According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, roughly 85 people in the U.S. take their own lives every day. Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for people ages 15 to 24, and the sixth-leading cause of death for children ages 5 to 14.
Bullying may have been a factor in the recent string of teen suicides to make headlines; however, typically what drives an adolescent to take their own life is the result of multiple issues. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, most people who commit suicide have a mental disorder—most commonly depression. “You just don’t want to wake up and die,” said David Rudd, a suicide researcher and professor at the University of Utah. “There are events in your life that make you more vulnerable.”
Of course, bullying can make a teen more vulnerable to thoughts of suicide, but so can peer pressure, family stressors, athletic challenges, and academic failures. There are signs parents can monitor in their children, such as behavior and attitude changes.
Share with your parents (and school counselors) signs of depression they can look for. Changes in their child’s sleep patterns, attitude, social activities, and communications via social media sites are good places to start. Encourage that they ask about their child’s feelings, not just about bullying that may or may not be obvious to them. Studies indicate it’s not just bullying that leads a child to the decision of suicide.
Taken from helpguide.com, here are the common warning signs of depression. However, it is also important to make clear that information found on the Internet is never absolute. The only way to be certain anyone at any age is suffering from depression is to seek professional medical advice.
Common signs and symptoms of depression
- Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. A bleak outlook—nothing will ever get better and there’s nothing you can do to improve your situation.
- Loss of interest in daily activities. No interest in former hobbies, pastimes, social activities, or sex. You’ve lost your ability to feel joy and pleasure.
- Appetite or weight changes. Significant weight loss or weight gain—a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month.
- Sleep changes. Either insomnia, especially waking in the early hours of the morning, or oversleeping (also known as hypersomnia).
- Irritability or restlessness. Feeling agitated, restless, or on edge. Your tolerance level is low; everything and everyone gets on your nerves.
- Loss of energy. Feeling fatigued, sluggish, and physically drained. Your whole body may feel heavy, and even small tasks are exhausting or take longer to complete.
- Self-loathing. Strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt. You harshly criticize yourself for perceived faults and mistakes.
- Concentration problems. Trouble focusing, making decisions, or remembering things.
- Unexplained aches and pains. An increase in physical complaints such as headaches, back pain, aching muscles, and stomach pain.
For more information here are a few more recently published articles you can share with parents and others in your school’s faculty and staff.
