According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the third leading cause of death in young people ages 10 to 24 is suicide.

The top three ways young people use in committing suicide are:

  • 45% firearm
  • 40% suffocation
  • 8% poisoning

 

Guns the number one method used in teen suicide. Is this surprising when you hear of all the school gun violence and school shootings such as Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut, the movie theatre shooting in Colorado and the school shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado among many others? Obviously, our teenagers don’t have much difficulty obtaining a firearm.

Recently, the Pass Out Game has become popular with teenagers. It is similar to the Choking Game and the Fainting Game where various methods are used to restrict oxygen to the brain causing the person to feel a momentary high before passing out. Various means are used from hyperventilating, using a rope or other device around the neck to restrict breathing to another person putting pressure on the chest to prevent air intake. All these lead to suffocation.

Almost everyone either knows directly or knows someone who knows a teenager that has taken their life.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that a nationwide survey of youth in 9th thru 12th grade in public and private schools in the United States showed that in the 12 months preceding the survey:

  • 16% of students reported seriously considering suicide
  • 13% of the students reported creating a plan
  • 8% of the students reported trying to take their own life

 

And Hispanic youth were more likely to report attempting suicide than their black and white, non-Hispanic peers.

Native American/Alaskan Native youth have the highest rates of suicide related deaths.

Of the reported suicides in the 10 to 24 age group:

  • 81% of the deaths were males
  • 19% of the deaths were females

 

It is also reported that boys are more likely than girls to die from suicide. However, girls are more likely to report attempting suicide than boys.

Risk factors:

  • History of previous suicide attempts
  • Family history of suicide
  • History of depression or other mental illness
  • Alcohol or drug abuse
  • Easy access to lethal ways to harm themselves
  • Exposure to the suicidal behavior of others (peer pressure)
  • Incarceration or trouble with the law

 

The above risk factors do not mean a young person is going to attempt to commit suicide; they are just things to keep in mind.

If you suspect or hear your teen or one of their friends talk about taking their life, get help immediately.

Triumph Youth Services is a licensed residential treatment center for teenage boys and young men. They have staff that deal with adolescent issues on a daily basis.

Call today to get information on how they can help your son.

Reference:
http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pub/youth_suicide.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Division of Violence Prevention
http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/1-12-teens-attempted-suicide-report-article-1.1092622