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Dark Heart: The Enigma Of Teen Suicide And Depression MAG
Who is killing the children? Who iscommitting the senseless acts of violence that annually leavemore teenagers dead than disease or accidents? Who is cuttingoff promising young lives just as they begin, leaving only onequestion: why?
Who is killing the children?
Thechildren are killing themselves.
Suicide, the numberone cause of death among teenagers today, is a taboo issue inAmerican society when, ironically, it has never needed to bediscussed more. Parents dismiss the idea with excuses such as,"My child would never do that," or "Only kids from the wrongside of the tracks kill themselves." But how can thesestatements be true when the number of suicides increases eachyear?
What is causing these suicides? The main reasonis depression. This disease is getting more and morerecognition and many are seeking help, but some parents tendto treat depressed children as if they are merely passingthrough a phase. Though curable if recognized and treated,depression can be fatal if ignored.
While the causes ofdepression vary widely, among young people causes are oftendeceptively simple. A failing grade, an imagined slight, afight with a friend or parent - all of these can send a childinto a dangerous tailspin. These are all little things, butmany teens lack the perspective to deal with them andconsequently blow the problems out of proportion until theyseem unbearable. Other causes include loneliness, rejection,recent loss, intense stress and fatigue, major changes in lifeor low self-esteem.
What are some symptoms ofdepression? A few include loss of hope, retreat from familyand friends, boredom with activities previously enjoyed andchanges in appetite/rapid weight gain or loss. Signs ofsuicidal behavior (which should never be ignored) areself-mutilation, talk of death or suicide, giving awaytreasured possessions, dramatic changes of lifestyle and useof drugs or alcohol. These signs are not to be confused withnormal teenage behaviors including moodiness, increasedsensitivity, moderate changes in dress or friendships, desirefor privacy and experimenting with dieting.
Treatmentfor depression is widely available through therapy, medicationand physical treatment and, in some cases, hospitalization.Treatment should be sought as soon as a problem is recognizedto prevent the advance of the disease. Also, depression couldbe a symptom of a more serious psychological disorder, such asschizophrenia or obsessive-compulsive disorder, and suchillnesses can be uncovered during treatment fordepression.
There are many hotlines and support groupsfor the depressed and suicidal. Here are two:
The TeenLetter Project
P.O. Box 936
Pacific Palisades,CA 90272
and
The Yellow RibbonProject
P.O. Box 644
Westminster, CO80030
Phone: 303-429-3530
Email:
light4life@yellowribbon.org
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This article has 16 comments.
i know that they can work up the energy to try.one of my friends killed herself- and a few days before she was super cheerful and sh*t cause she knew what was going to happen.
all im saying is, thats not always the case.
people in starving countries usually dont have pressure from school, friends and drama.and when your starving, survival kicks in.im pretty sure survival mode doesn't let you think about killing yourself.
also, people in poverty don't have all the communication systems we do.they get word of mouth, and thats about it.so you probably just haven't heard of suicides in other places besides america.ignorant much?dont assume that everyone experiences life the same way you do, and dont assume the media will draw attention to what they consider to be irrelivant.
american media is more concerned with name brands and paris hilton than the deaths of poor people in other countries.
actually, depressed people often don't have the energy to attempt suicide.if your going to talk about depression, then say that in the title.
also, you failed to mention that depression is not always situational, but sometimes is chemical.in other words, depression can be caused by events in someone's life, or by a chemical inbalence in someone's brain.
and stop spelling words wrong.
People who commit suicide don't just wake up one morning and say "I think I'll die today."
It is a long winding process, which starts with depression. Depression, may I mind you, is a medical disorder. It isn't just something that comes along randomly.
It attacks you. Physically, and mentally. You are tired ALL the time. You don't hang out with friends. You either have an increased or decreased appetite. Things that used to make you happy, don't even interest you anymore.
Why don't you do a little research on this please. And see, how many people have pshycological disorders when they commit suicide. The number could surprise you.
People in other countries have literally nothing and are starving but yet they STRIVE to live. and here we are wasting away lives...Stupid stupid.
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