Teenage_Suicide

Each year in the U.S, thousands of teenagers commit suicide. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15-24 years olds and the sixth leading cause of death for 5-14 years old. (Stone DH). Adolescence is an unsettling time. With many physical, emotional, psychological and social changes that accompany this stage of life. This means that teenagers experience strong feelings of stress, confusion, self doubt, pressure to succeed, financial uncertainty and other fears while growing up. When a teen commits suicide or attempted suicide, everyone in the family is affected. The reasons behind a suicide or attempted suicide can be complex but often there are warning signs. Suicide rates differ between boys and girls. Girls think about and attempt suicide about twice as often as boys, and tend to attempt suicide by overdosing on drugs or cutting themselves. Yet boys die by suicide about four times as often girls, perhaps because they tend to use more lethal methods, such as firearms, hanging, or jumping from heights.( Cheltenham MP). Many of the signs and symptoms of suicidal feelings are similar to those of depression. The reasons behind a suicide or attempted suicide can be complex but often there are warning signs. Contributing factors to adolescent suicide includes: Family history of suicide, physical illness, psychological and mental disorders especially depression and schizophrenia, relationship loss. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: • change in eating and sleeping habits • withdrawal from friends, family, and regular activities • violent actions, rebellious behavior, or running away • drug and alcohol use • unusual neglect of personal appearance • marked personality change • persistent boredom, difficulty concentrating, or a decline in the quality of schoolwork • Frequent complaints about physical symptoms, often related to emotions, such as stomachaches, headaches, fatigue, etc. • loss of interest in pleasurable activities • not tolerating praise or rewards A teenager who is planning to commit suicide may also: • complain of being a bad person or feeling rotten inside • give verbal hints with statements such as: I won't be a problem for you much longer, Nothing matters, It's no use, and I won't see you again • Put his or her affairs in order, for example, give away favorite possessions, clean his or her room, throw away important belongings, etc. • become suddenly cheerful after a period of depression • have signs of psychosis (hallucinations or bizarre thoughts) If a child or adolescent says, I want to kill myself or I am going to commit suicide, always take the statement seriously and immediately seek assistance from a qualified mental health professional. METHODS OF HEALTH PREVENTION. Primary prevention: this aims to reduce number of new cases of suicide in the general population this refers to an effort that targets the causes of suicide-related behavior and injury before self- injury or suicidal behavior occurs. Conditions such as depression, impulsive behavior or alcohol and drug abuse might be targets. Implementing programs that prevent alienation or isolation of youth such as bullying prevention, limiting /restricted access to fire arms and guns, family support and prevention of abuse, treatment of psychiatric disorder e.g. mood disorder,develoing problem solving skills e.g. getting a job to prevent financial loss.( Crosby AE) Secondary prevention: An attempt to target intervention as behavior is occurring, with the goal of minimizing any self injury that may occur. Early detection of suicidal ideation or planning, and appropriate referral and treatment for suicidal risk are examples of secondary prevention. Tertiary prevention: This targets intervention following self injury or behavior to minimize the impact and reduce the likelihood of subsequent self injury.( Oquendo MA). Effective intervention in suicidal crisis, therapeutic treatments following suicidal behavior to prevent future attempts or to reduce the severity of an injury, referral for other supportive services following a suicide attempt are all examples of tertiary prevention. COMMUNITY AND STATE RESOURCES. • Adolescent Self Injury Foundation (ASIF): This organization provides information to help understands the complex behavior of adolescent self injury. It provides tips to friends and parents of adolescent self injuries to offer effective help. • American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP): This is a leading non profit organization dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research and education, and to reaching out to people with mood disorders and those impacted by suicide. • Suicide Prevention Education Awareness for Kids (SPEAK): SPEAK promotes the prevention of youth suicide and works to dispel the social stigma surrounding suicide and depression through campaign of education and awareness at the community level. NURSING INTERVENTION. 1. Developing a trusting relationship which may encourage patients to reveal their feelings even when they are reluctant to share this information with their family or their physician. (Hirscfeld R.M). 2. Observe the changes in the mood and behavior of your patients. 3. Let the patient’ know that there is alternative to feeling depressed and that you can help them find services that can relieve their pain. 4. The nurse should be especially alert for imminent warning signs of suicide e.g. patient talking about suicide or death or expressing the belief that life is meaning less or hopeless. REFERENCES • Chishti P, Stone DH, Corcoran P, Williamson E, Petridou E. Suicide mortality in the European Union. Eur J Public Health 2003; 13:108–14. • Crosby AE, Cheltenham MP, Sacks JJ. Incidence of suicidal ideation and behavior in the United States, 1994. SuicideLifeThreat Behav 1999; 29:131–40. • Sher L, Oquendo MA, Mann JJ. Risk of suicide in mood disorders. Clin Neurosci Res 2001; 1:337–44. • Hirscfeld R.M. Russell J.M. Assessment and treatment of suicidal patients. N Engl J Med 1997; 337:910–15. • Manis, R.W., Berman, A, & Silverman, M.M. (Eds). (2000). Comprehensive textbook of Suicidology.New York. Guilford Press. • Retrieved from:kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/suicide.html