The prevalence of teen suicide is a growing concern in the healthcare industry, as it is ranked as the 2nd highest cause of death among the teenagers (Jason Foundation, 2016). Generally, the suicide rates in the United States continue to raise concern, as it is ranked tenth cause of death in the country. While the incidences of suicide had significantly decreased in the ‘90’s, this trend has now reverted, as there is an increase in suicide deaths. AFSP (2016) argues that statistics indicating the prevalence and incidences of suicide in the United States could be an underrepresentation, as the stigma associated with suicide leads to underreporting of the cases. The causes of teenage suicide range from mental health issues, drug use, social, and environmental causes.
Prevention of suicide can be achieved by addressing the causative factors, but achieving zero rates still remains an illusion. Preventing and reducing the prevalence of suicide remains a priority in the United States, as these deaths not only rob the country of young and productive human resource, but also because suicide costs the healthcare industry an estimated 44.6 billion dollars every year (Benedek, Ash, & Scott, 2009). Suicide also causes emotional turmoil to the affected families. The purpose paper is to present statistics on teenage suicide, including the prevalence, causes, prevention strategies, and the public efforts put in place to address the issue.
Prevalence of Teenage Suicide in the United States
Suicide is ranked the 2nd largest cause of death among teenagers between the ages of 12 and 18 years (Hawton, Sanders & O’Connor, 2012). This implies that there are more teenagers dying as a result of suicide, compared to teenagers dying from cancer, HIV/AIDS, pneumonia, heart diseases, chronic lung diseases, and stroke combined. A report by American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, AFSP, indicates that although the suicide rates among teenagers is lower than the rates of suicide among adults above the age of 18 years, it still remains a major concern, as the prevalence seems to be on an upward trend since 2013.
Prevalence by Gender
McLoughlin, Gould and Malone (2015) argue that although the prevalence of teenage suicide is higher among male teenagers, the ideation of suicide is more common among girls. The article posits that girls are more likely to court the idea of suicide and talk more about their intentions to commit suicide, but are less likely to commit the act. On the other hand, teenage boys are less likely to talk about, even ideate suicide, and even attempt suicide, but statistics indicate that the prevalence of completed suicide is higher among the male teens compared to the female teens. According to Hawton, Sanders and O’Connor (2012), teenage boys commit suicide at a rate that is five times higher compared to the teenage girls. Despite this worrying trend, there is no substantial evidence indicating the specific factors that predispose teenage boys to suicide, as environmental, psychiatric, genetic, and social factors are shown to affect both males and females equally.
Prevalence by Race/Ethnicity
There is a disparity in the distribution of suicide cases across the race/ethnicity stratum. Jiang, Mitran, Minino and Ni (2015) argue that the prevalence of suicide across all ages and genders is highest among the American Indians and Alaska Native, compared to the prevalence of suicide across other ethnic backgrounds. A report by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (2016) supports these statistics, but goes ahead to categorize the prevalence across different ages. According to the report, suicide rates peak during adolescence and young adulthood among the American Indians/ Alaska Natives.
There is a significant disparity in the distribution of suicide rates between the American Indians/ Alaska Natives and other ethnic groups. Although there is insufficient evidence showing the particular predisposing factors to suicide among this ethnic group, especially among the teenagers, Herne, Bartholomew and Weahkee (2014) observed that Indian Americans and Alaska Natives are disproportionately affected by mental health disorders related to suicide. These mental health disorders include stress, depression, anxiety, stigma, and drug and substance abuse. Racial adjusted and age adjusted statistics still show that the male population is disproportionately affected by suicide, with more males dying from self-inflicted harm, compared to the females.
Prevalence by Social Class
There is a notable disparity in the distribution of suicide cases across the socioeconomic stratum. Studies have been carried out to determine the actual prevalence and any other precipitating factors. Page et al. (2014) sought to investigate suicide in young adults, focusing on socio-economic and psychiatric causative factors. Although the case control study focused on adults between the ages of 18 and 34 years, it is evident that socio-economic factors contribute to as many cases of suicide as the psychiatric factors, based on this study.
Purselle, Heninger, Hanzlick and Garlow (2009) counter this argument by positing that socioeconomic factor is not a predisposing factor to suicide. Early researchers hypothesized that depression and anxiety brought about by desperation amongst people from the low socioeconomic level predisposed them to suicide. However, recent research has revealed that suicide is most common in both extremes of social class, i.e., the prevalence of suicide among the low socioeconomic population is similar to that of the high socioeconomic population. The only outstanding difference, according to Page et al. (2014), is the mode of commission of suicide. The high social class is more likely to use lethal weapons such as guns, compared to people from lower social class.
Risk Factors to Suicide among Teenagers
Research evidence reveals that there is a myriad of causes of suicide among teenagers. Compromised mental health, according to Wills (2011) still remains the single largest causative and risk factor to attempted and completed teen suicide. Approximately 90% of all young suicide victims meet the criteria for at least one of the many psychiatric diagnoses using the DSM-III protocol (Wills, 2011). Mood disorders, which are most common among female teenagers and young adults is a common risk factor to completed and attempted suicide among this population.
Disruptive and substance abuse psychiatric problems are also common risk factors to teen suicide, but are more prevalent among the male population compared to the female population. Disruptive and depressive disorders, coupled with other mental health problems such as drug abuse, account for 49%-64% of all completed suicide cases among adolescents and teenagers (Wills, 2011). Teenagers diagnosed with affective disorders are 11-27 times more likely to attempt and complete suicide compared teenagers without the disorder (Wills, 2011). In addition to psychiatric diseases and substance abuse, prior attempt in suicide is another strong risk factor to teen suicide. Teenage boys who have previously attempted suicide are 30 times more likely to complete the acts, while girls are 3 times more likely to complete the act after an attempt at suicide.
Family history, genetic predisposition, neurobiological abnormalities, and psychosocial stressors are also significant risk factors to suicide among teenagers and young adults (Pandey et al., 2012). Postmortem samples from the brains of suicide victims suggest a strong correlation between suicide and neurobiological disorders. Psychological autopsies have also revealed a close correlation between psychopathology and suicide attempt and/or completion (Wills, 2011). Understanding the specific causative factors for suicide among teenagers is essential in designing and implementing effective prevention strategies.
Preventions Strategies and Available Resources against Suicide
Completed suicide has no interventions, but attempted suicide can be countered to prevent or deter completion of the act. One of the best prevention strategies against suicide is cognitive behavioral therapy, CBT. Also known as talk therapy, CBT is a psychotherapeutic approach that investigates the impact of thoughts, beliefs, and attitude on the health of an individual (Benedek, Ash & Scott, 2009). CBT is based on the belief that the thoughts, behaviors, and attitudes are all interconnected. Lack of alignment of these elements affects the feelings and thoughts of people, predisposing such people to mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.
CBT in suicide prevention focuses on identifying the risk factor to suicide, and empowering the people at risk with coping skills against these factors. The government has also introduced and funded a variety of programs in schools, hospitals, and in the communities to facilitate early identification of risk to suicide. These programs are utilized by qualified professionals who can identify the risks and initiate the necessary interventions or prevention measures. These programs have been reported to be effective in deterring suicide completion.
Conclusion
Suicide continues to be a public health and social concern in the United States. The increasing prevalence of suicide across the teenage population is also a worrying concern. There are many risk factors to suicide, and addressing each factor is essential in preventing attempted and completed suicide. This paper analyzed the prevalence, causes, and prevention of teen suicide in the United States. The government, in conjunction with other agencies, has implemented strategies for suicide prevention.
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