Current Topics in Teen Health - Rising Number of Teen Suicides

Rising Number of Teen Suicides

Author:

New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University

Medically Reviewed On: May 07, 2001

More than 30,000 Americans commit suicide each year, and 5,000 of these Americans are teenagers. Though one of every eight teenagers suffers with depression, the diagnosis is often missed, and depressive symptoms are mistaken for the typical ups and downs of teenage life.

Below, Dr. Peter Jensen, an expert in adolescent psychiatry, speaks to some of the common perceptions, and misconceptions, about teenage suicide.

Q: How common is teen suicide?
Suicide is the second most common cause of death among adolescents, and is only surpassed by auto accidents as a cause of death in teenagers.

Q: How common is it for teenagers to think about suicide?
Suicidal thinking, or thinking about death and dying, is not a terribly uncommon thing among adolescents. It's a very different thing, on the other hand, to actually form a plan, and to make a specific attempt. Suicide attempts are relatively common. Completed suicide, of course, is much less common.

Q: What sorts of factors may lead up to a suicide attempt? What can parents be on the lookout for?
Well in terms of teenagers who actually complete suicide, we know that the greatest risk factor is having a mental health disorder. Sometimes concomitant or co-occurring substance use would put a teenager at risk. But depression is probably the single leading cause associated with suicide.

There may also be precipitants. A teenager might be depressed, and there may be a stressful event that happens on top of that depression that seems to be a final straw. Sometimes a teenager will form a plan and say, "If this happens, then that's it, I'm going to do it." Romantic breakups are a common catalyst.

Q: There is a preponderance of white older adolescent males who attempt suicide, or complete suicide. Why do you think that is?
Well there's a very interesting difference between boys and girls. While girls actually make many more suicide attempts than boys, boys are much more likely to succeed because they turn to fatal means. For boys, the most common means of trying to kill themselves is with a gun-actually a long gun in boys. These are obviously fatal methods.

With girls, overdose attempts and wrist slashings are more common. And these are rarely fatal.

Q: Does that indicate that girls are more likely not to really want to go through with it, but it's more a cry for help?
While there are some things that we think of as a suicide gesture, I think every time that someone is contemplating suicide, and makes an actual attempt, it should be treated very seriously. And it demands a medical evaluation. Sometimes people assume that these attempts are just an effort to manipulate. And while sometimes this may be true, it really demands an evaluation, ideally by a psychiatric professional.

Q: Sometimes teenagers are very dramatic. Should every suicide threat be taken seriously? How does a parent know when to worry?
Whenever a child says, "I'm going to kill myself," I always take that as a warning sign. So when parents tell me this, or tell a primary care provider this, I always urge those professionals to get that child an official expert evaluation.

It's not normal to say, "I'm going to kill myself." There may be a manipulation involved and it may not necessarily be a suicide risk, but there's something going on for that child that probably deserves an evaluation.

Q: What are some of the signs that parents should be seriously concerned about?
Parents should be aware of the signs of depression: a change in mood, a loss of interest in normal activities, thoughts or discussion of death, or withdrawal from friends. We know that substance use is a risk factor.

So if parents have concerns, they probably should act on them, because by the time you recognize that you have concerns, you've probably had them for quite awhile. And when you realize you're worried, it's time to act. Early intervention can mean the difference between life and death.

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Important disclaimer: The information on keepkidshealthy.com is for educational purposes only and should not be considered to be medical advice. It is not meant to replace the advice of the physician who cares for your child. All medical advice and information should be considered to be incomplete without a physical exam, which is not possible without a visit to your doctor.