Teen Suicide
Regina Linskey
Mrs. Kachurak
Eng-102-015
03-12-2013
Teenage Suicide
On the night of February 10, 2007, 13-year-old Kyle Koslop ended his life in his bedroom. He was the 38th person in Luzerne County under the age of 24 to commit suicide since the year of 2000 (Grochowski). Last year, at least three more students from Luzerne County committed suicide; two students from Pittston Area and one student from Nanticoke. Suicide is a serious problem among adolescents because there are many pressures and obstacles adolescents do not know how to cope with. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among 15-24-year-olds (Harpaz) because feelings of being overwhelmed and alone are sometimes unrecognized, and because teenagers can be victims of bullying. Untreated depression and other mental disorders are a key component to teen suicides. Depression, especially, can be triggered by several events in a teenager’s life such as problems at home, breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, and dealing with sexual identity (Will). Maureen Underwood, a social worker who has written suicide prevention school curricula and who works with the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide, states these “triggering events could push someone off the edge” (Harpaz). Unlike adults, who have the capacity and skills to overcome such obstacles, teenagers have not reached the level to do so. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, at least 90 percent of people who kill themselves have a diagnosable and treatable psychiatric illness (“AFSP: Risk Factors”). Therefore, the awareness of student’s actions and emotions by parents, teachers, and other adults are imperative. Often times, teenagers become despondent because of the pressures of their academic lives, social lives, and family lives. Unfortunately, parents like Scott Fritz who lost his 15-year-old daughter to suicide, had no idea teen suicide was even a
Mrs. Kachurak
Eng-102-015
03-12-2013
Teenage Suicide
On the night of February 10, 2007, 13-year-old Kyle Koslop ended his life in his bedroom. He was the 38th person in Luzerne County under the age of 24 to commit suicide since the year of 2000 (Grochowski). Last year, at least three more students from Luzerne County committed suicide; two students from Pittston Area and one student from Nanticoke. Suicide is a serious problem among adolescents because there are many pressures and obstacles adolescents do not know how to cope with. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among 15-24-year-olds (Harpaz) because feelings of being overwhelmed and alone are sometimes unrecognized, and because teenagers can be victims of bullying. Untreated depression and other mental disorders are a key component to teen suicides. Depression, especially, can be triggered by several events in a teenager’s life such as problems at home, breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, and dealing with sexual identity (Will). Maureen Underwood, a social worker who has written suicide prevention school curricula and who works with the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide, states these “triggering events could push someone off the edge” (Harpaz). Unlike adults, who have the capacity and skills to overcome such obstacles, teenagers have not reached the level to do so. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, at least 90 percent of people who kill themselves have a diagnosable and treatable psychiatric illness (“AFSP: Risk Factors”). Therefore, the awareness of student’s actions and emotions by parents, teachers, and other adults are imperative. Often times, teenagers become despondent because of the pressures of their academic lives, social lives, and family lives. Unfortunately, parents like Scott Fritz who lost his 15-year-old daughter to suicide, had no idea teen suicide was even a
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