How to Save a Life: Suicide Awareness Overview

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), every 100 minutes, a teenager in the U.S. commits suicide. It has been determined that for every suicide, there are ten unsuccessful attempts. Throughout the past few months the issue of suicide has gained notoriety within communities and, specifically, school campuses around the nation. Because it is the second leading cause of death amongst teens, it is important to educate about the signs, causes and resources that are available to those who either have a friend who is struggling with suicidal thoughts or are personally dealing with feelings of self-harm.
In a survey conducted by the CDC, it was found that 27 percent of high school students had “thought seriously” about killing themselves, while eight percent reported that they had attempted suicide. It is thought that teenagers resort to suicide when they feel they are out of options, or do not have the capability to deal with their emotions. Depression, along with other mental illnesses, is a common factor that affects many teens’ decisions to try to harm themselves.
It is also widely believed that teens are not fully able to comprehend the permanence of suicide–they view it as an option that they will take advantage of if things in their life get too hard to handle. Although suicide may seem like the easy way out, there are many resources available to anyone who feels they need assistance to avoid hurting themselves.

By Features Editor Lindsay Croon