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Sylvia Hernandez

Figueroa

Senior English

1st November 2018

Social Issue: Suicide

Suicide; the act or instance of taking one’s own life voluntarily. Teen suicide has

increased by the rate of 77% over the years according to Rae Daniel (Meriam-Webster

dictionary). Bullying increases teen suicide by influencing suicidal thoughts in teens as of now,

teen suicide is believed to be the effect of an uncontained mental illness. Also, there are said to

be no constant links that bullying drives students to commit suicide. Therefore, victims of

bullying that have committed suicide are often diagnosed with a mental illness. Bullying has

existed since the beginning of time and it is the conflict of “why does the bully, bully their

victims” and “what is the victim’s typical solution.” Bullying can exist anywhere from school to

a work environment. Those who experience bullying are usually the “outcast” or have little self-

esteem and/or confidence. Bullying can affect anyone from the victim, the loved ones of the

victim, and anyone who experiences it in act. People of all ages can experience bullying, could it

be at school or workplace.

Teenagers commit suicide because they are overcome by a mental illness. There is little

awareness about mental health. A lot of teenager's struggle without the ability to talk about their

problems to anyone and, their solution is suicide. I believe that if we do not resolve this issue the

rate in teen suicide will only increase. We should be working towards lowering the average
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national rate. I am concerned about the future and mental health of the nation’s teenagers. I think

that schools should offer “safe places” for students to count on when they’re feeling troubled.

Parents should talk to their kids more openly about mental health. Schools should be more

involved in making sure the mental health of their students is stable. Afterall, while parents are

more concerned with their child’s progress at school, that progress could decline little by little if

they are not fully functional and mentally stable.

Also, parents should pay more attention to a student’s environment especially when they

are at school. Students fall into peer pressure that leads them to behavior that could harm them

mentally and physically. “Other emotional teen suicide causes stem from trying to escape

feelings of pain, rejection, hurt, being unloved, victimization or loss” (Tracy 2015). At school,

teens face the difficulty of wanting to be that “cool kid” or fitting in. They fear that not being

liked, thus falling into peer pressure could get them rejected and denied as an outcast. One major

issue we see at schools all over the country is bullying, it can happen to people of all ages and it

could happen to anyone. “Bullying has serious and negative effects on the mental health and over

all well-being of youth involved in any way including those who bully others, youth who are

bullied as well... those who bully others and are bullied by others” (Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention). The effects of bullying do not go away overnight and they can be felt for a long

time after, they dwell in your thoughts. Nowadays, kids and especially teenagers spend more

time at school then they do at home. It is important that they feel safe and cared for while they

are at school.

For instance, even those who are not the victims of bullying claim to still be impacted by

witnessing someone else getting bullied at school. The effects of bullying are very drastic, those

who witness but are not being bullied can still feel impacted by being a witness. “We know that
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bullying behavior and suicide related behavior are closely related. This means youth who report

any involvement with bullying behavior are more likely to report high levels of suicide-related

behavior than youth who do not report any involvement in bullying... suicidal thoughts and

behaviors begin when you feel hopeless and as if giving up is the ultimate solution to all of your

problems” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The most common causes are

depression, social isolation, and substance abuse. A school setting can be overwhelming with

school work, grades, and peer pressure and on top of the drama and bullying teenagers encounter

throughout high school. “Situations often drive the emotional causes of suicide... often many of

these environmental factors occur together to cause suicidal feelings and behaviors. The type of

environment one finds themselves is a huge contributor to one’s behavior” (CITATION). This

can lead to suicidal thoughts as a teenager goes day by day in a high school with no escape or

anyone to turn to. These thoughts can overpower them making them uneasy to overcome.

Furthermore, knowing the warning signs of possible suicide could potentially save your

child’s life. The signs and signals could be so little, most times they go unnoticed and are easily

ignored. “Negative outcomes of bullying may include depression, anxiety, involvement in

interpersonal violence or sexual violence, substance abuse [and] poor social functioning.” The

warning signs can be so subtle and vague but very well important and vague but very well

important in helping someone through a dark time. Close friends and family should be your main

support system. Often friends and family are the last ones to know about the suicidal thoughts

and feelings of their loved ones. “Among 15 to 24-year old's, suicide is the leading cause of

death... additionally, 16 percent of students consider suicide, 13 percent create a plan and 8

percent have made a serious attempt. There have been more thoughts of suicide than actual
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suicides committed. Many argue that bullying is what encourages teenagers to commit suicide

and end their own life.

However, mental disorders are the leading cause of suicide in young adults and teenagers

in the United States. Those diagnosed with a mental illness are more likely to commit suicide.

Mental illness is the leading cause of suicide as it acts as a trigger to the challenges a teen faces

in life. “The key suicide risk factor is an undiagnosed, untreated or ineffectively treated mental

disorder.” (reach4hopeutah) Mental disorders can take a toll on one’s everyday life as if their

mental disorder controls every aspect of their life. Many mental disorders are linked to a lot of

cases of teen suicide. A study shows that those who have attempted or committed suicide have

had or have been diagnosed with a mental illness. “In teens, the mental disorders most closely

linked to suicide risk are major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety

disorder, conduct disorder, substance use disorder and eating disorders.” (How We Help, Rutgers

University) Mental illness can be a trigger to those who are facing thoughts of possible suicide.

These thoughts can be deemed uncontrollable if a teen suffers from a disorder such as bipolar

disorder or depression. Even with no other contributing stress factors, struggling with a mental

illness can change all perceptions on the outside world. Those who deal with a mental illness,

often lose hope.

Those who have committed suicide were most likely not mentally stable. Mental illness is

the biggest factor that contributes to suicide. “Research shows that over 90 percent of people

who die by suicide have a mental disorder at the time of their death” (How We Help, Rutgers

University). About one in five adults suffer from a diagnosable mental illness, most of them are

diagnosable and medical helped is seeked immediately. Mental disorders include a wide range of

problems such as anxiety, bipolar disorder and clinical depression. “In addition to the underlying
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disorders listed above, suicide risk can be affected by personality disorders such as impulsivity

aggression and hopelessness.” (reach4hopeutah) Everyday struggles in a teenage life are now

doubled with the task of overcoming a mental illness and taking control of it.

Bullying is the mistreating someone or harming them in any way mentally or physically

and taking advantage of their vulnerability. “Most teens who have been interviewed after a

suicide attempt say that what causes these thoughts are feelings of hopelessness and

helplessness.” (Tracy, 2015) With so many obstacles to face alone many do not know how to

communicate their feelings to others, trapping these thoughts inside their heads. Ultimately, with

no friends, bullying and teasing is said to trigger a teen to commit suicide. “Even relatively well-

adjusted kids that are bullied can become depressed and contemplate suicide. So, the possibility

of suicide must be considered when a child is bullied.” (Very Well Family, 2018)

Under these circumstances, schools as well as parents should pay attention to the school

environment because it affects a student's behavior. It could put them at risk for suicidal

tendencies because of the amount of peer pressure they could encounter. As well as knowing the

possible warning signs could help prevent them from taking their own life. Students spend a lot

of their time in a school environment, school officials should work together towards preventing

bullying and supporting the victims of bullying. With more support at school, those who are

experiencing bullying can have somewhere to go and someone to talk to. I believe we should

work together to end the high rates of teen suicide because they have a future ahead of them and

so much more to look forward to.

With bullying being such a difficulty, the underlying question arises, why do kids bully

other kids? Some argue that aggression is a learned behavior, but researchers are trying to figure

out the underlying causes to their aggression, as said here: “Children who bully may not be
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receiving love and warmth from their families. These children also may not have rules at home.

Aggressive behavior can also be learned by children when they get physical with their siblings or

are punished physically by their parents” (www.education.com). Aggression can cause anger and

this anger can build up inside of children until they become the aggressor, learning how to cope

with their anger with violence. On the other side of the conflict, bullying can be learned by peers,

which cannot be overpowered when there is little to no supervision. This article says, “Bullying

is more likely to happen when schools do not have anti-bullying policies or when school rules

are not enforced. Bullying can also happen more easily when there is no supervision for instance

such as the school cafeteria and hallways” (www.education.com). Bullying may not be

completely terminated but bringing change to these underlying factors can bring long term

benefits. Especially to those who have lost children to suicide.

Parents are searching for answers as to why their children have to leave so soon. Looking

for answers and searching to where the bullying began, at their children’s place of education.

Dianne Grossman, mother of 12-year-old Mallory Grossman is suing Rockaway school district

for neglecting her pleas and resulting in her daughter’s suicide. “After the bullying began in

October of last year, Mallory’s parents spoke to her teachers, counselors and school

administrators — along with the students’ parents — pleading with them to help put an end to

the ugliness. Then, on June 14, Mallory took her own life. The manner of death was not

disclosed” (The Washington post, 2018). Mallory’s mother would like schools to be held

accountable for neglecting the complaints of parents whose children are also victims of bullying.

She has stated that adults would know better than to give in to taunting messages as it is easier to

brush them off, but as a kid, middle schooler for the fact, it is easier to get under their skin.

Unfortunately, this was the case for Mallory and many others who could not surpass the bullying
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they received from their classmates. With this being said, more schools should take into

consideration that bullying, can urge young kids to take their life and the aggressors themselves

should be held accountable for causing a life to be lost too soon.