Dr Asha Pemberton
teenhealth.tt@gmail.com
World Suicide Prevention Day is recognised today. Teen suicide is preventable and there are several interconnected factors which work to protect vulnerable young people from escalating suicidal thoughts into action or behaviour. Resilient teenagers are able to manage adversity. Healthy self-esteem, positive self-concept and setting goals create resilience and should be supported through the adolescent years. Family support, school connectedness and a strong spiritual and religious foundation all work to strengthen the resilience of teens and youth.
Development of a range of personal, family and school-based initiatives enable recognition and intervention in young people in distress. Appropriate identification of at-risk youths and then prompt management of depression, eating disorders, anxiety, schizophrenia and other behavioural disorders are critical. We recognise that changes in access to education and schooling, have removed some of the support young people traditionally gained and this has added to the current stress that our teens are experiencing.
Teen suicide is devastating and unfortunately a growing health concern, worldwide. The risk factors for teen suicide vary with age, gender, genetics and negative life events. Ongoing mental illness whether untreated or ignored is the leading risk factor. Female adolescents make attempts at suicide and engage in self-harming behaviour more frequently than males, but males are more likely to use violent methods and therefore die more often than females from suicide.
While there is no single cause for attempted suicide or suicide in young people, risk factors in combination with external circumstances that overwhelm an already vulnerable adolescent create the potential for this to occur. Young people who are unable to cope with the challenges of adolescence due to undiagnosed or untreated mental health concerns are vulnerable. These include depression, alcohol and substance use disorders, eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa and schizophrenia.
Modern adolescent life is stressful. Negative life events including child maltreatment and abuse, interpersonal losses, family violence and sexual orientation and gender identity crises add stress to already overwhelmed youth. Other risk factors include a family history of mental illness or suicide, impulsive or aggressive personality traits, access to weapons and firearms and exposure to other people, including other adolescents who have attempted or died by suicide or glamorise this behaviour. Navigating the pandemic, online education, social isolation and grief are all new triggers with which young people have to contend.
Many young people who are struggling with self-harming and suicidal thoughts demonstrate observable behaviour which can point to their ongoing states. There often are signs. These include a preoccupation with death, making suicidal notes or plans including posts online and on social media platforms, loss of interest in fr
