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Orland Park: The Issue Of Teen Suicide

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Teen suicide is a serious issue that most teens have no experience handling. Romeo and Juliet made a statement about society at the time, but what about the teens themselves? What could have stopped Romeo and Juliet from committing suicide? Maybe if they had someone to talk to that understood them, they would have found another solution. Unfortunately, Orland Park has had similar issues. What can stop teens from taking their own lives today? We do have some resources, however, the best way to reach out to suicidal teens or their peers is to use their technology and speak their language. Over 1,000 people die from suicide each year in Illinois each year, and most of these people are teens, ranging from fifteen to nineteen years old. This sounds …show more content…

There are several resources such as the Annmarie Foundation and Orland Township youth counseling. But the problem is, teens are not very likely to ask for help or try to find websites that will help them. So we need resources to target the kids in need instead of making kids in need look for resources. That is why local prevention resources are not sufficient to handle teen suicide. “What if this mixture do not work at all? Shall I be married then tomorrow morning? No, no, this shall forbid it. Lie thou there. What if it be a poison which the Friar subtly hath ministered to have me dead, lest in this marriage he should be dishonored, because he married me before to Romeo?” Act 4 Scene 3. Juliet is afraid of multiple effects of this potion. First, she thinks it will not work and she will have to kill herself. And second, she thinks it might be poison and that the Friar is trying to kill her. Instead of asking her parents of even the nurse for advice, she decides to drink it anyway. Teenagers will not ask for help in a situation like Juliet’s. They will make rash decisions without thinking about the pros and cons. Our community has to take this into consideration when addressing the topic of teen …show more content…

Of course there are already websites, but that is not enough. We need to create ads and accounts on social media to promote awareness. Text hotlines are more efficient than normal hotlines. Parents should get alerts when their children search certain harmful or triggering phrases. Apps should be created that can automatically send help if a teen attempts to or wants to commit suicide. Most importantly, teens need to be taught the signs of someone who might commit suicide. A teen’s best friends are more likely to notice something wrong than a parent or teacher. If teens are taught how to deal with a friend that is showing signs, hundreds of deaths could be prevented each year. “I fear too early, for my mind misgives some consequence yet hanging in the stars shall bitterly begin his fearful date with this night's revels, and expire the term of a despised life closed in my breast by some vile forfeit of my untimely death.” Act 1 Scene 4. Both Mercutio and Benvolio should have recognized that warning sign. Romeo actually said he felt like he was going to die early. If either of his friends even asked him what he meant by that, Romeo would have realized how destructive that comment actually was. Teens today must be taught about the warning signs. These new resources will save

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