Informative Essay: The Epidemic Of Teen Suicide
Teen suicide is a topic that is very close to my heart because I have a personal connection to the matter. I have lost more than a couple of friends to suicide and feel that this is an issue that absolutely needs to be addressed. Teen suicide is climbing substantially high on the list of the leading causes of death in today’s youth. It is developing into a terrifying epidemic and continues to skyrocket as time passes. Although this social issue currently has a significant amount of attention, it will continue to snowball out of control if additional changes are not made. Presently in schools one of the main focuses besides education is physical health. Educators spend a considerable amount of time emphasizing the importance of a healthy diet
and physical activity. The focal point needs to shift slightly from physical health to mental health. Too often mental health is overlooked and underestimated in school-age children. More preventative, proactive measures need to be taken rather than reactive responses to the situation when it arises. Raising awareness is the first step that needs to be taken in order for any type of change to occur. Mental health needs to be integrated into society as a normal and regulated topic of conversation. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems need to be seen as less of a disability that people are ashamed to have. Creating awareness at a young age can help to end the stigma. Content surrounding mental health should be introduced at a young age and continued throughout adolescence. If a child becomes accustomed to hearing about mental health early, they may be more comfortable to speak about their own problems to someone they trust. The problem also lies with parents’ familiarization with early identification. There should be courses for parents that are more commonly known and accessible to educate them on identifying potential suicidal behaviours before it is too late. In order to stop the problem before it happens, we all need to become more mindful of our emotions and the emotions with others. Coping with life’s difficulties is a vital life skill that needs to be taught to our students, children, and friends. If we are all on board, drastic changes can slowly start to happen to make the world a much safer place for youth experiencing mental illness.
and physical activity. The focal point needs to shift slightly from physical health to mental health. Too often mental health is overlooked and underestimated in school-age children. More preventative, proactive measures need to be taken rather than reactive responses to the situation when it arises. Raising awareness is the first step that needs to be taken in order for any type of change to occur. Mental health needs to be integrated into society as a normal and regulated topic of conversation. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems need to be seen as less of a disability that people are ashamed to have. Creating awareness at a young age can help to end the stigma. Content surrounding mental health should be introduced at a young age and continued throughout adolescence. If a child becomes accustomed to hearing about mental health early, they may be more comfortable to speak about their own problems to someone they trust. The problem also lies with parents’ familiarization with early identification. There should be courses for parents that are more commonly known and accessible to educate them on identifying potential suicidal behaviours before it is too late. In order to stop the problem before it happens, we all need to become more mindful of our emotions and the emotions with others. Coping with life’s difficulties is a vital life skill that needs to be taught to our students, children, and friends. If we are all on board, drastic changes can slowly start to happen to make the world a much safer place for youth experiencing mental illness.