Suicide
Suicide
I
wish to address the very important issue of suicide. Mainly teen suicide, but
this applies to every one who might know some one who wants to take there own
life or those with teens should know about this major problem and know the signs
to look out for. Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death for all
persons regardless of age, sex or race; the third leading cause of death for
young people aged 15 to 24; and the fourth leading cause of death for persons
between the ages of 10 and 14. In one recent survey of high school students, 60
percent said they had thought about killing themselves. About 9 percent said
they had tried at least once. More than 13 of every 100,000 people aged 15 to 24
committed suicide in 1990. Experts estimate that each year nearly 5,000
teenagers commit suicide. Yet such large numbers go almost with out notice.
We had three thousand people die in the horrible attacks on 9-11-2001 and we
went after the people responsible. Yet we let five thousand teens take there own
lives each year.
I was almost another statistic once when I was in high school. The pressures coming from a broken home, my mother demanding I getting good grades, an uncaring man I hardly know for a father, trying to get a girl friend like so many others do in school, and the bullying almost drove me to take my own life.
Now that I am a father of two wonderful children I could only guess the pain of losing one of my own. I want to tell all you parents/teens that you need to talk to your children/friends and be open with them. Listen to what they have to say. They all have problems and fears that you could help them with.
For all
you teens or any one else thinking of taking your life it is not worth it. You
have lived such a short life compared to the years ahead. For you teens it is
only a number of years before you can get out of your parents house and if that
is where you problems are they will be gone. Some times you need to seek help.
Understand that a lot of others like you have gone through the same thing. It
will get better. You can make it better by seeking help. Telling your self every
day things will get better. If you can not find the spirituality that you need
to help you in your faith perhaps it is time to seek another. Becoming pagan was
on of the main things that helped me start having a better out look on life.
People will miss you if you should take your own life. Even if you do not know
it. Your Parents, other relatives, friends, and even the wife/husband you will
never have, and children that will not be without you. If you need some one to
talk to go to a friend, your parents, a councilor at school, a hotline, or even
write to me and I will help the best I can.
Please if some you know is trying or thinking about suicide please get them help!
Has
his/her personality changed dramatically?
Is he/she having trouble with a girlfriend/boyfriend)? Is he/she having
trouble getting along with other friends orwith parents?
Has
he/she withdrawn from people he used to feel close to?
Is the quality of his/her schoolwork going down? Has he/she failed to live
up to his own or someone else's standards (when it comes to school grades,
for example)?
Does he/she always seem bored, and is he/she having trouble concentrating?
Is he/she acting like a rebel in an unexplained and severe way?
Is she pregnant and finding it hard to cope with this major life change?
Has he/she run away from home?
Is he/she having problems with other kids at school?
Is your teen-ager abusing drugs and/or alcohol?
Is she/he complaining of headaches, stomachaches, etc., that may or may not
be real?
Have his/her eating or sleeping habits changed?
Has his or her appearance changed for the worse?
Is he/she giving away some of his most prized possessions?
Is he/she writing notes or poems about death?
Does he/she talk about suicide, even jokingly? Has he/she said things such
as, "That's the last straw, can't take it anymore, or Nobody cares about me?
(Threatening to kill oneself precedes four out of five suicidal deaths.)
Has he/she tried to commit suicide before?
Have you noticed cuts or burn on his/her body?
In Memory of Casey, and every one else who lost there way!
May your spirits find peace.