Heather Lester

English 2010-506

Information Effect Project

Teen Suicide and What You Should Know

Mental health is a subject too many try to ignore, and suicide is treated as taboo still in our

country. What is even more alarming is the gross ignorance, or perhaps genuine obliviousness that society

has to these same issues in adolescents. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in the United States

for teens and young adults according to the American SPCC, and More teenagers and young adults die

from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and

chronic lung disease, combined. If you expand the age range to 10–24-year-olds it is the third leading

cause according to the CDC. Utah is ranked within the top ten states for teen suicide and is located in

what is referred to as

the suicide belt. It is

imperative as a

society we learn how

to recognize potential

problems and how to

help with some basic

understandings of

who this happens too,

why it happens, and

how we can stop it.

*The image above is

demonstrating the
number of teen suicides by state per 100,000 people. It is a visual of the “suicide belt.” The image below
is portraying the number of teen suicides by state, not in correlation to the population size.
 Each day in our nation, there are an average of over 5,400 suicide attempts by young people

grades 7-12. (American SPCC) The number of completed suicides (suicides resulting in death, not

attempted suicide) has been on the rise over the last decade as well. There are many varying risk factors

as to why a person attempts suicide; age, gender, culture, and ethnic are a few. A person who has lost a

family member, more specifically a parent, are 200X more likely to attempt suicide in their life than

someone who has not. One possible risk factor that is not completely accepted by all mental health

workers is that there could be a genetical component, research is still ongoing though. Other risk factors

include:

 Depression and other mental health disorders

 Substance abuse disorders
 Prior suicide attempt
 Family history of suicide
 Family violence
 Physical and or sexual abuse
 Firearms in the home
 Exposure to suicidal behavior
*AmericanSPCC.org
TABLE 1. Suicide rates * for persons 15-24 years of age, by age group and sex -- United
States, 1950, 1960, 1970, 1980, and 1990
=========================================================================================
 Year
----------------------------------------
Age group (yrs)/Sex 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
15-19
Male 3.5 5.6 8.8 13.8 18.1
Female 1.8 1.6 2.9 3.0 3.7
Total 2.7 3.6 5.9 8.5 11.1

20-24
Male 9.3 11.5 19.2 26.8 25.7
Female 3.3 2.9 5.6 5.5 4.1
Total 6.2 7.1 12.2 16.1 15.1

15-24
Male 6.5 8.2 13.5 20.2 22.0
Female 2.6 2.2 4.2 4.3 3.9
Total 4.5 5.2 8.8 12.3 13.2
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
* Per 100,000 persons.

Source: National Center for Health Statistics, CDC.

=========================================================================================
*CDC.org, The graph depicts the increase in suicide of adolescents over a period of time from 1950-1990. The CDC report says
that over the last decade it has continued to increase significantly.

Suicide is rarely acted upon with out some form of outward sign that others can notice. Large changes in

a persons’ personality and personal hygiene are some common signs. These signs do not mean that a

person is going to commit suicide, but they are enough that if they are noticed the person should be

acknowledged and asked if they are okay. If you are not comfortable asking, reach out to someone for

advice. There are many available resources for help if you or someone you know are struggling with

suicidal thoughts. The emergency room at any hospital is always an option, they have trained staff for

these situations, and they all have or have access to a crisis counselor. Other resources include the

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK, and also a Crisis Text Line where you text

“HOME” to 74174. If ever you are afraid for somebody’s immediate safety, including yourself, call 911.

If you see something, say something. Other signs can include, and are not limited to:

 withdrawing from friends and family

 depression
 self-harming behaviors
 drug or alcohol abuse
 major mood swings
 rage
 feelings of worthlessness
 feeling trapped
 feeling like a burden
  sleeping to much or not enough
 giving away possessions
 acting anxious or reckless

Another great deterring effort for adolescent suicide is education. Mental health education is

slowly increasing in public schools that will benefit students and teachers. Laura Warburton, the founder

of the organization Live Hannah’s Hope is an advocate for education after she lost her daughter to

suicide. She teaches courses for youth and adults on being “gatekeepers,” which is training on

identifying and aiding in mental health situations. Many of the bills she has helped push through have

helped in the availability and accountability for suicide victims. Many schools now have peer programs

aimed at helping identify and provide support to other students. Peer supported youth have shown

better outcomes than students who were bullied or without friends. Students who are bullied are twice

as likely to attempt suicide per the American SPCC. You can be an advocate in your community for

continuing education. You can participate in school meetings, community meetings, attend a free

seminar on suicide prevention.

Pay attention to those around you. Pay attention to the way the adolescents around you are

behaving. Do not be afraid to ask difficult questions that may seem awkward. If we continue educating

on this difficult subject and we are willing to speak up, we may see a decline in numbers. The more we

talk about it in a normal sense and not as taboo, the shame and social stigma may also be reduced and

allow more people to be willing to seek help.

 Cited Sources

 Warburton, L. (2020, December 14). Hannah's Story. Live Hannah's Hope.

https://livehannahshope.org/hannahs-story/.

 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Programs for the Prevention of Suicide
Among Adolescents and Young Adults. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00031525.htm.

 Dodd, Johnny. “TEENS SAVING TEENS Preventing Youth Suicides.” People, vol. 92, no.
1, July 2019, pp. 104–107. EBSCOhost,
search.ebscohost.com.libprox1.slcc.edu:2048/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=f6h&AN=137066847&site=eds-live&scope=site.

 “Teenage Suicide: Statistics & Risk Factors: American SPCC - Prevention & Signs.”
American SPCC, 24 June 2021, americanspcc.org/teen-suicide-facts/.
 “Teen Suicide.” National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, 30 Sept. 2019, newsinhealth.nih.gov/2019/09/teen-suicide.
 DeGering, Nicea, and Chelsea Perkins. “The Advocates Present: Live Hannah's Hope.”
ABC4 Utah, ABC4 Utah, 29 June 2021, www.abc4.com/gtu/the-advocates-present-live-
hannahs-hope/.