Teen Suicide
By Dan Blankenship
© 2006 Dan Blankenship
Hebrews 10:23-24 (NIV): “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
I just read a statistic that I found completely astounding; according to www.save.org, a highly reputable and organized website dedicated to preventing suicide, “suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people 15-24.” The first reason I find the statistic hard to believe is that I myself have never experienced the severe depression and anxiety others, especially people suffering from other simultaneous illnesses, have felt and had to live with.
The second reason I found this fact a difficult one to believe is that I rarely see news stories about suicides. As I researched more information about the media’s relationship with suicide reporting and discussion, I began to understand why suicides are often not reported by media outlets; such reporting can actually lead to more suicides.
In 1774, a novel by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe called The Sorrows of Young Werther introduced a young man who commits suicide after a failed romance. Some sources report that nearly 2,000 readers of Goethe’s novel, who suffered similar failures concerning romance, committed suicide. The phenomenon of copycat suicides became known as the “Werther Effect” and other writers became concerned that their work could actually cause people to try and act out the actions of the heroes and villains in their novels.
Today, the “Werther Effect” is a serious consideration whenever a news outlet decides to cover a suicide story. Hearing the details about how another human being has taken his life can almost make it seem more acceptable, more possible, this hideous act that most of us find deplorable. For this precaution the media should be praised. And this explains why the high rate of suicide among young people seems like a flawed statistic to most people.
Now, why do young people commit suicide? The reasons are plenty. But one of the most difficult things to understand about people who may be contemplating suicide is that they are usually suffering from more than just one disorder, one problem, or one situation. From everything I have read, there is no easy diagnosis or cure for people suffering the type of depression, anxiety, or fear that leads them to consider suicide, and professional help is an urgent necessity. If you believe someone you know is contemplating suicide, immediately seek out the help of professionals. At the end of this column I will list several sources to contact.
In Hebrew 13:5 (NIV) God promises that He “will never leave you” and “never will forsake you.” The dedicated professionals who spend their lives studying clinical reasons for depression are angels in waiting; waiting to help and nurture a hurting human being back to stability and full health.
And while it is nearly impossible for me to comprehend a young person’s contemplations of suicide, it is my duty as a follower of Jesus to address any issue that can cause harm to any of God’s children. And suicide does not end with the act of the perpetrator. It sends a wave of heartache and sorrow so distressing that sometimes hundreds of people spend many years unraveling the damage.
Teen and young adult suicide prevention needs to be placed high on the list of things that should be extinct. So I’m asking anyone who has taken the time to read this column to visit the websites listed below. Study the behavior signs of someone who might be considering suicide, and don’t be afraid to call any of the phone numbers listed by the various suicide prevention hotlines when you suspect a problem.
http://www.teenadviceonline.org/gethelp/numbers.html
http://suicideandmentalhealthassociationinternational.org/index.html
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-TALK Connects individuals in suicidal crisis by to the nearest available suicide prevention and mental health service provider.
http://www.praize.com/cgi-bin/members/clublinks.cgi?clubid=9990197358609
http://www.suicidehotlines.com/
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
|
SEND ARTICLE TO A FRIEND
