Suicide is something that a lot of teenagers and young adults are familiar with, be it from personal experiences or from social media. Unlike older generations, today's young people are taught a lot about mental health in general which makes these topics less taboo.
September 10 is Suicide Prevention Day, when people come together to provide awareness for suicide and the people that are going through it. This day has been officially observed since 2003. Most people who attempt suicide mostly suffer from mental illnesses effecting their everyday life that, at some point, just become too much to deal with. A suicide attempt is a clear indication that something is very wrong in a person’s life. No matter the race or age of a person. Anyone can have a mental illness. The most common mental illness is depression.
The suicide hotline is a 24/7 hotline that helps struggling people get some help or emotional support that they need. You can call the hotline whenever you may need it. The official website for the suicide hotline is suicidepreventionlifeline.org and their number is 800-273-8255. All calls are confidential. Suicides are very common among the youth now especially in school and, more specifically, high school. It is very difficult to enter a completely new environment like high school. There cliques and groups and sometimes some kids get left out and that can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression. Sometimes school can cause these from failing classes, waking up early, and doing the same routine every day could cause a mild case of depression and/or anxiety.
Schools try helping children cope with these feelings and thoughts but they do not try hard enough because so many kids are drowning in these feelings and they feel like they have no one to turn too. Many parents and teachers think that there should be a licensed psychiatrist or therapist put into schools to help the kids in need that cannot get it outside of school. The problem is the school system has not set up good resources for kids and teens to speak up.
Suicide is now the second leading causes of death among teenagers. In America, a person dies by suicide every 12.8 minutes. Those who lost loved ones by suicide may feel a combination of grief, guilt, anger, and confusion. Most people struggling with depression often feel unheard and alone. It is how the brain is wired and people cannot control It, and some people unfortunately lose the battle with depression.
If you know anyone that is thinking about harming themselves or committing suicide, please reach out and help, you could be the one that saves their life. If you need help please call the suicide hotline, talk to a therapist, or just talk to a friend. You are not alone and you are loved.
