TEENAGE SUICIDE

Why it Happens And What To Do About It

Authors:

Hafiza Fatima Iqbal (Roll # 64)

Ammara Jaffer (Roll # 93)
Hamna Younas (Roll # 104)
Anam Tahir (Roll # 172)
BS 2nd Semester , Section C
Teenage Suicide- Why It Happens And What To Do About It

ABSTARCT

Suicide is one of the biggest curses of our society and the world as well. This topic has great
significance as it lights up the reasons and mentality of those people who try to commit suicide.
Its rate has increased rapidly since last decade. Now this is also an important point that what
those changing traits are that has caused an increment in suicide rate. Moreover, discussion on
this topic can lead us to solutions for this problem.
Teenage Suicide- Why It Happens And What To Do About It

We see that suicide rate has increased tremendously in the modern society. Suicide is the act of
intentionally causing one's own death (Wilkins, 2004). There are many reasons for suicide such
as depression, psychosis, use of drugs, etc. But the most important question that lies within the
issue is why people intend to do so? If they are depressed or feel worthless and lonely, then
why most of the times they only think of committing suicide. Even when a note explaining the
reasons is found, lingering questions usually remain: yes, they felt enough despair to want to
die, but why did they feel that? People who commit suicide are more likely of the idea to get rid
of pain than just to take their lives. People who've survived suicide attempts have reported
wanting not so much to die as to stop living, a strange dichotomy but a valid one nevertheless.
Generally the reasons provided are of different types such as emotional,
environmental, etc.

EMOTIONAL CAUSES
Most teens who have been interviewed after a suicide attempt say that what
causes teen suicide are feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. Suicidal teens often feel like
they are in situations that have no solutions. The teens can see no way out but death. The teens
feel like they have no control to change their situations.
Other emotional teen suicide causes stem from trying to escape feelings of pain, rejection, hurt,
being unloved, victimization or loss. Teens may feel like their feelings are unbearable and will
never end, so the only way to escape is suicide

ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES
Situations often drive the emotional causes of suicide. Bullying, cyber
bullying, abuse, a detrimental home life, loss of a loved one or even a severe breakup can by
contributing causes of teen suicide. Often, many of these environmental factors occur together to
cause suicidal feelings and behaviors.
Ethan felt like there was no point going on with life. Things had been tough since his mom died.
His dad was working two jobs and seemed frazzled and angry most of the time. Whenever he
and Ethan talked, it usually ended in yelling.
Ethan had just found out he'd failed a math test, and he was afraid of how mad and disappointed
his dad would be. In the past, he always talked things over with his girlfriend — the only person
who seemed to understand. But they'd broken up the week before, and now Ethan felt he had
nowhere to turn.
Ethan later went on to seek out his dad's gun with which to attempt to take his life.
As in the above example, it is typical that many factors – both emotional and environmental –
contribute to the cause of a teen suicide or teen suicide attempt.
Teenage Suicide- Why It Happens And What To Do About It

Mental Illness
While all the above are driving factors of teen suicide, often the underlying issue is one of a
mental illness. Most teens who attempt suicide do so because of depression, bipolar disorder or
borderline personality disorder. These disorders amplify the pain a teen may feel. It is because of
self-mutilation.
From literature we can find a lot of studies done on increasing rate of suicide and its
causes as well as its solutions. Risk factors include mental illness such as depression, bipolar
disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, alcoholism, or drug abuse (Hawton K, 2002).
Others are impulsive acts due to stress such as from financial difficulties, troubles with
relationships, or bullying.( "Suicide Fact sheet , August 2015.) Suicide is the second leading
cause of death for ages 10-24 (2013 CDC WISQARS). Suicide is the second leading cause of
death for college-age youth and ages 12-18 (2013 CDC WISQARS). More teenagers and young
adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia,
influenza, and chronic lung disease, combined. Each day in our nation there is an average of over
5,400 attempts by young people grades 7-12.

SIGNIFICANCE
From the above discussion it is clear that this is a very important topic.
Research on it can be helpful to create public awareness about the causes of suicide, to
encourage strong mutual co-operation between parents and their children. Society can also play
an important role in eliminating this curse by carefully observing the initial changes in the
individual. It helps to maintain a responsible environment within the society.

METHODOLOGY
The research on our project will mostly be secondary. The psychological, environmental and
emotional causes of suicide will be explained in detailed. Moreover the symptoms and risk
factors will also be explained. The most recent research will also be considered. Why suicide has
become an epidemic and what can be done about it will also be discussed. The best possible
solutions that can save millions of lives will also be discussed.

TIMELINE
23rd March- Research topic was decided
10th April- Tabulated data and determined the result
10th May- Final Report
Teenage Suicide- Why It Happens And What To Do About It

References
"Suicide Fact sheet (August 2015.) World Health Organization.
Beautrais. (2005). Beautrais, A. (2005). National strategies for the reduction and prevention of
suicide. Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention.26(1);1-3. Beautrais,
A. (2005). National strategies for the reJournal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide
Prevention.26(1);1-3.
Gould, M. G. (2003). Youth suicide risk and preventive interventions. Journal of the American
Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
Hawton K, v. H. (2002). "Suicide". Lancet 373.
Wilkins, L. W. (2004). Stedman's medical dictionary (28th ed.).