Recognizing the signs of possible suicidal behavior in teens can help you prevent tragedy from occurring in your family. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-olds and the sixth leading cause of death for 5- to 14-year-olds, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Although every situation is different, there are some common signs that may indicate that your teenager is considering suicide.
Signs
Teenagers considering suicide may spend less time with friends and family members and may reject invitations to social events or activities. They may talk about not being around much longer, may tell you that everyone would be better off if they were gone or may actually say that they are thinking about suicide. Experiencing a major traumatic event, such as a parent's death, divorce in the family, a break up with a boyfriend or girlfriend or other disappointment can cause changes in behavior that may indicate that your child is considering suicide.
Other possible suicide signs include depression, hallucinations, weight loss or gain, sadness, spending more time sleeping, personality changes, difficulty concentrating and risky behaviors including alcohol or drugs. The National Alliance on Mental Illness cautions that these symptoms don't always mean that a teenager is suicidal, but recommends talking to your child if they experience one or more of these symptoms, particularly if the behaviors are unusual for your child.
Considerations
Giving away favorite belongings can be a strong clue that a person is considering suicide, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Teenagers may also throw away cherished possessions and suddenly claim not to care about activities or sports.
Risk Factors
Certain factors can increase the risk of teenage suicidal behavior. Teenagers who abuse drugs or alcohol or who have a mental health disorder may be more likely to kill themselves. Other possible risk factors include social isolation, unsatisfactory relationships with others, a family history of suicide or depression or feelings of worthlessness. KidsHealth from Nemours reports that a teenager may be more likely to consider suicide if he experiences repeated failures at school or faces hostility from family or peers due to his sexual orientation.
Gender Differences
While girls think about and attempt suicide twice as often as boys, boys die by suicide about four times as often as girls, according to KidsHealth. KidsHealth suggests that the higher success rate for boys may be because boys use more lethal methods, such as jumping from high places, hanging or using firearms, while girls resort to cutting themselves or taking drug overdoses.
Prevention/Solution
Parents can help reduce the chance that their children will commit suicide by taking threats of suicide seriously and paying close attention to changes in behavior. Taking your teenager to a doctor or mental help professional is an important step, as treatment can help decrease the odds that your child will actually attempt suicide. The National Alliance on Mental Illness notes that nearly 60 percent of completed suicides are committed with a firearm and suggests keeping firearms away from troubled teenagers.
