Local Contact for Help:
The Crisis Clinic:(360) 586-2800, http://www.crisis-clinic.org/
Youth Suicide Prevention Program - www.yspp.org
Why do some teenagers commit suicide?
We don’t know for sure, because when youth die by suicide they take the
answers with them. But teens who attempt suicide and survive tell us
that they wanted to die to end the pain of living. They are often
experiencing a number of stressors and feel that they do not have the
strength or desire to continue living. We also believe that the majority
of youth who die by suicide have a mental disorder, like depression,
which is often undiagnosed, untreated or both.
What are the most common warning signs?
Some estimate as many as 80% of those thinking about suicide want
others to be aware of their emotional pain and stop them from dying. A
warning sign does not automatically mean a person is going to attempt
suicide, but it should be taken seriously. The warning signs that we pay
particular attention to are: a prior suicide attempt, talking about
suicide and making a plan, giving away prized possessions, preoccupation
with death, signs of depression, hopelessness and anxiety, increased
drug and alcohol use.
Learn more about warning signs and what you can do to help
How many people know about the warning signs and how to detect if a teen is going to commit suicide?
Not enough, but more are learning everyday. YSPP works to teach
professionals, parents, educators, clergy and especially young people.
We believe that middle & high school students and college students
can and should learn the warning signs and intervention strategies to
help their friends. We don’t expect them to conduct a professional
assessment but we want them to befriend a person in despair and offer
support and reassurance and referral to help.
Learn more about YSPP school-based programs
Are there particular youth who are more at-risk of suicide?
Some reports suggest that gay and lesbian youth are two to three times
more likely to complete suicide than other youth. Alcohol and substance
abuse also place a youth at higher risk for suicide.
Are the suicide rates different for males and females?
In Washington and across the country, males are much more likely to die
by suicide, while girls are more likely to make suicide attempts that
result in hospitalization. Hanging and use of a firearm are the most
frequently used methods for youth suicide. Cutting and overdose are the
most frequency used methods for suicide attempts that result in
hospitalization.
Learn more about youth suicide statistics
If someone suspects that a friend or family member is considering suicide, what should they do?
There are three very important things to do if you notice the warning
signs for suicide or the young person tells you directly that they are
thinking about suicide. The first thing is to always show the person
that you are concerned about them – listen without judgment, ask about
their feelings and avoid trying to come up with a solution to their
problem. Next ask directly about suicide – be direct without being
confrontational; say “are you feeling so bad that you are thinking about
suicide?” Finally, if the answer to your question is “yes” or you think
it is yes, go get help – call a crisis line, visit the school
counselor, tell a parent or refer the teen to someone with professional
skills to provide help. Never keep talk of suicide a secret! Learn more
about what you can do to help
How many teenagers die by suicide in America each year? In Washington?
In 2001 in the US, 4,250 young people between the ages of 10 and 24
died by suicide. This is an average of one suicide roughly every two
hours! The national rate of suicide (per 100,000) is 9.9.
In
Washington State during the same year there were 90 suicides, and a rate
of 7.0. On a recent survey in Washington middle and high schools, 1 out
of 10 students indicated that they had made a suicide attempt in the
past 12 months. 1 out of 5 indicated that they had seriously thought
about it.
Learn more about youth suicide statistics
Why has the suicide rate been increasing in the past few decades?
Suicide rates in Washington and across the USA have actually gone down
since 1990. When the Youth Suicide Prevention Program began in 1995 the
number of suicides and the rate were both higher than they are now.
There was a significant increase in the late 70’s and early 80’s but the
trend lately has been downward. It may seem that there is an increase
because you are reading and hearing more about suicide. Media reports
hopefully are educating about the warning signs and the resources for
help.
Why are some state’s teenage suicide rates much higher than others?
Youth suicide rates are highest in Alaska and the Rocky Mountain
states. If you map the youth suicide rates by state, there is a striking
difference between the eastern half of the USA and mountain regions in
the west. We don’t know for sure why these rates are higher, but some
theories include the largely rural territory, the vast land allocations
to Native American reservations, poverty and a lack of easy access to
resources.
What are common myths about teen suicide?
Some believe if you ask directly about suicide that you “plant” an idea
in the brain of a teenager; this is just not true. Others think that
teens who talk about suicide are not really serious about dying – they
think they are just seeking attention.
How can schools and communities work together to prevent suicide?
The Centers for Disease Control recommends that local mental health
agencies, crisis centers, clergy, health departments, medical
organizations, injury prevention agencies, schools and other community
members should work together to develop goals and strategies to prevent
suicide.
Learn more about communities taking action
What is a family's reaction when a teen family member completes suicide?
Most feel a combination of emotions: anger, sadness, guilt, shame and
fear. They wonder what they could have done and why they didn’t do more.
Suicide is different from other kinds of sudden death because the
reason for the death is difficult to understand. With a car accident
there is an external explanation or cause – an icy road, loss of vehicle
control, etc. With a homicide, the grief-stricken can point to a
perpetrator. With suicide, we don’t have an external cause, and so we
ask ourselves over and over: 'why?'
Learn more about grief and bereavement at the
Dougy Center website
Is it okay for a school to plant a tree or dedicate a bench in memory of a youth who has died by suicide?
These types of memorials can keep the death 'alive' and serve as a grim
reminder of the loss. Because of the real concern about contagion there
is a delicate balance between commemorating the life of the deceased
and glamorizing a suicide.
Information on Depression and Mental Health
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill:
http://www.nami.org/
American Psychological Association (APA) HelpCenter:
http://helping.apa.org/
Center for Mental Health Services
http://www.mentalhealth.org/
Sites For Parents
Washington State PTA:
http://www.wastatepta.org
Sites for Youth
Go Ask Alice, a health question and answer Internet service at Columbia University:
http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/
"Why?" an interactive movie exploring the risk and protective factors related to suicide:
http://www.yspp.org/aboutSuicide/why.htm
Note: The information above was provided by:
Youth Suicide Prevention Program
email:
[email protected]
8511 15th Ave. NE
Seattle, WA 98115
(206) 297-5922 (office)
(206) 297-0818 (fax)