Free Essays on Teenage Suicide

Suicide has been said to be a permanent solution to a temporary problem. It has been estimated for every successful suicide, there is between two hundred to three hundred people who will attempt it (Vannetta 1996). According to statistics provided by National Center for Health Statistics (2000), an average of 30,000 suicide deaths occur in the United States each year. It is estimated that 5,000 of those suicides are committed by teenagers. Suicide happens every 90minutes and is the 2nd leading cause of death among college student and third leading cause of death among youth between ages 15-24. It outnumbers homicides by 5 to 3 and has twice as many deaths as HIV/AIDS. At a ratio of 4:1, more boys than girls are successful at completing suicide; although twice as many girls will attempt suicide. The self may be an important link to why some of the population commits suicide. Self-concept is important in a person’s ability to handle the little changes that threaten the n orms of our individuality. â€Å"The relative strength of contingent and non-contingent components of the self-concept vary by age and sex, thereby, creating varying vulnerabilities to identify threat,† stated Girard (1993 p.555). When committing suicide, boys seek more aggressive means, and as stated earlier, are more successful than girls. Perhaps the avenue of expression each sex takes to attain their respective self-concept is a key to why so many teens attempt or commit suicide within our society. Suicide is a problem that is felt all over the span of the life cycle. Suicide has become the third leading cause of death in the age group of 15 to 24 year olds. In horrifying contrast, the suicide rate of adolescents has tripled since the 1950’s. At present, statistics provided by the National Institute of Mental Health, display male to female ratios as 4:1 Suicide 3 for age group 10 to 14 with a mortality rate of 1.5 per 100,000, 5:1... Free Essays on Teenage Suicide Free Essays on Teenage Suicide Mike Emme, a seventeen year old drove a bright yellow ’67 Ford Mustang. Mike worked really hard to restore his car. Mike being a gifted student was happy, helpful, and had a bright future. Mike being a kind man, he ordered a brand new transmission for his mustang, but he canceled it and bought two used ones from a salvage yard instead, so one of his friends could have his car up and running too. Mike was a very smart man; he learned how to remove a tracheotomy tube from his handicapped niece, he also learned how to sign to her. Mike was a great individual, but his life took a turn for the worse when his girlfriend broke up with him. She told Mike that she was engaged to someone else. One night he got into the front seat of his car and shot himself. Mike had written a note before he shot himself. The note had read, â€Å"I wish I could have learned to hate. Don’t blame yourselves. Mom and dad, I love you. Remember I’ll always be with you.† The note was sig ned, â€Å"love, Mike 11:45pm.† At 11:52 Mike’s parents and his brother came home seven minutes too late to save him. The above story is a summarization of the story (â€Å"For the Love of a Child† in The Third Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul by Thea Alexander). Teen suicides are becoming a more common social issue than it has been in the past. Everyone knows the old saying that your teen years are the best years of your life. This saying confuses most people to question why a person would want to take their own life? Considering when a teenager hasn’t lived his/her life to the fullest. â€Å"Suicides are the third leading cause of death. Teens have died from suicides more than from cancer, heart disease, HIV, AIDS, birth defects, pneumonia, stroke, and lung disease combined.† (Casey, 93) â€Å"Suicidal behavior first creeps into our statistical tables at around the age of 12 and rises steadily through the teen years and beyond.† (Chiles, 29) It is estimated that 30,000 peop... Free Essays on Teenage Suicide Suicide has been said to be a permanent solution to a temporary problem. It has been estimated for every successful suicide, there is between two hundred to three hundred people who will attempt it (Vannetta 1996). According to statistics provided by National Center for Health Statistics (2000), an average of 30,000 suicide deaths occur in the United States each year. It is estimated that 5,000 of those suicides are committed by teenagers. Suicide happens every 90minutes and is the 2nd leading cause of death among college student and third leading cause of death among youth between ages 15-24. It outnumbers homicides by 5 to 3 and has twice as many deaths as HIV/AIDS. At a ratio of 4:1, more boys than girls are successful at completing suicide; although twice as many girls will attempt suicide. The self may be an important link to why some of the population commits suicide. Self-concept is important in a person’s ability to handle the little changes that threaten the n orms of our individuality. â€Å"The relative strength of contingent and non-contingent components of the self-concept vary by age and sex, thereby, creating varying vulnerabilities to identify threat,† stated Girard (1993 p.555). When committing suicide, boys seek more aggressive means, and as stated earlier, are more successful than girls. Perhaps the avenue of expression each sex takes to attain their respective self-concept is a key to why so many teens attempt or commit suicide within our society. Suicide is a problem that is felt all over the span of the life cycle. Suicide has become the third leading cause of death in the age group of 15 to 24 year olds. In horrifying contrast, the suicide rate of adolescents has tripled since the 1950’s. At present, statistics provided by the National Institute of Mental Health, display male to female ratios as 4:1 Suicide 3 for age group 10 to 14 with a mortality rate of 1.5 per 100,000, 5:1...