Tragedy struck the Depew community last weekend, when a 14 year old Depew resdent committed suicide. You have to ask yourself, “Why did this happen?” Fourteen years old! The young boy took a gun and ended his young life. Reports indicate that the reasonbehind the suicide was bullying.
Suicide is intentional selfharm that results in death. Among children between the ages of 15 and 19, suicide is the second leading cause of death, and the leading cause of death for 14 to 15-year-olds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If your teenager is struggling with their mental health, it's important to create a safe space for them to express their feelings without fear of criticism or judgment.
The parents of adolescent suicide victims are most often unaware of warning signs such as depression and substance abuse and significantly underestimated the seriousness of their child's major depression until it is too late. It is important to take the subject of suicide seriously. It doesn't seem right that a teen-ager - who has lived for such a short time would choose to die.
If your teen-ager has been depressed, you should look closely for signs that he or she might be thinking of suicide: Here are a list of symptoms to look for:
• Sadness (with or without crying)
• Anxiety
• Lack of energy and/or motivation • Temper outbursts and/or violent episodes
• Easily irritated
• Sleeping too little or too much
• Little or no appetite, or eating too often
• Withdrawal from friends and family
• Loss of interest in activities usually enjoyed (including school activities)
• Feelings of fear (even if there is no conscious reason)
• Feelings of extreme guilt or shame
• Inability to concentrate
• Poor memory
• Increased use of alcohol or drugs
• Worsening grades
• Skipping school or classes
• Self-critical remarks
• Feelings of helplessness to change a situation*
• Feelings that things will never get better*
• Comment(s) about death or dying*
• Writing, drawing, or listening to music about hopelessness, guns, or death*
• Threatening suicide (even in a joking manner)* When four or more of the above are observed or suspected for more than two weeks, an assessment by a mental health professional is necessary.