DAsia Perry

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Factors Impacting Teenage Suicide

Over the years, teenage suicide rates have been steadily on the rise. Suicide is defined by

the CDC as Death caused by self-directed injurious behavior with an intent to die as a result of

the behavior. An important question that has gone unanswered is whether or not suicide is

preventable in the adolescent population. Researchers have focused in on understanding the

motives behind these incidents using clinical studies aimed at studying psychiatric triggers in

adolescents. However, interventions and treatments have not been studied extensively to evaluate

their effectiveness in preventing suicide as well as the prevention of multiple suicide attempts.

Past history of suicidal behaviors, psychiatric and mental disorders, ethnic backgrounds, and the

influence of social media are strong triggers for suicide attempts and ideations in this

population.

The rates of teenage suicide began to rise at an alarming rate back in 1988 in adolescents

between the ages of 15-19. Suicide amongst teenagers had a rating of 11.3 deaths per 100,000

people in the 15-19-year age group (Garland, Zigler ). People began to worry why the attempts

within populations were on the rise but had no direct answer as to what the cause was. Statistics

have shown that when teenagers committed suicide, there was often no true evidence regarding

the deaths. Typically, the only evidence was suicide note that they had left behind. In the cases in

which there was no evidence, the death was ruled undetermined or accidental (Garland, Zigler).

Studies have also shown that in 88 out of 128 studies, the prevalence of attempted suicide was

higher for females than for males. Suicidal behaviors and thoughts were also 1.25 times higher in

females than in males (Deeks, Evans, Keith, Rodham).

It is very important to investigate the psychological factors behind suicide because they

play a big role in why adolescents decide to harm themselves. According to the article by
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Garland and Zigler, Almost all adolescent suicide victims have suffered from psychiatric

illnesses (169-182). The top disorders diagnosed in adolescents who attempt suicide are

affective disorders, conduct disorders (or antisocial personality disorders), and substance abuse.

Teenagers also suffer from bipolar illness and depression resulting in teens acting on suicidal

thoughts and behaviors. In Garland and Ziglers research, they found that most adolescents who

commit suicide have went through some type of traumatic experience whether it be problems

with their families, issues in school, or issues with the law (169-182). The use of drugs and

alcohol are psychosocial factors that significantly produce a risk for suicidal behaviors. Drug and

alcohol abuse affects affective, cognitive, social, familial, and behavioral functioning (Garland &

Zigler). In todays society, teenagers are experimenting with drugs at very young ages. There

drugs affect the teenagers emotional state leading them to feel depressed, hopeless, and angry.

Studies show that hospitalized adolescents who made a suicide attempt had an affective disorder

(Brown, Fritz, Overholser, Spirito).

There are many different methods of committing suicide. Statistics have shown that the

use of a firearm is the most recurrent method of committing suicide. The second common

method is death by hanging and the third is by gassing. Females typically use less lethal methods

of committing suicide and are not successful as males are wheras males use more violent and

immediate methods such as gunshots and hanging (Garland, Zigler). Females typically attempt

by gassing or ingestion of substances (Garland & Zigler). According to the article by Garland

and Zigler, 83% of adolescents suicide attempters used ingestion or overdose (169-182). The

way that a teenager chooses to attempt their death varies based on the person.

In the United States, it is more common for whites than African-Americans to commit

suicide. Also, suicide rates are higher in Native Americans than the lower rates in Asians/ Pacific
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Islanders (Gould, Greenberg, Velting, Shaffer, David). According to the article by Garland and

Zigler, it is more common for Whites than for other ethnic groups to commit suicide (162-182).

Hispanics follow caucasian rankings in the higher number of attempted suicide. Because

Hispanic adolescents are a minority group, they are more vulnerable. Different genders exhibit

different characteristics. Males are often more aggressive, more impulsive, and more violent than

females. In Garland and Ziglers research, they found that Most suicides appeared to be the

result of marked impulsivity. Males are more at risk of suicide because of their personalities.

Females can have aggressive behavior but,they benefit from factors like interpersonal

relationships for support and more positive help-seeking attitudes and behaviors than most males

(Garland & Zigler).

The place that has the most potential to be the most stable for all children, teens, and

adults is the family environment. Throughout life, the place where we feel the most love, hatred,

an acceptance is within our families. When a teenager is dealing with family issues it can cause a

lot of stress upon them. How and where a child is born and the circumstances surrouding hor

they were raised influence attachment, social isolation, and depression in adolescents. Studies

have shown that low family support is predictive of suicide attempts because of increased

instances of depression (King & Merchant). Poor family environments that offer no support to

their children and low parental monitoring are factors that cause teenagers to feel alone. The lack

of parental monitoring and guidance allows for the child to do whatever they please such as

exploring drugs and alcohol as well as other dangerous behaviors.

Family dynamics that are known to lead to teen suicide are emotional neglect, divorce,

and domestic abuse. Parents who invest a lot of time into their careers may emotionally neglect

their child, forcing the teenager to take on lots of responsibilities that they may not be able to
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handle. They may feel as if they are not receiving the love, attention, and guidance that they

deserve (Greene). Dealing with parents who are going through a divorce is a high stress situation

that may cause the teenager to place the blame on themselves and not be able to cope well with

the separation.. According to the article by Greene, People who divorce are often more cruel to

each other than imprison inmates (Greene). If a teenager is witnessing these actions within their

family, they may begin to cope by acting out in school or at home or suffering emotional

distress.

Over the past decade, social media has becoming increasingly popular. Social media has

provided people with social interactions over the internet. These social networks have an

influence on teenage suicide is because of the increased instances of cyberbullying and cyber

harassment (Luxton, June, Fairall). According to the article by Luxton, June, and Fairall

Cyberbullying typically refers to when child or adolescent is intentionally and repeatedly

targeted by another child or teen in the form of threats or harassments or humiliated or

embarrassed by means of cellular phones or internet technologies (195-200). Studies have

shown that between 2004 and 2010, cyberbullying victimization rates ranged from 20.8% to

40.6% (Luxton, June, Fairall). The internet has given adolescent full access of communication

through social media sites making bullying an accessible and everyday thing. Young people find

it easier to bully each other online then in person because it is easy to get away with. Also, the

internet has created online chat rooms and virtual bulletin boards that have allowed teens to share

their feelings with other like minded individuals. The internet has made it easier for teens to

express themselves through online means rather than in person. Social media is even impacting

other countries and raising their suicide rates. In Japan, suicide rates have risen from 34 in 2003
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to 91 suicides in 2005 (Luxton, June, Fairall). South Korea has the highest suicide rates in the

world and there is evidence that cyberbullying is part of the reason behind this.

Ways to prevent teenage suicide is, by using different types of suicide prevention

programs such these are crisis intervention services. The most popular and well known service is

the telephone hotline. There are over a thousand suicide hotlines in the United States (Garland &

Zigler). Telephone counseling is available 24 hours a day and are staffed by trained intervention

professionals. Anyone who is feeling that they are going to make an attempt can call the hotline

and receive crisis help. Studies have shown that suicide prevention services are most frequently

used by women (Garland & Zigler). Since 1981, there have been more suicide prevention

programs implemented. These programs are designed to teach adolescents how to identify

friends who may be at risk for suicidal behavior and how to direct them to help (Garland &

Zigler).

Teenage suicide is steadily on the rise due to many factors including domestic issues,

depression, and drug/alcohol use. Though females are more likely to attempt suicide, males are

more likely to be successful. Through the implementation of suicide prevention programs, we

can teach everyone how to recognize suicidal ideations and provide crisis interventions for

teenages actively attempting. By providing interventions and support to these teenagers, we can

prevent further attempts and begin to see a decline in suicide cases in our youth.

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