Suicide in children and adolescents
Suicide is the second most common cause of death among adolescents and young people worldwide, according to the WHO.
Although child suicide has always existed, it seems that lately there are more cases, or at least they are being given more importance in the media in order to raise awareness among the population. Surely you have heard the latest news from Diego, the boy who committed suicide by jumping out the window . He was 11 years old and a whole life ahead of him. When we read such news at first we do not give credit, it seems unthinkable that a child could even think about the idea of taking his own life. What kinds of problems can you have to make that go through your head?
Suicide in children and adolescents is a taboo subject that is hardly talked about. However statistics show us that it is quite common. According to the WHO (World Health Organization) it is the second most common cause of death among adolescents and youth in the world (15-30 years), about 600,000 a year, the first being traffic accidents. In Spain it would be the third cause of death behind traffic accidents and cancer.
The type of method most used in both adults and adolescents is hanging or suffocation, jumping from a great height, drug abuse (especially women) and injuries with sharp objects on the forearms.
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WHAT ARE THE REASONS FOR SUICIDE IN ADOLESCENTS?
Some teens do not truly seek suicide, but stick with suicide attempts. The rates according to the CIE are different for boys and girls. Suicide attempts are greater in girls compared to boys, who consume suicides in a higher proportion. This shows that a part of adolescents who attempt suicide do not have a definitive intention, it is only an attempt to ask for help from the loved ones around them . However, a high percentage succeeds. What reasons are behind? They are individual and personal, each one has its reasons and cannot be generalized. However, some similarities have been seen between pre and teenagers who decide to end their lives.
– Psychological disorders: there is no common mental disorder to suicide but it has been seen that there are some common diagnoses. Anxiety disorders, disorders related to mood (depression, bipolar disorder …), personality, adjustment, psychotic and finally, behavior disorders . And not only does it affect the psychological disorders that the child may suffer, but the disorders of the parents also influence the child.
– Adaptation problems: it is one of the main causes of childhood suicide. Apart from the family, the school or institute is the main relational environment for adolescents and gains strength at these ages. Therefore, social relationships are a priority for boys and girls. At this stage of life they are building their own identity and the peer group is vital to get to know themselves better. That is why problems with other adolescents of similar ages are going to affect them enormously. Within this problem we can include the famous ” bullying“, which is not a matter to be taken as a joke. Of the 600,000 young people who commit suicide per year in the world according to the WHO, almost half is due to abuse by bullying, which leads to depression or anxiety disorder.
One of the reasons is that as we grow up we learn different strategies to manage social stress, however boys and girls of these ages have not yet managed to develop these skills and they feel it multiplied .
On the other hand, every so often we see tragic news of children who suffered bullying and cyberbullying. The sad thing is that many times adults (both parents and teachers) are not aware of the extent to which bullying can affect victims until it is too late: “they are children’s things”, “they will get tired …”.
Before any suspicion of bullying, act immediately and do not delay it any longer. Be on the lookout for signs: faking illnesses to avoid going to class , showing up with torn clothes or other belongings, anxiety, aggressiveness, sudden loss of friends, injuries …
– Suicide as an escape . Sometimes when a person with depression raises suicide it is with the aim of escaping from reality, to “rest”, isolate himself, stop suffering … Children also have these same reasons but with a small nuance, when they are so young Children do not understand the true irreversibility of death , they do not think that it is definitive, but that most of them have the magical thought that they will go to heaven or that they will live a second life reincarnated in other people. This way of thinking is dangerous because they do it with the expectation of living a better “life” in the future.
– Family atmosphere. Family climate plays a vital role as a risk factor for suicide. Arguments and fights between parents, both physical and verbal violence, threats, insults, humiliation towards children or other family members increase the risk of disorders, discomfort and suicidal wishes. Seeing violent acts between family members such as frequent parent-child fights alter the psychological health of boys and girls. It is because the little ones only know the family environment as a form of relationship and cannot discharge their anxiety in any other way. In addition, living the uncertainty of “what will happen” deteriorates enormously, it is something that takes its toll. If there is also a family history of suicideor suicide attempts there is a predisposition to imitate that behavior.
WARNING SIGNS
Take a good look at the child’s behavior because suicide is not something that is done overnight, it is an idea that is “pondered” little by little until it is decided to put it into practice. If at home the environment is “normalized” perhaps the problems originate in the school. Some signs of suicidal thoughts are:
– The child goes through the typical symptoms of depression : changes in sleep pattern, appetite, lack of interest in things previously enjoyed, avoids social events, irritability or sadness most of the day, sudden mood swings , etc.
– Comments or ideas about death .
– Hand out your “dearest things” , farewell notes, suddenly being nice to everyone, etc. among your friends or siblings .
Therefore, it is important to intervene in any suspicion of imbalance that we detect in children in order to prevent a tragedy. It is mandatory to detect and treat possible disorders that you are going through , especially in the face of depressive symptoms or problems of adjustment at school or institute.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.