Claudia vartgess
Alliant International University
Abstract
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people ages 13 to 24. In recent years, suicide has increased at an alarming rate in adolescents. One in five teenagers in the United States considers suicide, in 2003, 8 percent of adolescents attempted suicide. It can affect teens from all races, both genders, and socioeconomic groups. According to a 2004 report distributed by the National Institute of Mental Health identified that psychological, environmental, and biological are the possible causes for suicidal distress. The risk for suicide frequently occurs in combination with external circumstances, lack of coping skills, substance abuse, and depression the most common psychiatric disorder in people who die in suicide. Adolescent suicide can be prevented by recognizing the possible symptoms and warning signs. Suicide prevention programs, crisis center hotlines, screening programs, seek to identify at risk adolescents and provide them with the proper treatment and reduce suicidal ideation.
Adolescents and Suicide The number of adolescent deaths from suicide in the United States increased dramatically during the last few years between the ages of 13 to 24, surpassed only by homicide and accidents. According to data collected by the Center for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) in 2003, 8 percent of adolescents attempted suicide, representing 1 million teenagers, of whom nearly 300,000 receive medical attention for their attempt; and approximately 1,700 teenagers died by suicide each year (Moskos, Achilles, & Gray, 2004). Moskos, Achilles, and Gray (2004) found causes of suicidal distress which were associated to psychological, environmental, and biological factors. Mental illness is a leading risk factor for suicide. Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder in people who died by suicide. In a systematic review of the international literature