A parent’s guide to spotting suicidal behaviour in teens

Teenagers killing themselves are frightening stories that we read in newspapers every day. These happen to other people. Most of us can ever imagine any child we know committing suicide or even thinking of it. But many teen suicides can be prevented if warning signs are detected on time, and appropriate action is taken.  

Why do teenagers commit suicide?  
No two persons are alike, and that applies to teens as well. Here are some common causes behind teen suicide, but there can never be a comprehensive list.  

• Conflict with parents, teachers or peers can lead to an acute mental crisis in some teens, ending in suicide  
• Teens may be impulsive, but they consider suicide usually when they have a really long-standing history of problems at home or school, including divorce of parents, abuse, continuous bad performance at school, physical drawbacks or a host of other causes 
• Teens who suffer from low self-esteem, are already depressed, believe that no one cares may want to escape through suicide  
• Teenagers who are into substance abuse sometimes realise they may not be able to break free or fund their addiction, and consider suicide  
• Acutely stressful events, ranging from unwanted pregnancy to failure at an exam may end in suicide  
• Parental and peer pressure can kill too  

Signs of suicidal tendencies 
If we look at the causes, we will realise that most of them are not sudden. Early signs that warn of suicide include:  

• Noticeable change in eating or sleeping patterns that you have never seen before  
• Unexplained or sudden violent reactions to mundane matters  
• Withdrawal from family or friends, sudden unsocial tendencies  
• Extreme agitation, distress and panic, constant fear  
• Talking, even casually, about suicide, including searching on the web for it. They may also talk about going away somewhere, about not being a botheration anymore  
• Giving away their possessions to younger kids or peers suddenly for no reason  
• Sudden bad performance at school and blankness when it comes to remembering lessons  

If you notice any of these warning signs in your or any other teen you know, don’t ignore. Don’t leave the teenager alone in a room, and try to talk it out. If you are unable to make progress, don’t delay in going for medical help.