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Preventing Teen Suicide: Myths and Misconceptions
Get the Facts Straight! There are many myths and misconceptions about suicide. What are the truths?
MYTH: "People who talk about suicide won't really do it."
TRUTH: Almost everyone who commits or attempts suicide talks about it in some way first. DO NOT IGNORE SUICIDE THREATS!
MYTH: "Only crazy people commit suicide."
TRUTH: Most suicidal people are not psychotic or insane. They are likely feeling depressed, hopeless, distressed, and are in deep emotional pain but this does not necessarily mean they lost touch with reality.
MYTH: "Talking about suicide may give someone the idea to commit suicide."
TRUTH: Discussing the subject openly and showing that you care is one of the most helpful things you can do.
MYTH: "If a person is determined to kill him/herself, nothing is going to stop him/her."
TRUTH: Even the most severely depressed person has mixed feelings about dying. The impulse to end it all does not last forever. Most suicidal people do not want to end their life; they want to end their pain!
MYTH: "People who attempt suicide are just trying to get attention."
TRUTH: IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THAT IS THE MOTIVATION! If they do not get attention, the results could be fatal!
MYTH: "No one I know would commit suicide."
TRUTH: Suicide does not draw boundaries, and it does not have preference!
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TRUTH: Almost everyone who commits or attempts suicide talks about it in some way first. DO NOT IGNORE SUICIDE THREATS!
MYTH: "Only crazy people commit suicide."
TRUTH: Most suicidal people are not psychotic or insane. They are likely feeling depressed, hopeless, distressed, and are in deep emotional pain but this does not necessarily mean they lost touch with reality.
MYTH: "Talking about suicide may give someone the idea to commit suicide."
TRUTH: Discussing the subject openly and showing that you care is one of the most helpful things you can do.
MYTH: "If a person is determined to kill him/herself, nothing is going to stop him/her."
TRUTH: Even the most severely depressed person has mixed feelings about dying. The impulse to end it all does not last forever. Most suicidal people do not want to end their life; they want to end their pain!
MYTH: "People who attempt suicide are just trying to get attention."
TRUTH: IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THAT IS THE MOTIVATION! If they do not get attention, the results could be fatal!
MYTH: "No one I know would commit suicide."
TRUTH: Suicide does not draw boundaries, and it does not have preference!
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The Facts About Teen Suicide
Sadly, suicide is the second leading cause of death among Colorado teenagers. Overall, nearly as many Coloradans die by their own hand as on our increasingly busy highways. Populous Jefferson County has one of the largest number of suicide fatalities each year.
Even more alarming, survey results compiled by the Colorado Trust show that up to 25% of all teens in Colorado have given the idea of committing suicide serious thought.
National surveys estimate there are 18 to 25 suicide attempts for every suicide death. Twenty-five percent of girls and nearly 15% of boys in grades nine through twelve have thought about suicide; nearly as many have actually made serious suicide plans.
Even more alarming, survey results compiled by the Colorado Trust show that up to 25% of all teens in Colorado have given the idea of committing suicide serious thought.
National surveys estimate there are 18 to 25 suicide attempts for every suicide death. Twenty-five percent of girls and nearly 15% of boys in grades nine through twelve have thought about suicide; nearly as many have actually made serious suicide plans.
Why teens commit suicide
Most teens don't really want to end their life; they want to end their pain. They're depressed and unhappy; from their point of view their situation is hopeless, their problems unsolvable. Often teenagers haven't had enough life experiences to acquire coping skills or learn that they can work through even the toughest problems. It's hard to imagine tomorrow will be any better when you hate your life today.
"By some estimates, four out of five people who commit suicide have tried to warn others of their intent through verbal statements, written notes, demonstrating a preoccupation with death or other behavior indicating that they are planning to end their life." —Colorado Trust ReportWhy teens don't ask for help
"By some estimates, four out of five people who commit suicide have tried to warn others of their intent through verbal statements, written notes, demonstrating a preoccupation with death or other behavior indicating that they are planning to end their life." —Colorado Trust ReportWhy teens don't ask for help
Studies show that suicidal teenagers are not very likely to recognize they need help, much less ask for it. And adults sometimes have a hard time distinguishing between the normal angst of growing up and a potentially life-threatening situation. When teens do want help, they usually turn to other teenagers rather than adults.
Eight out of ten people say the biggest reason they didn't ask for help is that they wanted to solve the problem on their own. 62% clung to the belief that if they just stuck it out, the problem would fix itself. An equal number said they didn't get professional help because it was too expensive, or they didn't know where to go. And over half thought it wouldn't do any good anyway.
Eight out of ten people say the biggest reason they didn't ask for help is that they wanted to solve the problem on their own. 62% clung to the belief that if they just stuck it out, the problem would fix itself. An equal number said they didn't get professional help because it was too expensive, or they didn't know where to go. And over half thought it wouldn't do any good anyway.
See all the reasons people don't ask for help. »»» Click here.
Why adults don't recognize suicidal behavior until it's too late
Among the general population, there's little awareness of the warning signs of suicide, and even lower awareness of what to do if you think someone may be feeling suicidal. In fact, in one study only 9% of health teachers and a third of high school counselors felt they could correctly identify students at risk. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that all pediatricians question their teen patients about suicidal thoughts as part of their routine medical history, and the American Medical Association recommends that suicide screenings be done annually.
Parents are often torn between giving their kids the space and freedom they need to grow up and the overwhelming desire every parent has to protect their child from pain, hurt and disappointment. Kids think adults don't care or don't notice, but sometimes the adult just isn't sure when to step in and when to step back.
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Parents are often torn between giving their kids the space and freedom they need to grow up and the overwhelming desire every parent has to protect their child from pain, hurt and disappointment. Kids think adults don't care or don't notice, but sometimes the adult just isn't sure when to step in and when to step back.
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Risk Factors
- Depression, Bi-Polar Disorder, or other mental illness.
- Significant loss (death, divorce, loss of health, separation, break-ups, loss of respect, etc.).
- Pressure to succeed.
- Family problems.
- Poor self esteem.
- Family history of suicidal behavior.
- Someone close to individual has completed suicide