Essay about Social Psychology Behind Teen Suicide

Over the years teen suicide has increased tremendously. According to Michael Jellinek, “the adolescent may feel they have no choice but to end their intense internal suffering or to solve a hopeless dilemma by ending it all”(Preventing Teen Suicide). According to the Center of Disease Prevention, “suicide is the third-leading cause of death for high school students after car accidents and homicides”(Bratsis). Everyday teens are faced with internal struggles and challenges that are difficult to cope with and sometimes seem unbearable to live with. Many teens do not fully understand how their words, actions and behaviors affect certain individuals. Various subtypes classify the cause behind an individual’s decision to commit suicide. There are many causes for teen suicide such as emotional neglect, mental disorders, psychical and emotional abuse, and drug and alcohol abuse; however, the leading cause of teen suicide is individuals struggling with bullying, depression, and the overwhelming aspects of life. Addressing these three leading causes and encouraging teens to discuss how they are feeling could help decrease teen suicide rates. The following articles touch on teen suicide and the ongoing problems leading to this phenomenon.

“In some cases, depression can be a medical condition in which the patient should be carefully observed as much as possible. Symptoms of attempting suicide are similar to those of depression. Some of the more rampant symptoms include a change in eating and sleeping habits, a marked personality change and a lost of interest in pleasurable activities. They physically appear sad and weighted down, and can sleep a great deal, even talking in soft, tired voices” (Child health). On the other hand while depression and suicide are similar in many respects, one will not necessarily result in another. It is possible for someone depressed to never think about suicide at all (Galas 42). Depression can lead anyone to suicide, but teenagers are especially at risk because they often feel like their feeling of hopelessness will never go away. There is a cycle in which teens can fall into; depression, isolation, sadness, and more depression. The longer this cycle continues, the more likely they are to try and end their own life

Teen suicide is a very real problem, causing the deaths of thousands of teenagers across the country each year. Teen suicide statistics shed light on the problem, and offer insights as to who might need help, and how to help them.

disorder and explaining them both in great detail. “Most people who are depressed feel sad and dejected. They describe themselves as feeling “miserable,” “empty,” and “humiliated.”” (Comer, 2013, p.174). These negative feelings can lead people to have a hard time experiencing pleasure in pleasant situations. People suffering from depression also display motivational symptoms, where they lose motivation to do things such as going to work or going out and socializing. People also display changes in behavior, where they may lie in bed all day. Cognitive symptoms are also important as people suffering from depression begin to think negatively about themselves, which turns into a deep rut that is difficult for that person to dig themselves out

Everyday, teenagers have a routine. They usually get up, go to school, and come home. Each of these activities are filled with many complex issues, stress related problems, and pressure. These issues can lead to depression. Every 1 teenager out of 5 will develop a type of depression (Jones 1). “Adolescent depression is a disease that affects the psyche in a way that the person affected with it will act and react abnormally toward others and themselves” (Blackman 2). About 19 million Americans are diagnosed with some sort of depression. 9 million of them are adolescents (Jones 1). Suicide is affiliated with depression greatly. 15% of all adolescents who are diagnosed with depression commit suicide (Jones 1). “Since 1995, suicide is

While the reasons of suicide are mostly unknown, there are many causes that have been proven to lead to suicide. One of the biggest known factors are drugs and alcohol. “ Studies have shown that suicide rates are five to 20 times higher among drug and alcohol usage” , thats because depression mixed with drugs or alcohol can make people feel even more depressed. Some of the other contributing factors for adolescent suicide are Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS), Bullying- also known as “Bullycide”, and the “contagion effect”- where one suicide motivates the other, common with depressed teens with shared circumstances, or teens influenced by media or memorials (Mental illness, 2012). Even though many people don't know why a person killed themselves, there are warning signs that can tell if a person may be having suicidal thoughts or actions. Such warning signs include: Depression, drug abuse, change in eating, change in habits, signs that lead to depression, and withdrawal from friends. “ Because the fact is that two-thirds of those who commit suicide give some warning first. That means it’s up to us- as friends, relatives, or parents- to recognize the signal and respond, person to person”(Teen Suicide, 2000).

This week I decided to read the article titled, “Sociology of Suicide” (Lester & Gunn, 2016). In this article, the authors discussed the social aspects surrounding suicide, and discuss three different theories. In Durkheim’s theory, they discuss two different characteristics responsible for social suicide, social integration and social regulation. Social integration is when the member of society is bound within their social networks, and social regulation is where desires and behaviors are restricted by social norms and customs. In this theory, it mentions that the higher the level of social regulations, therefore the more fatalistic the suicide. When assessing this factor, I happen to agree that social norms and custom in a society tends to play a factor in completed suicides.

In the United States suicide is the third leading cause of death among the ages 15-24. They don’t know why the kids in school commit suicide at this early age. But administered in Cincinnati say they might are been bully. But in their school like more boys than girls been dead because of suicide. Suicide come on kids because of stress or they are been bully from other student at their school. Severe depression is always accompanied by a pervasive sense of suffering as well as the belief that escape from it is hopeless. The pain of existence often becomes too much for severely depressed people to bear. The state of depression warps their thinking, allowing ideas like “Everyone would all be better off without me” to make rational sense. What's

Adolescent depression is a disorder that affects teenagers. It leads to sadness, discouragement, and a loss of self-worth and interest in their usual activities. Everyone experiences some unhappiness, often as a result of a change, either in the form of a setback or a loss, or simply, as Freud said, "Everyday misery." The painful feelings that accompany these events are usually appropriate and temporary, and can even present an opportunity for personal growth and improvement. However, when sadness persists and impairs daily life, it may be an indication of a depressive disorder it comes to no surprise to discover that adolescent depression is strongly linked to teen suicide. Adolescent suicide is now responsible for more deaths in

Suicide is the second leading cause of death from teens ranging from 13-19. Suicide is so commonly thought of by teens that nearly 1 in 5 high school teens seriously think about committing suicide(Hosansky). Three million high school students will think about suicide in just this year alone.(Hosanksky). Nearly 5,000 teens will commit suicide this year and 250,000 will make drastic attempts but fail to succeed(Mantel). More teens in America will take their own lives than heart diseases, AIDS,birth defects, stroke, pneumonia and influenza, chronic lung disease, or cancer— all together(Honasky). It is such a big problem in society and the numbers keep rising. In just 10 years the numbers have risen from 2,800 deaths a year to reaching 5,000 deaths by suicide every year(Mantel). The amount of suicide in teens every year has

To be or not to be?It's a question that's thundered throughout history and one that pulses inside each of us,at one

Depression is a disease that afflicts the human psyche in such a way that the afflicted tends to act and react abnormally toward others and themselves. Therefore it comes to no surprise to discover that adolescent depression is strongly linked to teen suicide. Adolescent suicide is now responsible for more deaths in youths aged 15 to 19 than cardiovascular disease or cancer (Blackman, 1995). Despite this increased suicide rate, depression in this age group is greatly underdiagnosed and leads to serious difficulties in school, work and personal adjustment, which may often continue into adulthood. <br><br>Brown (1996) has said the reason why depression is often over looked in children and adolescents is because "children are not always able

Only in the past two decades has depression in adolescents been taken seriously. Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood and thoughts. It affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. Therefore it comes to no surprise to discover that adolescent depression is strongly linked to teen suicide. Adolescent suicide is now responsible for more deaths in youths aged 15 to 19 than cardiovascular disease or cancer (Blackman, 1995). Despite this alarming increased suicide rate, depression in this age group is greatly under diagnosed and can lead to serious difficulties in

It is heartbreaking news that teenage suicides are on the rise. With the kind of stress today's youngsters undergo in a fast paced and ever changing environment, it is not surprising that they succumb to the pressure and become self destructive. The astonishing fact is that most of the suicides occur in educated and affluent families. Why do these youngsters who are blessed with comfortable homes, well to do parents, access to the best schools and colleges in town and a promise of better things to come, end their lives? It definitely cannot be material insecurity. They already have enough opulence, but unfortunately the lavish life they lead offers no challenges. They are deprived of the need to go out and fight for things. More adolescents die of suicide than AIDS, cancer, heart disease, obesity, birth defects and lung disease.

Almost every teen in the United States has either attempted suicide or knows someone who has. With these rising numbers something must change fast. Media contributes to this rise in the number of suicides in teens because of the increasing amount of cyber bullies, self-harm games, and the portrayal of suicide through tv and film.