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How Does The Media Impact On Teen Suicide

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the US for all ages. They estimate that suicide takes the lives of over 38,000 Americans every year. For youth between the ages of 10-24, suicide is the third leading cause of death. In 1996, more teenagers and young adults died from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia and influenza, and chronic lung disease combined.
A nationwide survey by the World Health Organization in grades 9-12 in private and public schools found that 16% of the students reported seriously considering suicide, 13% created a plan, and 8% tried to take their own life. That would mean on average in an ordinary US high school …show more content…

The issue of covering teen suicide in the media is controversial. The media is afraid of mentioning suicide to raise awareness because they fear copycat suicides. Why is it so difficult for youth to come out about their own experiences? One reason is stigma. They’re worried they will be blamed, and their family and friends will be left stigmatized. Another is that they may not want their peers to pity them. Almost everyone at some point in their lives will experience anxiety, sadness, and hopelessness. Some may feel that suicide is the only solution to get away from the pain. It isn’t. Some suicidal people may argue that suicide is the solution to ease the mental pain and hurt, but in reality, all it does is eliminate the possibility of their lives getting better. There really is no way to know if someone is having suicidal thoughts, unless they actually tell you. However, there are some signs you can look for if you think someone is dealing with these issues. Such as, a history of previous suicide attempts, alcohol or drug use, signs of depression, stressful life event or loss, hinting at not being around in the future, and giving away prized

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