Suicide Awareness

If you know anyone between the ages of 10 - 24 Please STOP and take the time to read this.

My inspiration for creating this page came when I gave a presentation on youth suicide for my media class.  I never realized how much of an issue that teens and youth taking their own lives really is.  If you are reading this thinking that it can't affect your family, THINK AGAIN... Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for teens.  Make sure that you take the time out of your day to acknowledge someone younger than you.  Life is short and precious so let people know how much they mean to you before it's too late.  We all know how hard the teen years can be, and they must seem impossible for youth who feel alone, misunderstood or different and have no coping skills.  We have two ears, and it doesn't cost anything to use them.  The sad thing is, far too many youth are not being offered even one ear in this world, and the statistics prove that.  I cannot stress how important five minutes of your time is to a youth who feels lost.  Below are some statistics, links and other helpful and eye opening information.  If you don't believe me how much a simple hello can mean, take the time to read the link titled "A Simple Hello Can Make All the Difference", it's a true story.  If you have anything to contribute to this site, please email me and let me know.  Suicide is so preventable, in fact 95% of all suicides could have been prevented.  This issue is not talked about enough in our society, but education for the rest of us can make all the difference.


Statistics
In the next 24 hours, 1,439 teens will attempt suicide
In the next 24 hours, 2,795 teenage girls will become pregnant
Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for people ages 15-24 years old and the 4th leading cause of death for 5-14 year olds
In the next 24 hours 15,006 teens will use drugs for the first time
About every 20 seconds someone in America attempts suicide
Every 7 minutes a teen is arrested for a drug crime
Almost 250,000 adolescents each year make serious and unsuccessful suicide attempts
Every 4 minutes a teen is arrested for an alcohol crime
Guns are the most common means of suicide for males and pills for women
3,506 teens will run away from home in the next 24 hours
April is the month with the highest suicide rate
Every 2 hours a youth is murdered
Every 90 minutes a teen or young adult is successful in killing them self
The youth suicide rate is 33% higher than that of the rest of the overall population
9 out of 10 suicides take place at home
Females account for 75% of attempted suicides
Males complete suicide 4 times more than females
70% of all suicides take place between the hours of 3pm and midnight
For every completed suicide there are 30-50 attempts
Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, and Trans-gendered (GLBT) youth are 3 times more likely to commit suicide
GLBT youth represent 30% of all completed teen suicides
Nearly all gay and lesbian suicides occur between 16-21 year olds
Every 6 hours a Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, or Trans-gendered youth takes their own life
Suicide is the fastest growing killer of teens
16 teens kill themselves every day
Over 1/2 of teen suicide victims have had some sort of substance abuse.

 
 
Warning Signs
Situations
Behaviors
-Family history of suicide or violence
-Sexual or physical abuse
-Death of a close friend
-Divorce or separation
-Failing academic performance, impending exams, exam results
-Job loss, problems at work
-Impending legal action
-Recent imprisonment or upcoming release
-Crying
-Fighting
-Breaking the law
-Impulsiveness
-Self-mutilation
-Writing about death and suicide
-Previous suicidal behavior
-Extremes of behavior
-Changes in behavior
Physical Changes
Thoughts and Emotions
-Lack of energy
-Disturbed sleep patterns - sleeping too much or too little>
-Loss of appetite
-Sudden weights gain or loss
-Increase in minor illness
-Change of sexual interest
-Sudden change in appearance
-Lack of interest in appetite
-Thoughts of suicide
-Loneliness - lack of support from family and friends
-Rejection, feeling marginalized
-Deep sadness or guilt
-Unable to see beyond a narrow focus
-Daydreaming
-Anxiety and stress
-Helplessness
-Loss of self-worth

 
 
Links
Suicide Prevention
Men and Suicide
The Equality Project - GLBT Teen Suicide
Teen Suicide Statistics
10 Leading Cause of Death in the US Chart
Facts of Teen Suicide
JaredStory.com - True story of a little boy
How to Help
True story of a youth who was trained to help with suicide
APA Public Information on Suicide
Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual and Trans-Gendered Suicide
Suicide - An Epidemic of the 90's
Suicide figures from the CDC
Child Psychiatry - Teen Suicide
HJK's Teen Suicide Page

 

 

The Gift

This is a story that I stumbled across my web travels and I think the message is so powerful.  I think sometimes we all try a little too hard and look a little too deep, when sometimes the answers are right there in front of us - and this story proves that.  Instead of wondering what you can do, or feeling helpless like you can't do anything...Just open up your mouth and say "HELLO"!  Pass this story along to anyone you feel needs to be reminded of how much you care.  I hope you enjoy!  Click the link below to read the story! :) SMILE :)
"A Simple Hello Can Make All The Difference"

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Email: xpressn1814@yahoo.com