•1 out of 4 teenagers suffers from depression.
•5,000 teenagers commit suicide every year.
•300-400 teen suicides are reported in Los Angeles every year.
•Suicide is the third leading cause of death of young persons aged 15-24.
•Teens that have attempted suicide in the past are likely to attempt suicide again; in fact, according to the National Youth Violence Prevention Center (3), about 1/3 of all teen suicide victims have tried to commit suicide before.
These statistics are alarming; yet, why do people always tend to avoid talking about depression and suicide? Most importantly, why do ADULTS always avoid talking about depression and suicide to teenagers? The reality is, depression and suicide are very sensitive subjects, and many adults make the lethal mistake of not talking about it to teenagers. It’s a morbid thing to talk about; no one wants to talk about death. We all accept it as a part of life but when someone takes their own life it becomes taboo. Teenage suicide is a statewide epidemic.
The fact that society finds a way to go around depression when it comes to talking about it leaves an open gap for curiosity. At Southwest the only open discussion about suicide is in Health Class, which even then leaves one questioning. Statistics really hit home when last year, one of our Raiders was a victim of depression, and saw no escape to it and decided to take his life away. It was a serious situation, however people managed to avoid talking about it, and it wasn’t really heard on campus, given the fact that it as such a sensitive thing to talk about. This situation could have been handled better by taking action and giving a talk about suicide to people on campus, teenagers have the right to learn about it, we never know if it could be affecting someone’s life. Sometimes “the talk” is really all that someone needs to know that depression can be treated, it can save a life. Suicide is 100% preventable.
A survey was conducted among 37 students of different grades to see what they know about depression, and what they think about discussing depression and suicide. The results were the following:
• 100% of the people who took the survey said that they know of someone who has been depressed.
•99% agree that adults avoid talking about depression and suicide.
•38% of them said they have felt sad for no apparent reason, which is a minor symptom of sadness; which can lead to depression.
The truth is, suicide and depression is hard to talk about, but it’s something we must do for everyone’s own good. People who suffer from depression need to know that it CAN be treated and it CAN be cured.
If you think you are suffering from depression, take a look at the following symptoms:
•Feelings of sadness or unhappiness
•Irritability or frustration, even over small matters
•Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities
•Insomnia or excessive sleeping
•Changes in appetite
•Agitation or restlessness — for example, pacing, hand-wringing or an inability to sit still
•Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
•Indecisiveness, distractibility and decreased concentration
•Fatigue, tiredness and loss of energy — even small tasks may seem to require a lot of effort
•Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or blaming yourself when things aren't going right
•Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
•Frequent thoughts of death, dying or suicide
•Crying spells for no apparent reason
•Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches
If you have a number of these symptoms, you might be suffering from depression. You need to know that you’re not alone. Many people suffer from depression, and it can be fixed. If you are depressed or having suicidal thoughts you must get professional help immediately: You can contact the school’s physiologist through your counselor or call
(619)628-3614.
You can also call suicide crisis hotlines: 1-800-784-2433
(714) 639-8336
You should also know that you’re NOT alone, and there’s ALWAYS someone out there who CARES and LOVES you unconditionally.
Sources: http://suicidehotlines.com/national.html
http://www.teenhelp.com/teen-suicide/teen-suicide-statistics.html
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