An alarming and increasing number of teenagers attempt and succeed at suicide. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15 to 24-year-olds. For the overwhelming majority of suicidal teens, depression or another psychological disorder plays a primary role. In depressed teens who also abuse alcohol or drugs, the risk of suicide is even greater.
Because of the very real danger of suicide, teenagers who are depressed should be watched closely for any signs of suicidal thoughts or behavior. The warning signs include:
1: Talking or joking about committing suicide.
2: Saying things like, “I’d be better off dead,” “I wish I could disappear forever,” or “There’s no way out.”
3: Speaking positively about death or romanticizing dying (“If I died, people might love me more”).
4: Writing stories and poems about death, dying, or suicide.
5: Engaging in reckless behavior or having a lot of accidents resulting in injury.
6: Giving away prized possessions.
7: Saying goodbye to friends and family as if for good.
8: Seeking out weapons, pills, or other ways to kill themselves.
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