McLendon 1 Sheree McLendon Megan Keaton Eng 111-09 9 July 2013 Adolescent Suicide In recent years, there has

been a growing problem of adolescent suicides. Suicide is an act of needing so urgently to get out of a painful situation, which only death can end. Something has happened in the childs life that they feel is so terrible that ending it is the only solution. Although all of the causes for these tragedies are not known, there several serious causes that have been clearly established. Some of the causes that contribute to adolescent suicide will be discussed in this writing. According to Wolff, todays adolescents are under a great deal of stress that stems from societal pressures (9). Todays youth constantly contend with trying to find a place to fit in among their peers. This is often a very difficult and stressful task. For example, it is fairly easy to become a part of a team or group if a person is good at football, basketball, cheerleading, or some other type of sport. On the other hand, if one is not, then there is no avenue for them to fit in. This may not seem very important to an adult but to an adolescent it can be both overwhelming and devastating. During this time in their lives, they are looking for self-worth. Elliott et al. explain that, Adolescence is an important time when youth are developing, questioning who they are and trying to find their place in society. At this time they are frail, and if they consider themselves as not mattering, this can lead to serious thoughts of suicide. Individuals need

McLendon 2 to know where they belong in society and that they are an important member of a group or family. Along with the stress of trying to figure out who they are and where they fit in, many of them are dealing with sexuality issues. Some are trying to understand either why they are attracted to the same sex or why they are attracted to both sexes. They are trying to comprehend why they are having these feelings and tendencies that society usually frown on. So for reasons that they do not understand, these adolescents are subjected to bullying, in addition to the stress of fitting in. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youth are normally exposed to both verbal and physical abuse especially in school. Living in fear for their safety and well-being is a daily routine among their peers. LeVasseur et al. states, LGB youths are also at increased risk for peer victimization compared with heterosexual youths. In 2005, a survey of school safety among a national sample of students found that LGB students were 3 times more likely to feel unsafe at school than heterosexual peers, and 90% of LGB students reported having been verbally or physically harassed. Some LGB adolescents also suffer rejection by their family which continues to complicate their lives even more. Some parents and family members of LGB youths even try to talk them out of the finality that they have come to terms with regarding their sexuality. There is no safe haven for them, not even at home. That leads them into a sense of hopelessness and despair. As a result, depression becomes another factor the LGB youth must try to cope with. They are faced with even more rejection, loneliness, hopelessness, and isolation. When an [any adolescent, whether heterosexual or LGB] adolescent finds themselves in a situation that they feel detached from their friends and family, they are alone (DAugelli et al.). That is a scary

McLendon 3 place for the youth to be in. Suicidal thoughts can easily take over and suicide can be tried or accomplished. Adolescent suicide is a real tragedy, the third leading cause of death in youths between the ages of 12 -19 years old, and has been kept somewhat quiet. Many people do not want to talk about it because in some ways it is embarrassing and painful. However, with the increase of cases it should be openly discussed so that more research can be done to combat the problem. Adolescent suicide is a serious problem that will not just go away. Our society should intervene and be available to help when they are aware of a youth in trouble. There should be helplines in place and facilities in the communities where a child can go for help. Stricter laws must be put in place for bullying. No one should ever have to suffer from ongoing abuse, whether it is verbal or physical. If we notice drastic changes in the youths behavior, such as alcohol or drug abuse and/or violence, take the necessary steps to hospitalize the youth. As a society, we should be willing to offer guidance, kindness, and embrace LGB youths, instead of looking the other way. We have an obligation to protect our youth. It is obvious that they cannot solve these problems on their own, nor should they have to. Adolescents should never have to feel that death is the only solution to their problems. It is time for an intervention.

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Work Cited DakshinaMurthy, Dr. R., and Dr. S.K. Panner Selvam. Suicide Among Adolescents. Indian Streams Research Journal 2 (Apr. 2012): 1-4. CINAHL.Web. LeVasseur, Michael, Elizabeth Kelvin, and Nicholas Grosskopf. Intersecting Identities and the Association Between Bullying and Suicide Attempt Among New York City Youths: Results From the 2009 New York City Youth Risk Behavior Survey. American Journal of Public Health (Apr. 2013): CINAHL.Web. Jun. 2013. Wolff, Eleftheria. Adolescent Suicide and Societal Pressure. College of Saint Elizabeth Journal of the Behavioral Sciences 2 (Fall 2008): 9-16. Academic Search Complete.Web.