Teen Suicide Prevention

October 26, 2009  
Filed under Student Life

Suicide is a very serious and important situation. Suicide is actually a major health problem. Most of the time when someone is suicidal there will be warning signs. Such as, cuts on the arms or legs. If someone is suicidal and you have that suspicion then you should try to help. I have known some of my friends to be suicidal and whether they are serious about committing suicide you should still try to talk to whoever has that problem. Some people aren’t necessarily suicidal when they are cutting themselves but that does not mean that it can’t get serious!
People from ages 10 to 24 take their own lives. People who are suicidal are mostly going through a phase of depression. There are different types of depression and some cases are more serious than others. Mostly when going through depression it’s from a break up or family situations. For example if someone is having problems getting along with family members and want to be close to someone in their family and don’t know how to be, then they are most likely to be depressed and suicidal. Signs that I have noticed is if they say things like they feel nothing is going right or they can’t do anything right, or they don’t feel like being here no more they are normally talking about being in the world. More warning signs are talking about suicide or death in general, talking about “going away,” “running away,” talking about feeling hopeless or feeling guilty, pulling away from friends or family and losing the desire to go out and have fun, some people like to shut themselves in their room and don’t come out to eat, or anything, having no desire to take part in favorite activities, having trouble concentrating or thinking clearly, experiencing changes in eating or sleeping habits. For instance, sleeping too much or too little, staying awake thinking bad things to do to themselves or just telling themselves how bad things are in their life. Also engaging in self-destructive behavior (drinking alcohol, taking drugs, or driving too fast). People who are suicidal will cry a lot about the littlest things because they are a nervous wreck. They talk bad about themselves to people and once they do that for a long period of time it just kind of sticks and they become insecure about themselves. They stop talking as much, and just listen to depressing music such as slow music or head banging music.
If you are feeling suicidal you need to talk yourself into getting help. When teens are suicidal they don’t think about or try not to think about what they are doing, but if you feel the slightest bit of temptation to commit suicide then you need to talk yourself into talking to a counselor at your school, or maybe even calling a specialist. Waccamaw Mental Health provides many specialized counselors, (psychiatrist) that would be more than happy to help you! A psychiatrist can prescribe you medication if they feel that it is needed for you.
Waccamaw Mental Health-843-347-4888. Other numbers that you can reach if needing help or just someone to talk to, 1-800-suicide and 1-800-273talk
Here are some opinions of teen suicide….
Suicide is wrong. There is enough help and people that can help you. I advise you to find someone to talk to if you are under pressure.
-Cathy Richardson
It is stupid!! –Casey Poston

I’ve known people to try to commit suicide. Most people are depressed when thinking or trying to commit suicide. –Rebecca
I have lost a friend and it was hard. So if you lose a friend other people will probably think about committing suicide too because they are scared they are going to have fun and forget about them. –Danielle McCracken
I think if teens are thinking about suicide then they are having problems in their life. I know someone who has tried but I talked her out of it. –Angela Warden