Running Head: INCREASING SUICIDE AMONG TEENS 1

Why Suicide Numbers Are Increasing Among Teens

Jared Anderson

Columbia Southern University

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Increasing Suicide Among Teens 2

Why suicide numbers are increasing among Teens

Suicide numbers among teenagers have increasingly grown in the past decade thus

causing a lot of concern. While suicide cases have been common causes of death among many

across the U.S population, the recent trend is observed that death by suicide among teens has

surpassed all other population age groups (Bilsen, 2018). Many stories of teen suicide have

increasingly become common on social media and news stories in many media channels. The

rates of suicidal attempts, suicidal thoughts, self-harm and actual suicide have doubled since

2008 according to a report study. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC), the second leading cause of death among young people between ages 10 to 24 is suicide

(Abbot, 2019). From 2007-2017, the number of deaths among this age group has spiked by 56

percent from an average of 6.8 deaths per 100,000 to 10. 6 deaths per 100,000 ((Wan, 2019).

This is constitutes to approximately 4,600 lives that are lost in the US every year. While suicide

has been linked to factors such as mental disorders such as bipolar, schizophrenia, depression

and personality disorders, it is also evident that not all individuals who suffer from mental

disorders commit suicide. Many psychologists are arguing that most people including teenager

who blame their suicide to these mental disorders are only using them as excuses for committing

suicide. It is important to note that correlation does not mean causation.

The mental experts state that when discussing suicide it is essential not to lean or focus

one a single cause or factor (Dickson, 2019). In fact, while certain factors such as substance

abuse and history of mental sickness increase the risk for suicide among the teens, the actual

reasons or causes for the increasing suicide trend among teens are not clearly defined.

Researchers and mental health experts are puzzled by this rising trend and are struggling to

explain its causes (Wan, 2019). Some attempt to explain this trend through the changing social

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structures, the rise of social media, lack of community and other factors such as bullying, stress,

peer pressure, sexual orientation and discrimination and drug abuse among others as contributing

significantly to the increasing suicide numbers (Wan, 2019).

Psychologists have identified bullying as one of the major cause of increased suicide

deaths among teens. According to a research presented by the pediatric academic societies in

2017, the number of adolescents who were admitted to children’s hospitals for self-harm and

suicidal thoughts had doubled since 2008 (Welch,2017). There is a rising generation of

smartphone users who access social media. Today approximately 79 percent of teens have access

to smartphones. This rise in access to smartphones and social media have contributed to

increased cyber bullying, sleep deprivation and fear of being left out. A substantial research

evidence suggests that association between heavy technology uses affects the mental health and

wellbeing of these teenagers. In fact studies indicate that teens who spend most of their time

stuck on their phone are likely to have suicidal thoughts or actually act on them than those who

spend little time on social media daily(Welch,2017).

Another factor that is contributing to increased suicide rates among teens is stress

including family stress and stress from peers. This stress often contributes to depression and

mood disorders which then leads to suicidal thoughts and behaviors (Kennard, 2018). Also,

Lack of social support may also contribute to the increasing trend of suicide. Teens who don’t

feel support from their family or friends or at school may become isolated and suicide may

become the only way they know how to escape their problems.

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Sexual orientation is also another major contributing factor for teen suicide. During their

teen years, mist young people come to identify their sexuality (Russell & Joyner, 2001). Often

some do not come into agreement with reality particularly if they realize that they are gay,

bisexual or any other type of sexual orientation. To avoid discrimination and bullying, such teens

tend to isolate themselves due to fear of being ridiculed by their friends and peers. Not only are

fees of discrimination and ridicule come from friends and close peers but also from family. Some

families especially the highly religious ones tend to turn against the teens who identify as gay,

lesbian or bisexual. They tend to consider these teens as societal misfits and an embarrassment to

the family. When these teens come out and share their sexual orientation, they may become

rejected by people close to them or people the highly trust hence causing confusion and guilty of

coming out (Russell & Joyner, 2001). Some will consider themselves as “losers” and unworthy

of living hence fall into depression or even commit suicide as a way of escaping the harsh

treatment from friends and family.

Drug use and alcohol abuse are another cause of increasing teen suicide. During the teen

years, most begin experimenting with drugs and alcohol. Often these habits escalate to addictions

which become very expensive to sponsor due to the expensive drugs (Yasgur, 2018). Sometimes

they will end up exhausting all the money that have or resolve in criminal activities such as

stealing or selling the drugs themselves. When they realize that that are cornered and in deep

hole such that there’s no way to escape, they may think of taking their lives to avoid the

punishment and wrath from their parents. Sometimes these teens may also end up overdosing on

the drugs as they feel ashamed and unworthy to live (Yasgur, 2018).

Another attributable factor to increasing suicide is the availability of means such as easy

access to fire arms and pills (Bilsen, 2018). Often people who think about suicide are ambivalent

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to that decision. Availability of the means of committing suicide often hastens or facilitates the

transition from the suicidal thought to actual suicide. Notably, if the availability of the means of

suicide are restricted, this can be an important means of preventing many suicide among the

teens.

Other factors that contribute to the increasing suicides among teens are social pressures

due to difficulties socializing with peers, teachers and other people in their lives (Doupnik,

2019). Also, teenagers who undergo tough breakups or experience fights with a family member

may trigger suicidal thoughts in them. Others who experience traumatizing events in their life

such as losing a loved one or witnessing or being a victim of a severe violence or crime may

trigger suicidal behaviors and thoughts (Doupnik, 2019).

Conclusion

There is not a single factor or cause for the increasing trend of suicide among teens.

However, it is notable that most teens commit suicide due to the feelings of being miserable,

helpless and hopeless. Most teens suffer in silence due to fear of trusting people or getting turned

down by people they trust. Bullying both physical and online, peer pressure, drug abuse, mental

health issues and sexual orientation re all significant factors that contribute to increased suicide

rates among teens.

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References

Abbot,B.(2019,Oct). Youth Suicide Rate Increased 56% in Decade, CDC Says.wallstreet journal.

Retrieved from: https://www.wsj.com/articles/youth-suicide-rate-rises-56-in-decade-cdc-says-

11571284861

Bilsen, J. (2018). Suicide and youth: risk factors. Frontiers in psychiatry, 9, 540.

Dickson, E. (2019). Teen Suicide is on The Rise and No One Knows Why.

https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/teen-suicide-study-increase-why-900711/

Doupnik, S. (2019, Nov). I treat teens who attempted suicide. Here’s what they told me. Vox.

Retrieved from: https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/2019/10/30/20936636/suicide-mental-

health-suicidal-thoughts-teens

Kennard, B. (2018). Talking about teen suicide: Why it’s increasing and what parents and

doctors can do

Russell, S. T., & Joyner, K. (2001). Adolescent sexual orientation and suicide risk: Evidence

from a national study. American Journal of public health, 91(8), 1276-1281.

Wan, W. (2019). Teen suicides are increasing at an alarming pace, outstripping all other age

groups, a new report says. Washington post.

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Retrieved from: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/teen-suicides-increasing-at-alarming-

pace-outstripping-all-other-age-groups/2019/10/16/e24194c6-f04a-11e9-8693-

f487e46784aa_story.html

Welch, A. (2017 November). What’s behind the rise in youth suicides?Cbs News.

Retrieved from: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/suicide-youth-teens-whats-behind-rise/

Yasgur, B., S. (2018). Alarming Increase in Adolescent Suicides, Substance Use. Medscape.

Retrieved from: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/895538

Comment Summary Page 1

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