Which Kids Are at Risk for Suicide?

It can be hard to remember how it felt to be a teen, caught in that gray area between childhood and adulthood. Sure, it's a time of tremendous possibility but it can also be a period of great confusion and anxiety. There's pressure to fit in socially, to perform academically, and to act responsibly. There's the awakening of sexual feelings, a growing self-identity, and a need for autonomy that often conflicts with the rules and expectations set by others.


A teen with an adequate support network of friends, family, religious affiliations, peer groups, or extracurricular activities may have an outlet to deal with everyday frustrations. But many teens don't believe they have that, and feel disconnected and isolated from family and friends. These teens are at increased risk for suicide.


Factors that increase the risk of suicide among teens include:




+a psychological disorder, especially depression, bipolar disorder, and alcohol and drug use (in fact, approximately 95% of people who die by suicide have a psychological disorder at the time of death)


+feelings of distress, irritability, or agitation


+feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness that often accompany depression (a teen, for example, who experiences repeated failures at school, who is overwhelmed by violence at home, or who is isolated from peers is likely to experience such feelings)


+a previous suicide attempt


+a family history of depression or suicide (depressive illnesses may have a genetic component, so some teens may be predisposed to suffer major depression)


+physical or sexual abuse


+lack of a support network, poor relationships with parents or peers, and feelings of social isolation


+dealing with homosexuality in an unsupportive family or community or hostile school environment