The Epidemic of Teen Suicide in America Essay - 1156 Words

Every year, thousands of youth die in the United States, not by cancer, car accidents, and other diseases, but by their own hand. These people make the choice that they want to die and they take their own life. Suicide, the term given to the act of killing oneself, is the third leading cause of death among people that are 15 to 25 years of age. It is estimated that 500,000 teenagers try to kill themselves during the course of one year. During the adolescent years, normal teenagers experience strong feelings of stress, confusion, self-doubt, pressure to succeed, financial uncertainty, and other fears while growing up. These feelings in themselves are not harmful, but normal. However those who can not handle these situations†¦show more content†¦Suicidal teens generally feel that their emotions are played down, not taken seriously, or met with opposition by other people, but it should always be taken seriously. Those who believe in the finality of death (i.e., that there is no after-life), are the ones who advocate suicide and regard it as a matter of personal choice. On the other hand, those who firmly believe in some form of existence after death on earth, condemn suicide and judge it to be a major sin. However, there are ways of watching for warning signs of a suicidal person and depression. Some noticeable signs that are prevalent among people thinking about suicide are talking about suicide, statements about hopelessness, helplessness, or worthlessness. They may have a obsession with death or suddenly become happier and calmer. They have a loss of interest in things they usually care about. They might stop visiting or calling people that they care about. They even start making arrangements or putting their affairs in order and give away their things. Teens should learn that with treatment, depression ends, but someone who is experiencing deep depression might not be able to think about that. They cant see the way out of the problem and think suicide is the only choice. Some hotlines, and web sites that help with people are Counselors Counseling, Teen Suicide Help, and there are many others thatShow MoreRelatedThe Problem Of Teen Suicide1609 Words   |  7 PagesTeen suicide is one of the largest problems facing America at the moment, and it will only become worse if the country does not come up with a solution. â€Å"According to the American Psychiatric Association, suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people between eleven and eighteen years of age (Teen Suicide).† American families can not keep losing sons and daughters to this entirely preventable epidemic. 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