SUICIDE
Suicide is currently the third leading cause of death among teenagers in the United States. It causes thousands of teenage deaths across the country each year. Statistics show females have the highest occurrences of suicide attempts, but males have the highest number of completed suicides.
What are the warning signs?
If you are worried someone you know might be suicidal, here are a few warning signs that you can look for:
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Disinterest in favorite extracurricular activities·
Problems at work and losing interest in a job·
Substance abuse, including alcohol and drug (illegal and legal drugs) use·
Behavioral problems·
Withdrawing from family and friends·
Sleep changes·
Changes in eating habits·
Begins to neglect hygiene and other matters of personal appearance·
Emotional distress brings on physical complaints (aches, fatigues, migraines)·
Hard time concentrating and paying attention·
Declining grades in school·
Loss of interest in schoolwork·
Risk taking behaviors·
Complains more frequently of boredom·
Does not respond as before to praiseNot everyone who is feeling suicidal will experience these characteristics. There are still cases where even the most unlikely people attempt suicide. The best thing you can do is to pay attention to their actions. If you notice signs of depression, it might be a good time to get help.
For help, you can contact the Suicide & Crisis Hotline at 1-800-999-9999, the National Suicide Hotline for Adolescence 1-800-621-4000, or the Trevor HelpLine (which specializes in homosexual youth suicide prevention) at 1-800-850-8078.