Why Is My Teen Suicide So Serious?

Many parents wonder why is my teenager suicidal. When my teenage son committed suicide in the arms of our family, it was a flash of clarity. No longer did he see things from a perspective of “good boy/girl”; rather he saw them from a perspective of “bad boy”. I could not understand why he was so drawn to suicide.

Unfortunately, teenagers are more prone to teenage depression due to hormonal changes. I had a daughter who was diagnosed with diabetes, high blood pressure and anorexia at an early age. Thankfully she recovered, but it left her feeling extremely depressed. Luckily, I knew how to provide a caring, compassionate environment and support for her in order to help her through the difficult times.

The first question you need to ask yourself is; have you given up on trying to help your teenager? Sometimes, it takes one form of help before your teenager truly begins to seek out additional help. I remember spending many hours with my teenage daughter trying to counsel her on why she felt so distressed about various events in her life. It took a great deal of effort on my part to simply listen to her, understand what she was telling me and then help her to untangle the knots of her negative emotions. I was not successful all of the time but I certainly did not give up hope.

There are many types of teenage depression; teenage depression does not just affect one teenager. Depression affects every teen, both boys and girls. One of the primary reasons for teenage depression is the death of a loved one; unfortunately, the stigma attached to suicide is very real and can cause some problems in the teens’ social circles. It is imperative that when your teenager tells you that he or she feels depressed, you take him or her to see his or her pediatrician for an evaluation. Only after the doctor has done that will you be able to begin treatment.

If you believe that your adolescent is having thoughts of hurting himself or herself, you should immediately bring that to his or her attention. Often times, parents become very adept at responding to questions from their children; however, this particular skill can be quite helpful when confronting a suicidal child. Briefly explain to your teenager that you notice that he or she seems sad or isolated; tell your teenager that you believe that such actions are indicative of an attempt on their lives. If your teenager responds by indicating that he or she feels that he or she is going to die, tell your teenager that you believe that suicide is always the best choice when faced with such circumstances.

In order to help your teenager recognize the dangers of suicide, you may want to begin by seeking the services of a mental health professional. Another source of help could be your teenager’s online friends. Many teenagers will be happy to discuss their issues with their online “friends,” and if your teenager has opened up a Facebook account, you may be able to find out whether or not they feel comfortable talking about their suicidal thoughts with the people in their social networking site. You may also be able to find a support group in your teenager’s online community; again, simply searching online for such support groups should prove quite helpful.

The final source of help, you can receive as you try to answer the question of “why is my teenager suicidal?” is his or her overall state of mind. Your teenager’s mental health should be at the forefront of your thoughts when attempting to make sense of his or her recent actions. Many adolescents have been found to suffer from serious depression and other mental conditions; if you suspect that your teenager is suffering from such problems, it may be important for you to consider taking your child to the doctor for help.

Even though the reasons behind a teenager’s suicidal tendencies may never entirely be known, the things that surround him or her should. This is why it is so important to remember that even if you know nothing beyond the facts of the situation, the things your teenager tells you can help you begin to heal and provide support. Your teenager’s communication with you may not tell you everything; however, by listening carefully, you can piece together the puzzle and learn what is going on in your teenager’s head. With this information, you can begin to develop treatment options for your teenager and make sure he or she receives the best care possible.