Suicide is the third leading cause of death in young people aged fifteen to twentyfour. Since 1992, suicide among the young has slowly declined, but the rates are still high.
Why are people of this age so vulnerable to suicide?
If a friend told you he or she was thinking about suicide, what would you do? What resources do you know of in the school or outside?
Secrets keep us sick and stand in the way of healing. If a friend made you promise not to tell that he was thinking of committing suicide, would you keep your promise? Is it better to have a dead friend who still trusts you or a living friend who is angry with you?
Daelyn was teased and bullied her whole life. Do you think there’s anything she could have done differently to resolve the problem? Did adults let her down?
Some people contemplate suicide as a way to make their attackers feel guilty. Why isn’t this a good idea?
Most young people who have considered suicide say they have felt hopeless, isolated, or insignificant. Have you ever felt like that? What did you do to change those feelings? What are some healthy coping behaviors? Unhealthy coping behaviors?d expect to be treated with respect yourself.
(From the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline)
- Threatening to hurt or kill oneself or talking about wanting to hurt or kill oneself
- Looking for ways to kill oneself by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or
other means
- Talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide
- Feeling hopeless
- Feeling uncontrollable anger or seeking revenge against someone
- Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities—
seemingly without thinking
- Feeling trapped—like there’s no way out
- Increasing alcohol or drug use
- Withdrawing from friends, family, and society
- Feeling anxious, agitated, or unable to sleep, or sleeping all the time
- Seeing no reason for living or having no sense of purpose in life
If you hear or see someone you know exhibiting any of these signs, seek help immediately. Contact a mental health professional or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK. It is better to be embarrassed than to do nothing and lose a friend. The most common emotion shared by those around someone who commits suicide is guilt.
