Suicide is a serious problem among young people. You may be surprised to learn that it is the third leading cause of death for 15- to 19-year-olds in the United States. Only accidents and homicide are more common causes of death for this age group. A far greater number of youths attempt suicide each year. Suicide attempts are not easy to count because many may not be treated in a hospital or may not be recorded as self-inflicted injuries. Survey data from 2005 show that 17 percent of high school students had seriously thought about suicide, 13 percent had made plans to attempt suicide, and more than 8 percent had made a suicide attempt during the year before the survey.

Suicidal behavior is different among young women than among young men. Young women attempt suicide three times more often than young men. However, four times more young men than young women actually die from suicide. This may be because females and males tend to use different methods when attempting suicide. Young women often attempt suicide by overdosing on drugs or cutting themselves-methods which offer more opportunities for rescue. Young men often use firearms, hanging, or jumping from heights-methods which usually cause instant death and offer no chance to intervene4. Suicide among young white men accounts for most suicide deaths, but the suicide rate among young black men is rising. Suicide rates for American Indians aged 15 to 19 are high (19 percent of deaths) compared to overall rates for this age group (less than 13 percent of deaths).

Risk Factors

Most youths who attempt suicide are experiencing a psychological problem such as depression or bipolar disorder, a substance abuse problem, or both. A teen's experiences and history also can increase the chance that he will attempt suicide. For instance, he has a greater risk of attempting suicide if his family has a history of suicide, if he has previously harmed himself or attempted suicide, or if he has run away. A young person also may attempt suicide in response to an extremely stressful event, loss, or conflict with another person.

Warning Signs

Most youths who attempt suicide show some warning signs beforehand. Look for signs of substance abuse or depression and get professional help for your child if she needs it. Here are some other possible signals of suicide to watch out for:

Words

• Talks, writes, or otherwise expresses a preoccupation with suicide or death in general.
• Complains of being a bad person or being "rotten inside."
• Gives verbal hints such as, "I'd be better off dead," "I won't be a problem for you much longer," "Nothing matters," "It's no use," and "I won't see you again."

Actions

• Withdraws from friends or family.
• Significantly changes eating, sleeping, or appearance habits.
• Experiences sudden drop in academic performance.
• Puts his affairs in order; for example, gives away favorite toys, cleans his room, or throws away important belongings.
• Acts in rash, hostile, or irrational ways; often expresses rage.

Feelings

• Feels overwhelmingly hopeless, guilty, or ashamed.
• Shows little interest in favorite activities or the future.
• Becomes suddenly cheerful after a period of depression (perhaps feeling that she's found a "solution" to her problems).
• A suicide of a schoolmate, friend, or even a celebrity receiving media coverage can encourage suicidal impulses in your child. Suicides sometimes occur in clusters, in which one suicide influences other people already at risk for suicide.

What To Do

If your child seems constantly depressed, angry, or withdrawn, pay attention and encourage communication. If you are worried that he's thinking about hurting or killing himself, ask, even though it may be difficult. Rather than putting dangerous thoughts into his head, asking shows him that you care and that he is not alone. If you are concerned about your child's safety, do not leave him alone. Most important, take seriously any suicide attempt. If your child or someone else you know is thinking about suicide, call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to find a crisis center in your area.

(Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services)