Suicide is now the third leading cause of death among young teens and young adults and yet it is one of the most treatable illnesses, though not the most recognizable. Reports are conflicting, but there have been reported successful suicides by children as young as six and eight years old. How sad is this?
I have to think that the number one contributor to this is possibly the result of our techno-age. In today’s world we are able to become instantly aware of every tragedy occurring in the world. Our local news is filled with stories of missing children, gang families, our failing education system, the rising tuition rates, the devastation in Haiti, our rising unemployment rates, our falling stock market, soldiers dying…you get the picture. It is hard enough for an adult to deal with, so how do you think your children deal with this as they watch the evening news and as they watch your reaction to it. And how do you decide where to draw the line? Do you not allow your children to watch the news? You want them to be informed and to be responsible enough to care about what is going on around them, but how do you help them deal with the negativity? If you feel sad or your heart breaks, how can you not know that your child or young teen is doubly affected?
So, how do you arm yourself? You become aware! You learn what to look for and then don’t just stop at asking your son or daughter to talk to you. Chances are that if you have not established good communication ahead of this time, then your child is not going to talk to you about how they are feeling. You need to actively seek help. Start with either the church or the school. Talk with someone in in-the-know at either place to find out what local resources are available to you. Don’t even think about being embarrassed. I think that you’ll agree that it would be much better to be embarrassed than to have to plan your child’s funeral.
I recently heard a report that somewhat simplified the ‘how to recognize the signs’ issue, but that made a whole lot of sense. MAD, SAD, and BAD-these are the behaviors to watch for in your children. And I’m not talking about mood swings or temper tantrums. This will be behavior that is prolonged and can either be a combination of all or just one of those behaviors, especially in younger children. Oftentimes older kids and young adults will manifest their feelings by acting out or even delving into alcohol or drugs. You can see a big difference in their behavior, from their way of dressing to their attitude. You can more easily recognize unusual behavior and therefore can act upon it. And you SHOULD act upon it. Just ask the mothers of the Columbine shooters, and they will tell you.
But in younger children the changes may be, not necessarily more subtle, but more in keeping with what other mothers may be going through. For instance, many behavioral issues reported in school may be an indication. Boys are more likely to act out, whereas girls internalize more and are more likely to be sad. Any behavior that has you, as a parent, unable to cope or at the end of your rope, should be suspect and reason to pursue answers and to get help for both your child and for your family’s health.
90% of those who seek help are able to get some relief. Talking helps, but medication, combined with therapy, is also a possibility, and one that should be explored. Suicide is fast becoming the cancer of our youth and proactive steps need to be taken to stop its progress. Just as you educate and counsel your children not to smoke or do drugs, you should recognize the necessity of being aware of their mental health. Depression is recognizable, treatable and a leading illness of the 21st century, so take the steps necessary to stop its hurting your family or those you love and care for. Be aware.
Joseph has been writing articles online for nearly 5 years now. Along with caring for his children, he enjoys writing articles about families and gardening, check out one of his favorite web sites Garden Harvest Supply which offers quality vegetable plants.
