare in childhood, there is a significant increase during
adolescence. Bhich is why this training will occur in grade 1! and college and hopefully, it
will become the key in reducing suicide for all ages in the long run.