Teen Suicide. No. 10; Updated October 2013Click here to download and print a PDF version of this document.
Suicides among young people continue to be a serious problem. Each year in the U.S., thousands of teenagers commit suicide. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15-to-24-year-olds, and the sixth leading cause of death for 5-to-14-year-olds. Teenagers experience strong feelings of stress, confusion, self-doubt, pressure to succeed, financial uncertainty, and other fears while growing up. For some teenagers, divorce, the formation of a new family with step-parents and step-siblings, or moving to a new community can be very unsettling and can intensify self-doubts.
Depression and suicidal feelings are treatable mental disorders. Many of the signs and symptoms of suicidal feelings are similar to those of depression. Parents should be aware of the following signs of adolescents who may try to kill themselves: A teenager who is planning to commit suicide may also: To Write Love on Her Arms. STATISTICS OF TEEN SUICIDE.
What is the It Gets Better Project? Growing up isn’t easy.
Many young people face daily tormenting and bullying, leading them to feel like they have nowhere to turn. This is especially true for LGBT kids and teens, who often hide their sexuality for fear of bullying. Without other openly gay adults and mentors in their lives, they can't imagine what their future may hold. In many instances, gay and lesbian adolescents are taunted — even tortured — simply for being themselves. While many of these teens couldn’t see a positive future for themselves, we can. ItGetsBetter.org is a place where young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender can see how love and happiness can be a reality in their future. On March 22, 2011, six months following the launch of the project, the It Gets Better Project book was released.
The It Gets Better Project has been international in scope since the first it gets better videos appeared online in September, 2010. Visit our It Gets Better Project BETTERLegal Page to find out more. Youth and Teen Suicide Statistics. Since the 1950s, the World Health Organization (WHO) has collected international mortality (or cause of death) data.
There are international principles concerning information on cause of death, but there are still some variations between different countries in the procedure of handling the information. Besides that, the year for the latest statistical information can vary from one country to another. Therefore all international suicide statistic should be interpreted with caution. The suicide rate is expressed in number of suicides per year and 100,000 inhabitants over 15 years. The suicide rate for the United States (total population) in 2001, is 10.7 (per 100,000 inhabitants). The latest estimates are that somewere around one million people in the world commit suicide every year.
Both in the United States, the number of suicide deaths is almost as high as the number of deaths by homicide and HIV/AIDS together. Suicide in the age group 15-24 Statistics over the total population. Teen Suicide Statistics and Facts. About Teen Suicide. Listen Warning Signs Suicide among teens often occurs following a stressful life event, such as problems at school, a breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend, the death of a loved one, a divorce, or a major family conflict.
Teens who are thinking about suicide might: talk about suicide or death in general give hints that they might not be around anymore talk about feeling hopeless or feeling guilty pull away from friends or family write songs, poems, or letters about death, separation, and loss start giving away treasured possessions to siblings or friends lose the desire to take part in favorite things or activities have trouble concentrating or thinking clearly experience changes in eating or sleeping habits engage in risk-taking behaviors lose interest in school or sports What Can Parents Do?
Many teens who commit or attempt suicide have given some type of warning to loved ones ahead of time. Watch and Listen Keep a close eye on a teen who is depressed and withdrawn.