{"id":51081,"date":"2021-08-25T03:19:44","date_gmt":"2021-08-25T03:19:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/wp3\/?page_id=51081"},"modified":"2021-08-25T04:01:44","modified_gmt":"2021-08-25T04:01:44","slug":"teenage-suicide","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.freedomfrommedom.com\/wp3\/teenage-suicide","title":{"rendered":"Teenage Suicide"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Information provided by<\/span> D’Amore Mental Health<\/a><\/p>\n

47,173 Americans died of suicide in 2017, making it the 10th leading cause of death in the USA 1<\/a><\/sup>. It\u2019s the 3rd largest cause of teenage deaths, only falling short of accidents and homicide 2<\/a><\/sup>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Suicide doesn\u2019t discriminate. Anyone of any gender, age, race or socioeconomic status might feel suicidal at any point in their lives \u2013 even if they \u201chave it all\u201d or appear to be happy from the outside.<\/p>\n

However, teenagers are specifically at risk for suicide.<\/p>\n

Teenage years are a stressful time and there are many major physical and emotional changes to contend with. Puberty transforms the body in new and strange ways and hormones wreck havoc with moods and emotions. Teenagers go through strong feelings of confusion, fear, stress and doubt \u2013 perhaps more intense and traumatic than anything they have faced so far in their lives.<\/p>\n

Teenagers feel a strong pressure to succeed, and they can also feel frustrated and anxious about their future. New situations (such as moving to a new location or starting at a different school) can feel daunting and intimidating.<\/p>\n

If you have a teenager you care about in your life, it\u2019s important to be aware of the mental health and suicide risks they are facing. On this resource page, you\u2019ll find answers to some of the most common questions about teenage suicide and practical information for what to do if you are concerned about a loved one.<\/p>\n

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Is suicide a side effect of mental illness or addiction?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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It\u2019s important to understand that suicide is not a mental illness in itself. Rather, it is often a serious consequence of many mental disorders, including depression<\/a>, anxiety<\/a>, post-traumatic stress disorder<\/a>, substance use disorders<\/a>, eating disorders and much more.<\/p>\n

In these cases, suicidal thoughts are connected to or caused by an underlying mental illness that can be treated. Teenagers who are feeling suicidal usually need to see a psychologist or psychiatrist who is experienced in diagnosing and treating children with mental health problems.<\/p>\n

Therapy can help your teen to explore the issues that are making them feel suicidal and learn skills to manage their emotions more effectively. Also, the therapist can help them to diagnose the mental illness or addiction and develop a treatment plan.<\/p>\n

However, suicide isn\u2019t always linked to a long term mental illness. In some cases, suicidal thoughts can be caused by extreme stress in a particular situation and are alleviated once that situation is resolved.<\/p>\n

Or, sometimes the answer can be a combination: your teen may be susceptible to depression, anxiety or other mental health issues and their current situation is making these conditions worse.<\/p>\n

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Why do teens and young adults want to commit suicide?<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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According to a report by the Journal of the American Medical Association, the rate of young adults and adolescents dying of suicide in the USA reached its highest level in nearly two decades<\/strong> in 2019 3<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Generally, teens and young adults want to commit suicide because they are in serious emotional and psychological pain and they don\u2019t see any hope of a brighter future. They feel isolated, misunderstood, frustrated and hopeless and see suicide as a way to escape their pain.<\/p>\n

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There are many reasons why teens and young adults might consider suicide:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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