WHY TEENAGERS COMMIT SUICIDE

Increasing Teen Suicide Cases: A Matter of Grave Concern for the World

In today’s world the suicidal death incidents are increasing gradually, especially in our teenagers,it has become the most alarming issue also. We can say, it is a mental health crisis among the younger ones.

We can't imagine the grief and piercing pain of a father whose shoulder carries the weight of the lifeless body of his child. It's a burden that no heart should bear.

The data from World Health Organization (WHO) explains that suicide is the second leading death cause among the the youngsters between 15-20 years of age. That's really a huge and growing problem that shocks the whole world and it's just rooted with challenges,societal pressures,changing lifestyles,and emotional pressure being faced by the youth today. 

About 800,000 people commit suicide every year globally.

About 45,800 youngsters commit suicide every year.

10,200 are between the ages of 10-14 years.

35,600 are between the ages of 15-19 years.

Now the question arises, why so many teenagers are committing suicide nowadays as compared to the previous generations?

There are many factors with which we can understand the main reason behind this. Somehow, our society is quite responsible for most of the cases and there are other factors too,that we will explore in this article. Also we will try to discuss the necessary preventive measures to stop this crisis to some extent. 

1. Depression and Anxiety due to Mental Health Struggle

Depression and Anxiety rising

Disorders like depression, anxiety and stress are increasing very fast in our youngsters nowadays. The pressure of getting ranks,proving themselves best,rushing for academic brilliance and social

comparisons,have made them ‘racing horses’. This leads them to suffer many mental health disorders and they start feeling hopeless and helpless.

Poor understanding about mental health

Mental health, a big issue in our teenagers, is still being ignored by many communities. As a result they can't get the proper guidance,therapy or counselling and keep struggling till last. They feel so lonely and ignored due to this lack of awareness. 

 2. Social Media and Cyberbullying pressure 

Social media 

Today,the entire world is connected with social media by any means. Now here, a different kind of culture is growing,where people start comparing and validating themselves. Good looks,better lifestyles and fan following of the influencers have become so attractive for the teenagers. They feel less capable, so insecure and a complexity arises, that pressurizes them always. This leads to a feeling of inadequacy.

Cyberbullying

Bullying has always been a threat, from nursery school to university and so on. In our technical world a new kind of bullying has taken place which is called cyberbullying. Youngsters are the most common victims as they are being bullied on their phones and laptops by some known and unknown persons. Now in such cases they feel so isolated and humiliated as they don't share the issue with anyone. As a result, the feeling of self-harm and even suicide make a space in their minds.

 3. Academic Pressure and Uncertainty of Career 

Parent's and society expectations 

In our society and in many cultures,there is a very typical type of thinking,where parent's expectations are so high from their children. Each and every minute the youngsters are instructed and ordered to secure high grades to get into a famous school or college and make a bright future. Many comparisons and examples are given to them and if they fail or secure less grades,they are being scolded and humiliated. Now this shame and guilt is so stingy that youngsters often take the dangerous step.

Fear of Failure

Failure is not just losing something, it also means that you have to learn more to achieve your desired goal. In today’s competitive world,high grades in exams and building a career has become the priority, irrespective of being a good human. Once failed in career, competition or in any relationship,it is presumed as the end of life by our youngsters. 

4. Family Problems and Less Emotional Support

Family issues and Negligence

There are lots of issues in everyone's families. Teenagers grown up in such broken and abusive families, suffer the most just because of lack of emotional support. Negligence by parents,domestic violence at home, and continuous conflicts make the children so afraid and frightened. Children who grow up in such families can always be seen so disturbed ,and this is so harmful for their mental wellbeing. 

Communication Lacking 

We often heard “ my dad is my friend “. When teenagers feel they are being understood by their parents, they will do much better in their lives. Likewise, when there is a communication gap and they can't openly talk with their parents, they feel so isolated. This isolation gradually becomes a reason for their unexpected and wrong decisions. 

5. Usage of Alcohol and Drug and Peer Impact 

Alcohol and Drug 

Consumption of alcohol and drugs has been rising in the world very fast since the last 4-5 decades. It has become a status symbol nowadays. Whether people are very happy or sad,in the functions, parties or in any get together,they used to have alcohol and drugs. Even when they are so tense and stressed, especially our youngsters, they have a very quick solution by consuming such killing materials,to lessen their burden. These things not only damage the capability of judgment but also increase the feeling of burden and hopelessness. 

 Peer Influence 

A delicate influence is formed when people start observing the acts of their peers. Most of the teenagers are bullied,rejected and humiliated by some negative peer groups. The rejection and humiliation by peers of the same age makes them feel worthless and pushes them towards a trauma,where they think about ruining or even ending their life by themselves. 

6. Unforgettable Trauma and Violence in the society

Childhood trauma

Many things we noticed and observed in our childhood have a great impact in our minds. Some of the experiences like Adverse Childhood experiences (ACEs) that include abuse,quarrel,being ignored or traumatic loss make a strong space in the minds of children. Gradually,these traumas are triggered when any unusual consequences happen in the life of youngsters. The same trauma leads them towards suicidal thoughts. 

Society and Media violence 

Continuous watching of violent movies,video clips and social media content also create a vulnerable thinking in youngsters. Youngsters are so indulged and attracted with such content nowadays. The vulgarity in most of the videos almost change the personality of a person that forms a thought of “Do and Die”, and who can't do,often commit suicide at last in frustration. 

7. Can't Coping with World's race

 

We are living in a very fast evolving world. 

Day by day,the world is changing with a constant speed,whether in information and technology,efforts and skills,learning and innovation etc. Precisely, these changes are so uncertain and stressful too. Some teenagers can't manage to handle these situations as they are unaware of emotional resilience,coping skills and feel so rejected. They become emotionally attacked and think that the world is not for them,they are useless or worthless. A feeling of shame and disgust leads them towards wrong thoughts and nasty decisions.

Some Preventive Measures to stop the crisis:How Can We Protect Teenagers from Suicide?

The above data in the article is shocking and astonishing but still suicide is preventable, and we can stop it to some extent. Keen observation,understanding and providing better support to the youngsters can save so many lives. Here we go with the following points.

1. Mental Health Awareness In Schools and Universities 

Every school and college must include a subject, some sessions or classes of mental health education in their curriculum. Teachers should provide good counseling and any possible help to the students so that they can overcome depression and anxiety. Besides studies, teachers can also talk with the students about their friend circle, their family issues and try to give them the best humble opinion. A helping hand and a strong shoulder will encourage students the most, leaving behind the thought of self-destruction and committing suicide at Last.

2. Encouraging Friendly Communication at Home

Home is the first basic school of every individual and our parents and elders in the family are our first teachers. It's the responsibility of every parent to maintain a friendly,supportive and encouraging environment at home,so that the teenagers feel very comfortable and discuss each and every problem with them. Always criticising and scolding make the teenagers hopeless and a very typical type of pressure is formed that ruins their personality. On the other hand,soft talk,affection and lots of love will boost them to face all the challenges. Always reassure the youngsters that failure is not the end rather it's a new beginning to do much better next time.

3. Controlling Impact of Social Media 

Limit the screen time and encourage the children to watch meaningful,knowledgeable and entertaining contents on social media. Make your teens aware about unrealistic and vulgar movies or video clips. Educate them that “fiction is always a fiction” and your life is much more valuable than such spooky contents. Build a confidence among them to face the challenges in the real world rather than reel world.

4. Try to Reduce the Academic Pressure

Grades and certificates are not the definition of success. Always strive to make a good student and a good child. Teachers as well as parents must consider the quality and not the quantity of capabilities of their students or children. Regular counselling and soft talks must be done to build confidence in the children so that the fear of failure is reduced among them. When the pressure is low,the more our youngsters will be nurtured. 

5. Emphasize on Emotional Bonding with Teenagers 

If teenagers are flowers,then the mentors,friends, teachers and parents are the gardeners. All of them should watch and observe the activities like changing moods,sitting with deep thinking,preferring isolation of the teenagers. There must be a strong emotional bonding between the flower and the gardener. Early intervention can help to prevent unexpected behavior by the teenagers like suicidal thoughts and self-distruction.

6. Providing Professional Assistance 

More and more counselling and therapies should be provided to our youths. Some sessions and classes should be organised in the school and college premises so that the teenagers can easily approach and solve their issues. “Sharing and presenting your sorrows lessens it, and sharing happiness and joy makes it double” . 

7. Teaching them how to learn Life Skills and Coping with them

Workshops for stress management,problem solving skills, resilience and personality development, must be included in the curriculum of school and colleges. Some camps and centres should be organised timely to enhance the interests of the youngsters. The process of learning skills will help the youngsters in coping with the challenges,rejections,and failures of their life. These skills are very important at every stage of life, especially in adolescence. 

The last few lines :

The gradual increase in teenagers suicide cases is a global crisis and not just for a single,community, state or country. The reasons behind this are mental health struggles, family pressure, academic pressure, social media pressure,peer Influence etc. Still it's not too late,there are so many preventive measures to stop this crisis by awareness programs, promoting emotional wellbeing, counselling, freely and friendly communication,academic support etc.

All of us are free to live a happy and purposeful life, especially our youth, as they are passing from a very crucial stage of life. It's really a very huge and significant responsibility of our society to ensure the safety of our youngsters in this critical situation. A collective team work can provide our youngsters a supportive environment to build their future,to achieve their goals,and to live a stress-free life by ignoring and rejecting the thoughts of committing suicide.

Thanks for reading,

Have a nice day 😊.