Effects of Teen Suicide
Zill 1
Suicide is an intentional self-inflicted act that ends in death. Over the past years, American society has been concerned about this issue, especially teenage suicide. It is the third leading cause of death for people between the ages of 15 and 24 and is the sixth leading cause of death for 5 to 14 year olds. Most of the time, the suicide rate among boys is greater than among girls.
Why do teens kill themselves? There are many causes. Teens experience strong feelings of stress, confusion, the pressure to perform and achieve also other fears. During the teen years there are strong hormonal and emotional changes taking place. For some teens, the break-up of the family through divorce causes stress. That is when step-parents and step siblings come into the picture, which can be very traumatic. Moving to a new neighborhood during the teenage years can be quite upsetting. Also moving across the country for some kids and starting a whole new school. All of these types of things can cause strong feelings of self doubt and low self esteem. In some cases suicide appears to be a solution. (Teen New Horizons: 2nd Paragraph)
Suicide is now one of the leading caused of death among American teenagers ahead of cancer, heart diseases, AIDS, lung diseases, and birth defects combined. Certain sub-groups among teenaged Americans are more vulnerable than others. For example, three times as many teenaged girls attempt suicide as boys. However, the single most likely candidate for "successful" suicide is the white teenaged boy. This is because boys use more lethal methods for suicide such as firearms and hanging while taking sleeping pills is the preferred suicide method among girls. (PN Youth Suicide Prevention Plan 17 Aug. 2004)
In each year, an average of 30,000 suicide deaths occurs in the United States. It is estimated that 5,000 of those suicides are committed by teenagers. One major reason that the suicide rate among teenagers is so high is that the teenage years are
Suicide is an intentional self-inflicted act that ends in death. Over the past years, American society has been concerned about this issue, especially teenage suicide. It is the third leading cause of death for people between the ages of 15 and 24 and is the sixth leading cause of death for 5 to 14 year olds. Most of the time, the suicide rate among boys is greater than among girls.
Why do teens kill themselves? There are many causes. Teens experience strong feelings of stress, confusion, the pressure to perform and achieve also other fears. During the teen years there are strong hormonal and emotional changes taking place. For some teens, the break-up of the family through divorce causes stress. That is when step-parents and step siblings come into the picture, which can be very traumatic. Moving to a new neighborhood during the teenage years can be quite upsetting. Also moving across the country for some kids and starting a whole new school. All of these types of things can cause strong feelings of self doubt and low self esteem. In some cases suicide appears to be a solution. (Teen New Horizons: 2nd Paragraph)
Suicide is now one of the leading caused of death among American teenagers ahead of cancer, heart diseases, AIDS, lung diseases, and birth defects combined. Certain sub-groups among teenaged Americans are more vulnerable than others. For example, three times as many teenaged girls attempt suicide as boys. However, the single most likely candidate for "successful" suicide is the white teenaged boy. This is because boys use more lethal methods for suicide such as firearms and hanging while taking sleeping pills is the preferred suicide method among girls. (PN Youth Suicide Prevention Plan 17 Aug. 2004)
In each year, an average of 30,000 suicide deaths occurs in the United States. It is estimated that 5,000 of those suicides are committed by teenagers. One major reason that the suicide rate among teenagers is so high is that the teenage years are
Cited: Page: 1) "Adolescent Depression" National Mental Health Association 9 October 1997.William H. Donner Foundation. 2001