Suicide
THE NIGHTMARE of SUICIDE
Journal entry
“ I’m surprised I haven’t done it yet because I feel really terrible all the time. I just don’t have any courage but anyone else in my position would have already committed suicide.” Rachel age 15
– the peak age for suicide attempts is 16
– 19% of teens seriously consider suicide
– 6% actually attempt it
– only car accidents claim more teen lives than suicide
– in 90% of suicides there is an underlying psychiatric disorder
– depression is most common
– 50% of male suicides victims have depression
– 70% of female suicides victims have depression
– there has been a 3 fold increase in teen suicides since 1960’s
– girls more likely to attempt suicide (2X)
– boys more likely to succeed (10X)
Why? – increased drug / alcohol use
– breakdown in family
– more “pressured” world
– availability of guns
– suicide is “contagious”
– other suicides result in clusters
– dramatizations of suicide (TV, movies, etc) are frequently followed by increased rate of suicide
– familial (combination of genetics & environment)
Suicide results from a convergence of factors
1. underlying psychiatric disorder
2. predisposition to suicidal thought
3. traumatic event
– most common – relationship problems
– school problems
– trouble with law
– bullying
– pregnancy
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