Suicide

Suicide is a major public health problem. Approximately 7 percent of high school students (8 out of every 100 high school students) report having attempted suicide in the past 12 months.^xxxvii

It can be difficult to tell if somebody is suicidal. More than 9 out of 10 (90 percent) people who die from suicide face depression, other mental health disorders, or substance abuse disorders.^xxxviii While it is hard to predict suicide, some factors that increase the possibility of a suicide attempt or death by suicide include:

A past suicide attempt
A family history of mental or substance abuse disorders
A family history of suicide
Experiencing violence in the family, including physical or sexual abuse
Having firearms in the home^xxxix (firearms are used in more than half of suicides)
Previous involvement in the juvenile justice system
Exposure to the suicidal behavior of others, such as family members, peers, or celebrities^xl

If you think your son or daughter is showing warning signs of suicide, talk to them by asking questions in a non judgmental way. Questions that may help include:

Do you ever feel so badly that you think about killing yourself?
Do you have a plan to hurt yourself or take your own life?
Have you thought about when and/or how you would do it?

Always take thoughts of or plans for suicide seriously. Listen and don’t judge, but do seek the help of a health care provider immediately if your son or daughter is thinking about or has plans to die by suicide. If you are worried that your son or daughter might be in danger, do not leave him or her alone. Call 911. It is always better to be careful.

If you feel your child is in danger of suicide, you may also call 1 (800) 273-TALK and talk to a suicide prevention counselor.

To see the Suicide Prevention Resource Center’s page on youth, go to:
http://www.sprc.org/suicide_prev_basics/youth.asp.

This web site describes some of the common mental health problems that affect teens, including:

Last revised: March 27, 2009