|
Monday, November 15, 2004
Frequently asked questions about youth suicide
Copyright © 2004 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc. | ||||||
 |
Also on this page: The Series | |||||
Q: What causes suicide? A: It is fair to say that suicidal people are experiencing varying degrees of external stressors, internal conflict and neurobiological dysfunction; these factors contribute to their state of mind. Depression, anxiety, conduct disorders and substance abuse all may contribute to the possibility of suicide, but they do not cause suicide. A "final straw" for suicide is usually the last thing that a person who kills himself/herself is thinking about, but the "final straw" is NOT the cause of the suicide. Many people who kill themselves had no "final straw" that others could see. Q: Doesn't suicide happen mostly in troubled individuals who come from difficult family situations? A: No. It is important to understand that suicidal behavior occurs in all socioeconomic groups. People of all ages, races, faiths and cultures die by suicide, as do individuals from all walks of life and all income levels. Popular, well-connected people who seem to have everything going for them and those who are less well-off die by suicide. Suicidal youth come from all kinds of families, rich and poor, happy and sad, two-parent and single-parent. To suggest that suicidal youth come only from "bad," "sick" or "neglectful" families is like saying that only these kids get cancer. Q: Don't most suicides happen without any warning signs? A: There are almost always warning signs, but unless we know what they are, they can be very difficult to recognize. That is why suicide prevention education is so important. Q: Are people who talk about or attempt suicide just trying to get attention? A: People who talk about or attempt suicide need immediate attention. They are trying to call attention to what they are experiencing as extreme emotional pain. Many believe that we should ignore these "cries for help" and "attention-getting behaviors" because the attention will only encourage the behaviors. Suicidal individuals are trying to get attention the same way people shout if they are drowning or are injured. Q: Is suicide preventable? A: Yes, often suicides may be prevented. Many people believe that if someone is suicidal, there is nothing that anyone can do to stop them from killing themselves. Some also believe that those who don't kill themselves on the first attempt will keep trying until they die. The truth is that most young people face a suicidal crisis only once in a lifetime. A suicidal crisis is usually very brief, lasting from a few hours to a few days. With intervention and help, future attempts may be prevented. Q: Why is there so much concern about youth suicide? It is a rare event, after all. A: Suicide is the second leading cause of death to youth in Maine between the ages of 15-24 and the third leading cause of death for our 10- to 14-year-olds. The younger the age of the person who dies by suicide, the greater the number of years of potential life lost. Suicidal behavior among young people is a much larger public health concern than what is represented in death statistics. Roughly one in five high school students reports seriously considering suicide in the past 12 months. Q: Isn't it up to mental health experts to figure out how to manage youth who want to kill themselves? A: Mental health workers are a key resource in responding to suicidal youth. They are trained to provide therapy and/or manage crises. It is important, however, to realize that anyone can learn how to intervene in suicidal behavior in basic, life-saving kinds of ways. Q: What is the connection between self-harm and suicide attempts? A: Self-harm is defined as a deliberate and usually repetitive destruction or alteration of one's own body tissue, without suicidal intent. Other terms used to describe this behavior include cutting, self-injury, self-mutilation, self-inflicted violence and auto-aggression. While difficult to distinguish from a suicide attempt, it is important to understand that the person who engages in self-harming behavior does not intend to die as a result of his/her actions. The behavior is used to gain relief from intense emotions, to calm and soothe.
|
||||||