Why Do Nurses Play An Important Role In Preventing Adolescent Suicide?

Suicide has been rising at alarming rates; the overall suicide rate for children and adolescents has increased over 300% since the 1950s. (Miller, 2009) Adolescent children are screaming out for our help, are we just ignoring the signs or do we not care? For young people, an average 1,800 take their own lives and 85,000 are hospitalized for attempts nationally (CDC, 2008). With this kind of statistics we need to step in and take some action.

Suicide is a prevalent cause of death among America's youth today. Every day more than 1000 teenagers will think about suicide and eighteen will be successful in committing it. It is an ever-growing problem that can be described as unnecessary and uncalled for. Knowledge and understanding are key factors to preventing teenage suicide. The problem will usually originate from a period of depression, either as a medical concern, or simply because of a saddened

“The overall goal for the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) project is to meet the challenge of preparing future nurses who will have the knowledge, skills and attitudes (KSAs) necessary to continuously improve the quality and safety of the healthcare systems within which they work”("Graduate KSAs," 2014 para.1) In looking through the competencies that this statement embodies, I have chosen the competency of safety. This competency is defined as minimizing the risk of harm to patients and providers through both system effectiveness and individual performance (2014). The topic I have chosen to discuss in regards to safety is the role that the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) plays in the recognition and the treatment of teen suicide. According to the National Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance survey (2013) suicide among teens and adolescents is a major health problem. It is the 3rd leading cause of death in 10-24 year olds in the United States. In the survey, 17% of students reported seriously considering suicide in the 12 months prior to the survey (Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2013). With these reported numbers in the pediatric population, it is of vital importance that the PNP as the primary care provider (PCP) knows how to appropriately screen for, refer and treat this patient. This paper discusses the suicidal teen and the role of the PNP to promote the

The rate of suicide, the act or an instance of taking one's own life voluntarily and intentionally, increases each year. “More adolescents die each year from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease, combined” (Preventing Teen Suicide, 2016, p.2). These facts show suicide is a serious problem among teens. Last year, teen suicide became the second leading cause of death in the United States confirming the significant increase in teen suicides.

While all the above are driving factors of teen suicide, often the underlying concern is mental illness. Some teens who seek suicide initiate because of depression, borderline personality disorder or bipolar disorder. These illness intensify the pain a teen may suffer. Because of these underling illnesses, teens should seek and treat by medical professional.

Kutner, Max. "Teen Suicide Is Contagious, and the Problem May Be Worse Than We Thought;

Lives are slowly being lost due to suicide and not only is it affecting themselves but also the people who are around them. Suicide is defined as taking of one’s own life and it is an issue that should be given all attention to. Teen suicide has been talked about in every source of media and it still continues to have a harmful effect in todays generation. In the United States the eighth leading cause of death is suicide, within developing teens, suicide is the third leading cause of their deaths (NAMI). There are many signs of someone who is contemplating suicide. And there are many reason for someone to be driven to the point of suicide. Those reasons being if the teenager is dealing with depression, bullying, sexual abuse and abuse

Nurses who are practicing in public health, psychiatric units, schools, clinics, and hospitals can bring differences by creating awareness about the magnitude of the suicide problem, its risk factors, and preventive strategies. They can act as a bridge or liaisons between the community and available resources. The nursing profession always gives priority to prevention and promotion of health. Instead of watching and waiting for the signs and symptoms to exhibit themselves, nurses can take part in equipping teens and their parents with preventive skills to reduce the risk of suicide attempts (King & Vidourek, 2012). The nurses’ involvement in this issue increases the patient outcome. Early intervention of suicide is successful in lowering the risk factors among teens. It helps to promote and maintain their health from youth to adulthood without complications. Nursing profession can be at the forefront by promoting awareness, preventing risk factors, equipping teens with coping skills, and encouraging them to seek professional help. Increasing protective factors for teens can result in effective patient outcomes by reducing suicide ideations and

There is other evidence of high rates of suicide among teenagers done from other sources that have similar results. Over the years, the number of suicides have substantially increased. Certain individuals are at a higher risk of committing suicide. Those risk factors can include: “bullying, physical abuse, family history of suicide, family history of child maltreatment, previous suicide attempts, history of mental disorders, particularly clinical depression, history of alcohol

There is too much teen suicide in the United States. Many teens who are depressed have mental issues such as depression, anxiety, bipolar, schizophrenia, etc. Often, teens who have these issues feel as if they don’t belong. They don’t feel like talking about certain things going on in their life. Issues regarding sexuality, bullying, and abuse make children feel hopeless and unwanted. They feel alone. The suicide rate has gone up dramatically. There are approximately 100,000 suicides per year and 10,000 to 20,000 of them being from ages 14 to 24. Suicide is also the 3rd leading cause of death for teens.

Teen suicide is a major problem in the United States today. It has effected most people in some sort of way throughout their lives. The facts have shown “Over the past decade, however, the rate has again increased to 12.1 per 100,000. Every day, approximately 105 Americans die by suicide”(Suicide Awareness). People need to start taking action so the rate of teen attempting or actually committing suicide goes down. There are many ways of improving this problem.

If I wanted to help decrease the rate of teenage suicide, I would interview suicide survivors and people who had tried to commit suicide but didn't. I would interview them about what led them to the decision that they wanted to commit suicide, but then ask about all the good things that have happened to them since they decided not to or were not able to complete it. I would want them to spend a lot of time describing their hardships and how they felt that the pain was inescapable and how they felt like everyone might be better off without them, and then I would want them to spend a longer time describing the happiness that they have experienced and all the little things that make them happy now. For example, maybe one of the survivors talks

Children and teens from ages 10 to 14 are killing themselves at an alarming rate for youths states WBTV news. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for adolescents between the ages of 15-19, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Two mothers April Quick and Debbie Smith, both lost children to suicide due to bullying in 2015. The two girls, Debbie and Emily were both suffering from bullying and nobody would lend a hand to help. April’s daughter, Ashley was turned down from a six month program because of the severity of her cutting, Ashley would cut to escape and relief all her pain. Although the government made no federal laws about bullying, it is possible for the U.S department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and Justice’s Civil Rights to help solve the problem of not only bullying, but harassment when it’s based on race, religion, color, sex, age, disability, or national origin. People tend to bully others due to insecurities, one may feel better seeing someone else down. It may also rely on family issues, or jealousy. Bullies should be legally responsible for what they do because it causes depression, disorders, and suicide.

Teen suicide is a growing health concern. The third-leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 15 to 24 years and the fourth-leading cause of death among those aged 10 to 14 years. Teenagers commit suicide because of mental illness, substance abuse, and feeling of

Suicide is the third leading cause of deaths in adolescents in the United States. Teen suicide is also often referred to as a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Teens so often are suicidal and attempt suicide as a call for help from others. They have no intention in dying they are just trying to cry out for help from anyone that will listen. Many reasons cause teen to attempt suicide, varying from bullying to psychological disorders. In fact, psychological disorders accounts for about 90% of teens who attempt or commit suicide. Teenagers are also at higher risk of suicide when they are under