Teen Suicide

Facts about Teen Suicide

  • Suicide ranks as the THIRD leading cause of death for ages 15-24 and FOURTH for ages 10-14.
  • Suicide is the SECOND leading cause of death for our college-aged youth, as well as for ages 15 to 19 in many states.
  • NHSDA Report / SAMHSA (US Dept. of Health) - In 2000, over ONE Million youth attempted suicide in the U.S. That equates to over 2,700 attempts each day in our nation by youth ages 12 to 17.
  • Even though white males make up the majority of completed suicides, from 1980-1995, suicide among black youth ages 10-14 increased 233% and in black youth ages 15-19 suicide rates increased 126%. For black youth in the southern region of the nation, there was an increase of 214%.
  • In the past forty years, youth suicide rates have almost tripled. Between 1980 and 1996, suicide rates for ages 10 to 14 increased by over 100%.
  • More teenagers and young adults have died of suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia and influenza, and chronic lung disease COMBINED.
  • According to the NMHA, four out of five people who attempt suicide have given clear warnings.

What Are the Risk Factors?

Although there is no such thing as a suicidal type of young person, the statistics on youth suicide do suggest that there are certain behaviors or characteristics that can alert you to a possible elevated risk of suicidal thought. Some of the most common elevated risk factors are listed below.

  • Perfectionist personalities
  • Gay and Lesbian youth
  • Learning Disabled youth
  • Loners
  • Youth with Low Self- Esteem
  • Depressed Youth
  • Students in Serious Trouble
  • Abused, Molested or Neglected Youth
  • Abusers of Drugs, Alcohol

What Are the Warning Signs?

You might need help if you or a loved one show the following signs or symptoms:

  1. Talking about suicide
  2. Making statements about feeling hopeless, helpless, or worthless
  3. A deepening depression
  4. Preoccupation with death
  5. Taking unnecessary risks or exhibiting self-destructive behavior
  6. Out of character behavior
  7. A loss of interest in the things one cares about
  8. Visiting or calling people one cares about
  9. Making arrangements; setting one’s affairs in order
  10. Giving prized possessions away

Read more about teen suicide >>

For help with teen suicide, contact Fort Lauderdale Hospital

Information provided by Jason Foundation, Centers of Disease Control, National Mental Health Association, and American Association of Pediatrics.