Suicide rates at a 40 year high among teenagers and young adults

retro_gamer
retro_gamer Posts: 127 Member
edited November 20 in Chit-Chat
Your thoughts.
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Replies

  • roamingtiger
    roamingtiger Posts: 747 Member
    There needs to be more awareness, seminars, classes, programs, just general information in schools. Actually throughout the public as a whole.
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    Cite, please.
  • This content has been removed.
  • gamerbabe14
    gamerbabe14 Posts: 876 Member
    edited August 2017
    I'm sure that being a teenager and growing up with social media is probably very challenging.
  • JamesMD84
    JamesMD84 Posts: 26 Member
    Things have changed massively even since I was a teenager and I'm only 32, peer pressure used to be a local thing but with technology and social media it's relentless.

    Even though many of these kids dress and act a lot older than their years they are still only kids. It's the cyber bullying that terrifies me and my son is only a toddler, there is no safe place anymore kids can be bullied in their own homes.
  • fjmartini
    fjmartini Posts: 1,149 Member
    newmeadow wrote: »
    fjmartini wrote: »
    newmeadow wrote: »
    Hopelessness in that age group seems to be the issue.

    How could they feel hopeless if they've hit the life lotto and we're born in a first world country? I'm not talking about abused children having trouble coping with their abuse.

    My guess, and I think it's mentioned up thread, is that it stems from feeling alienated and a lack of social connection. Also I think, possibly, a disruption in bonding or weak bonding. A disproportionate percentage of that age group were raised in daycare or in the care of a nanny or babysitter 10 to 12 hours a day. My views on the subject are socially conservative - and this is a very left crowd - so the discussion could easily go up in flames and I'm already sitting on a warning. I think I'll lurk from here.



    It's a shame you can't express your ideas without fear of offending someone that doesn't agree with them. I think you and I have similar thoughts.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    fjmartini wrote: »
    Why don't children who are diagnosed with cancer or other life threatening diseases, and have to endure pain and suffering just kill themselves when their chance of survival is bleak? Oh I know, cause they don't have time to waste worrying, ya know, since their on deaths door and their life is about to end before it begins.

    Some do. Some choose to not undergo treatment. Some commit suicide. Some aren't clinically depressed
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    fjmartini wrote: »
    How come people in under developed countries don't seem to have this issue? Oh, I know, because they're more concerned about finding their next meal and living to see the next day. When life is literally day-to-day suicide doesn't seem to be an issue.

    Funny how the areas of my country (Canada) that have extreme poverty and are the most socially isolated have very high suicide rates (first nation reserves)
  • fjmartini
    fjmartini Posts: 1,149 Member
    So why do young people commit suicide?
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    fjmartini wrote: »
    So why do young people commit suicide?
    Lots of different reasons. It's a very complex issue.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    fjmartini wrote: »
    newmeadow wrote: »
    Hopelessness in that age group seems to be the issue.

    How could they feel hopeless if they've hit the life lotto and we're born in a first world country? I'm not talking about abused children having trouble coping with their abuse.

    Just because you have physical things and money doesn't mean you are immune to depression.
  • fjmartini
    fjmartini Posts: 1,149 Member
    edited August 2017
    fjmartini wrote: »
    So why do young people commit suicide?
    Lots of different reasons. It's a very complex issue.

    I get that. But why would they be rising the past 40 years? I understand mental illness is serious and suicide is a serious issue.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    Maybe because of more social isolation since people seem to interact more with their devices than each other. Also maybe more bullying? Back in the day they only bullied you at school and in the neighbourhood but now with so many devices bullying happens 24/7 in your own home without a break.
  • fjmartini
    fjmartini Posts: 1,149 Member
    Maybe because of more social isolation since people seem to interact more with their devices than each other. Also maybe more bullying? Back in the day they only bullied you at school and in the neighbourhood but now with so many devices bullying happens 24/7 in your own home without a break.

    I think you're right.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    edited August 2017
    Also has addiction rates risen? There is a connection between drug abuse and suicide as well
  • robertw486
    robertw486 Posts: 2,401 Member
    fjmartini wrote: »
    newmeadow wrote: »
    Hopelessness in that age group seems to be the issue.

    How could they feel hopeless if they've hit the life lotto and we're born in a first world country? I'm not talking about abused children having trouble coping with their abuse.

    How many young children do you have?
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    More dysfunctional families? Higher academic standards and more stress?
  • Just_Mel_
    Just_Mel_ Posts: 3,992 Member
    Help available for mental health issues at least in the U.S. is not a priority. There are people who seek help and cannot get it and feel like this is their only way out. It's an atrocity and breaks my heart.

    A friend of mine took his own life this past Sunday by hanging himself in a hotel room. He had many who loved him and tried to help. He sought help. But the system is broken.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    Also, at least in my experience, suicides come in waves and some get the idea when a loved one, friend or peer does it or if someone famous does it.
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    Help available for mental health issues at least in the U.S. is not a priority. There are people who seek help and cannot get it and feel like this is their only way out. It's an atrocity and breaks my heart.

    A friend of mine took his own life this past Sunday by hanging himself in a hotel room. He had many who loved him and tried to help. He sought help. But the system is broken.

    It is. In my area it's a 383 day wait list to see a psychiatrist/hospital psychologist (you can go private but it's $$$$). Plus if you go to the ER they don't give you much help if any at all. They night section you for 48-72 hours but you then go on the 383 day waiting list. It's totally unacceptable
  • brockhampton
    brockhampton Posts: 211 Member
    Nobody can pinpoint it for sure but my suspicion is that it's a multitude of factors:

    1. The tendency for teenagers' amygdalas to override their not-yet-fully-developed prefrontal cortexes
    2. The increase in information fluidity (social media is a part of this) gives rise to a constant state of comparisons and thus unrealistic expectations in life
    3. Increase in quantity of social interaction (via social media) but decrease in quality, leading to weak and unstable social structures
    4. Media sensationalization leading to the normalization of extreme behaviors such as bullying and suicide erodes traditional social norms that portray such acts as taboo
  • fjmartini
    fjmartini Posts: 1,149 Member
    robertw486 wrote: »
    fjmartini wrote: »
    newmeadow wrote: »
    Hopelessness in that age group seems to be the issue.

    How could they feel hopeless if they've hit the life lotto and we're born in a first world country? I'm not talking about abused children having trouble coping with their abuse.

    How many young children do you have?

    Read my subsequent responses.
  • caco_ethes
    caco_ethes Posts: 11,962 Member
    Help available for mental health issues at least in the U.S. is not a priority. There are people who seek help and cannot get it and feel like this is their only way out. It's an atrocity and breaks my heart.

    A friend of mine took his own life this past Sunday by hanging himself in a hotel room. He had many who loved him and tried to help. He sought help. But the system is broken.

    Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry.. hugs.
  • fjmartini
    fjmartini Posts: 1,149 Member
    bodwomon wrote: »
    Nobody can pinpoint it for sure but my suspicion is that it's a multitude of factors:

    1. The tendency for teenagers' amygdalas to override their not-yet-fully-developed prefrontal cortexes
    2. The increase in information fluidity (social media is a part of this) gives rise to a constant state of comparisons and thus unrealistic expectations in life
    3. Increase in quantity of social interaction (via social media) but decrease in quality, leading to weak and unstable social structures
    4. Media sensationalization leading to the normalization of extreme behaviors such as bullying and suicide erodes traditional social norms that portray such acts as taboo

    Where does the role of the parents come into play? Other than your first point, everything else seems to be an issue of them spiraling down because they continuously feel like a victim. I agree at their point of suicide they've developed a deep mental illness but there seems to be plenty of time for intervention before that.
  • slessofme
    slessofme Posts: 7,744 Member
    Help available for mental health issues at least in the U.S. is not a priority. There are people who seek help and cannot get it and feel like this is their only way out. It's an atrocity and breaks my heart.

    A friend of mine took his own life this past Sunday by hanging himself in a hotel room. He had many who loved him and tried to help. He sought help. But the system is broken.

    I'm so sorry for your loss. I lost a friend to suicide almost 2 years ago. It's heart breaking for the children, families and friends.
This discussion has been closed.