Teen Suicide Prevention

Talking about suicide is not easy. It is incredibly difficult and uncomfortable, because talking about suicide is talking about mental health. It is talking about something that is not seen as specifically as the mark after a blow or a cut. It is something that feels. But not because of the absence of its physical representation, it is less painful, dangerous, or important than a physical blow. Some would even argue the opposite: it is even more important. :)

WHAT ABOUT OUR TEENAGERS?

Adolescence is a stage of life characterized by many changes at the physical, hormonal, emotional, intellectual, and social levels. Of all its changes, neurological maturation (or evolution of the brain) seems to be the most interesting. Most of the pioneers in interpersonal neurobiology, has pointed out that due to his neural changes, the adolescent is:

• more likely to take risks
• more interested in creating social connections (with peers and friends)
• more emotionally intense
• more curious to exploit their creativity

These features are not dangerous on their own, but without the necessary protective factors that we will address later in this article - these Emotions can become too strong for the adolescent to understand.

The adolescent is a mixture of several personality traits: she is energetic, but lazy; it is impulsive, but predictable; she is challenging, but dependent; she is lonely but sociable; among other. All of these contradictions are normal and expected at this stage, and show why the adolescent needs an empathetic, loving, understanding environment with firm limits, and patient to foster their full development and potential.

WHAT DO THE INVESTIGATIONS SAY?

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among youth ages 15-24. Many people, mainly mothers and fathers, believe that talking to their children about suicide or talking openly about it at home is going to have a determining factor in whether their children manifest a suicide attempt. According to the American Association of Suicidology, the more you talk, the more opportunities there are to intervene appropriately.

Another of the great myths around teenage suicide is that they are a "way to get attention" or an "exaggerated and dramatic way that adolescents have to deal with everyday events."

Now, there are definitely certain risk factors that make adolescents predisposed to resort to suicide attempts and consider these alternatives:

• Health factors - anxiety, medical conditions, substance abuse
• Psychological factors - recent losses, unresolved duels, mental disorders, bullying or cyberbullying situations
• Family medical history factors - previous attempts, family members who have died of suicide, family history of depression

WHAT ARE THE ALARM SIGNS?

Ideation - the adolescent will not necessarily say they are thinking of suicide, but could say comments such as "what if I did not exist? What would the world be like without me? What would others think if I ceased to exist?"

Substance abuse

Feeling like a burden or like there is no reason to live

• Anxiety
• Feeling trapped and thinking that there is no way out or solution to your problems
• Feeling like you don't care about others
• Separate from friends, family or other social groups
• Seems to get mad easily
• Act impulsively
• Changes in mood

WHAT CAN BE DONE?

The most important thing is to open the space to speak it. We know that knowing that a loved one, and more a son or daughter, are thinking about suicide can evoke a lot of fear. But, you have to overcome the stigma and shame around the subject, and open a healthy space. No judgments, no taboos, no blame.

The American Association of Suicidology recommends having no weapons or deadly methods available to young people. In turn, equip them with good tools for problem solving, openly talk about mental health at home, make use of an interdisciplinary team of professionals (counselors, school psychologists, therapists, doctors, pediatricians, among others) , and foster healthy emotional relationships and connections between parents and children.

Suicide is preventable, and together we can make a difference to help young people who are going through a difficult situation. Please talk about it!

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