If you are a parent of a teen, then you have probably heard of or even watched the Netflix drama, “13 Reasons Why.” If not, then you should set aside some time and watch it. Better yet, invite your teen to watch it with you. The program has become quite controversial and has provoked discussions among educators, mental health professionals, parents and teens. Two camps have formed out of these discussions, those who feel that the show inappropriately glamorizes teen suicide and those who feel that it has thrust teen suicide into the national dialogue. Both are worthy of debate, especially given the alarming increase in suicidal teens over the past ten years.
New research recently presented at the 2017 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting, collected admissions data from 32 children’s hospitals across the country. The results showed that the number of children and teenagers admitted due to suicidality or self-harm has doubled since 2008. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that approximately 4600 youths take their lives each year and that suicide is the second leading cause of death for those between the ages of 10 and 24. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry reports that 10% of all teens think about suicide, with females more likely to report having considered, planned or attempted suicide. In Idaho, our youth seem particularly vulnerable as we have the 9th-highest suicide rate in the nation, an astonishing 46% higher than the national average.
When attempting to understand these statistics, there are three areas which demand our focus and concern. Firstly, remember that adolescence is a developmental period in which teens are vulnerable and emotionally fragile. Bodily changes, hormone surges, confusion, fear and uncertainty and the pressure to succeed in school, all can be and often are overwhelming in and of themselves. Secondly, consider the following stressors which are not uncommon to the adolescent experience. These may include parental divorce, blended families, moving to a new community or changing schools and friends. Lastly, consider the following well documented risk factors:
- A family history of depression.
- Exposure to family violence – physical or sexual abuse and domestic violence.
- Having a psychiatric disorder, including depression.
- Being a victim of bullying – person-to- person or cyberbullying.
- Being uncertain of sexual orientation.
- Exposure to the suicide of a family member or friend.
- Loss of or conflict with a family member or friend.
When taken in total, it is not difficult to imagine that stress and a teen’s limited life experience may result in suicidal thoughts. As a parent, beware the tendency to interpret all adolescent angst as simply normal and expected. Instead, look for overt signs of behavior which may indicate depression or suicidal feelings. These may include withdrawn and isolating behavior, changes in appetite and sleep, talking about wanting to die or feeling hopeless, loss of interest in school, friendships or other activities, mood swings, alcohol or drug use, neglect of personal appearance or somatic complaints such as stomachaches, headaches and fatigue.
So what should a parent do if they are concerned about their son or daughter, here are some guidelines:
- Get your child help – medical, psychiatric, counseling. A new study from The Lancet Psychiatry Journal (May, 2017) found that the majority of youth who ended their lives never received treatment.
- Talk to them openly about suicide.
- Ask questions, take them seriously and avoid criticism.
- Remain vigilant and do not leave them alone.
- Do not appear shocked or disappointed and do not debate or lecture.
- Ask them if they have a plan or method to hurt themselves – asking these questions does not push teens towards suicide.
- Keep your child safe by removing anything with which they could hurt themselves – guns, medications, knives.
- Do not be afraid to take your teen to the emergency room for an assessment. The adage, “better safe than sorry” certainly applies here.
- Parents and teens may also contact the 24-hour Ada County Crisis Hot Line at (208)334-0808 or the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
So where does this leave us? Hopefully parents who read this will fine tune their senses and, in addition to tracking their children’s grades, peer relationships and physical health, will also begin to monitor their children’s mental health. In the field of mental health treatment, we know a great deal about depression and suicide prevention. Your child does not need to suffer the damage caused by depression. There are resources available to them and they start at home.