Adolescent suicide: causes and prevention

The most difficult in the life of every person is adolescence. In this age period there is a formation of the personality, a rethinking of value orientations. In addition, hormonal changes occur in connection with active sexual development. Hormonal imbalance is the cause of frequent mood changes, attacks of aggression or depression. Therefore, suicide of teenagers is so common, the reasons of which can be the most diverse.

What teenagers are susceptible to suicide

Suicide, or suicide, is the deliberate, deliberate deprivation of oneself of life. For various reasons, some adolescents are at risk for suicide. The causes of suicide in adolescence can be very diverse. Some young people are prone to permanent depressive conditions, others abuse alcohol, while others have narcotic and toxic addictions. Many faced the death or suicide of a loved one, had a bad relationship with their peers and parents. That's why teenage suicide occurs . The causes and factors that provoke him are hidden in the psychological state of children.

Suicidal syndrome

Adolescents who are at risk can, at any time, cause harm and deprive themselves of life under the pressure of circumstances. These people are very impressionable, vulnerable, they have a sense of inferiority and low self-esteem. At the age of 13-17, the line comes when suicide among teenagers is widespread. The causes of this phenomenon are studied by many psychologists.

Several decades ago, the world public was shocked by the suicides committed by Marilyn Monroe and Ernest Hemingway. There were intrigues and gossip around these events. The world also learned about the mass suicide of sectarians from the society "Davydova branch" in 1993. Annually in the world commit suicide at least 160 000 people. It was not an exception and teenage suicide, psychological features and causes of which are studied to this day.

Most often, suicidal tendencies appear because of the textbook problems in the lives of young people: stress, depression, emotional imbalance, a misperception of life. Experts point out that suicide among adolescents is associated with the depressive state, which affects more than 80% of young people. But there is also suicide of teenage children, the reasons of which lie in alcohol and drug addiction, a strong mental disorder, imitation.

Categories of people who are prone to suicide

Professor Schneidman has deduced 4 basic categories of people who aspire to settle scores with life on their own:

1. Death Seeker In attempts to harm himself in every way trying to bring the matter to a lethal conclusion. But such zeal persists for long. Then the person starts to excruciate doubts, he tries to rethink everything, but thoughts of a suicide do not leave him.
2. The initiator of death is also willing to die. He is sure that he will suffer a terrible fate, and tries only to speed up the process. Such a manic feeling occurs more often in the elderly, but suicide also occurs in adolescents. The causes of this phenomenon lie in the subconscious.
3. The denialist of death does not believe that death is the end. He naively believes that depriving yourself of life is an exchange operation, in which the present situation is replaced by something new and happy. These are the main reasons for suicide in adolescents who believe in the afterlife.
4. Player with death. He is tormented by contradictions concerning the possibility of losing his life in one way or another. Even in the course of a person's suicide, doubts are tormented. The methods chosen for death may not allow the matter to be brought to an end, but only cause harm to health. An example is the game "Russian Roulette" with a revolver, the rules of which are that there is only one cartridge in the drum, which either will fire or not.

Suicide and its forms

There are three main forms of suicide.

• True - when a teenager is sure that he wants his own death. This form of suicide is typical of young men. Unsuccessful attempt leads to repetition.
• Sensitive - when a young man or a girl tries to settle scores with life under the influence of emotions. If suicide does not work, then, as a rule, it does not recur. This is most often affected girls.
• Demonstrative - serves only as a means of attracting public attention. Attempts can be repeated again and again and never comes to the point of suicide (with the exception of chance).

Causes of adolescent suicide

The causes of suicide in adolescents are often hidden in rejected love, home scandals, misunderstanding by peers or just loneliness.

In addition, modern media in every possible way provoke young people to such a desperate step by showing cases of suicide by strangers, stars. The World Network, which displays online records of this subject and projects, is no exception.

Its distinctive features is the suicide of adolescents. The reasons are that children often do not believe in their own death. For example, only 10% of 100 want to commit suicide, the rest try only to attract the attention of relatives, friends, loved ones. In this case, there is a demonstrative form of suicide, or, we might say, "suicidal blackmail." But, unfortunately, such a game with death can lead to death even accidentally.

Pre-suicidal behavior

True suicidal tendencies mature within young people and can not betray themselves. If to pay attention, it is possible to notice small changes in behavior of the teenager reflecting on a suicide. They are barely noticeable, especially if a young man or a girl is inclined to loneliness. Determine suicidal behavior can be by the closedness of a teenager, by accidentally escaping phrases. If the child does not want to discuss such a topic, then this should serve as a signal for the parents.

With affective and demonstrative forms of suicide, adolescents try to attract the attention of others to their problem. Young men and girls subconsciously inspire others that they want interference from outside. They hope that they will be stopped.

Internal readiness for suicide can cause loss of appetite: a teen does not eat anything, even despite his previously good appetite. The same happens with sleep: the active child is tormented by weakness, and the sluggish, on the contrary, loses sleep.

In addition, school performance creeps down, teachers often complain about inattention. In this case, if the teacher notices the problems, then he calls the parents to the parent meeting. Adolescent suicide, the causes and prevention of this phenomenon are often discussed together with parents and a psychologist.

Is it possible to prevent suicide in a teenager?

First of all, it is necessary to know all the feelings and feelings of the child. Do not let any changes in the behavior of the child. It is necessary to call him to frankness. Each child needs sympathy and support from relatives.

Life obstacles are those cases that a child must overcome with his parents. Teenagers need to understand that those around them and their parents like them the way they are, understand and support them.

Myths about suicides

If we talk about suicide from the point of view of psychology, it is worth noting certain myths or misconceptions concerning this phenomenon.

• You can not prevent suicide, but in a crisis period of life you can give a person warmth, care, attention, and then, perhaps, the thought of suicide will disappear.
• There is a certain type of people who are naturally prone to suicide. Here, we can talk not only about the situation, but also about its assessment by a person.
• There are no definite signs indicating the reasons for suicide. Usually, suicide is recognized due to the adolescent's non-standard behavior.
• A teenager can refer to suicide, but adults often take it as a joke. As a result, later it becomes clear that the child himself pointed out the possible consequences.
• Suicidal decisions come suddenly, without preparation. The results of the research showed that the crisis period associated with potential suicide can last from 2 weeks to several months.
• Unsuccessful suicide will not happen again. This is the biggest misconception. If the teenager decided on such a desperate step, then the risk of renewed attempt is high. Perhaps, the repetition is to be expected in the next 2 months.
• Hereditary attraction to suicide. No one has ever proved this statement.
• The suicide rate will noticeably decrease due to the influence of the media and the Internet. But the media should not advertise the fact of suicide, but the situation through which it can be prevented.
• Alcohol is a remedy that helps to drown out inner experiences. It is proved that the effect of alcohol can be reversed: there is aggravation of conflicts, anxiety increases. More than half of the cases of suicides occurred in a state of intoxication.

Characteristic features of pre-suicidal actions

Characterize the pre-suicidal state of a teenager can be on the following features:

1. There are sharp jumps in the mood of the child: he begins to conflict with friends and relatives.
2. The teenager is inclined to excessive dramatization of conflicts.
3. Suicide, from the point of view of the child, is something determined and fearless.
4. Behavior is demonstrative, something like "playing to the public."
5. The behavior of a teenager is an affect, that is, his actions are not thought out and inaccurate.
6. Inept choice of means for suicide: low floor for jumping, non-toxic substances for poisoning or thin rope.

Psychological background

Specialists have recently started to study the causes of suicide in adolescents. Psychology is the science that helps to understand all aspects of this issue. It is clear only that teenagers commit most of the suicides while in their right minds. But many believe that only a mentally handicapped child is capable of such a desperate step. Alas, this is not so.

It's all about the reasons, because teenagers who are in the puberty period are sure that they are not loved, do not understand and do not appreciate. These personal experiences lead to the fact of suicide.

At the age of 13-16, it is difficult for young men and women to cope with the "cart" of adult problems. Next to the child, parents and relatives must be present who can direct it to the true path.

Prolonged depression

A prolonged depression is a problem for most modern adolescents. In this case it is a serious form of mental disorder. Here you can add narcotic, alcoholic and toxic addictions, which require considerable financial expenditure.

Often there are cases where a child without the knowledge of his parents takes out of the house valuable things, jewelry and equipment to make money for the next dose. When the fact of theft emerges, the teenager decides to commit suicide in order to avoid responsibility for what he has done.

Should I talk with a child about suicide?

Should I start a conversation with a child about suicide? No, do not. Because conversations on such topics cause the child's interest, because, as is known, all the forbidden becomes desirable.

If we are to speak on this topic, the whole point must converge to the incorrectness and immorality of such an act. For example, we can mention that there are so many interesting things ahead, and these children will not see everything that should happen.

How to warn a child. Correct prevention

Is it possible to avoid such a terrible ending, like adolescent suicide? The reasons for the possibility of suicide will become apparent if you pay close attention to such moments:

1. Telephone conversations and just a conversation with friends. If the child has ever touched on the topic of suicide, then perhaps it is worth paying attention to it.
2. Silence, constant solitude and reluctance to communicate.
3. Literature, read by a child. Books need to be given special attention. If the child does not read the book, it is possible that he is viewing the video on the Internet.
4. Musical compositions and films.

It is desirable to track the sites that the teenager visits. Now there are more and more projects that have a negative impact on the human psyche, let alone child and adolescent.

Unobtrusiveness, coupled with control, a normal attitude and communication with the child's parents will help your child cope with a critical age crisis without any negative consequences. Communicate more, then you will learn to recognize the child's misconduct and learn its causes. And the prevention of adolescent suicide is precisely in the care and care of children.