Teen Depression and Suicide

About a week ago, a freshman at our local public high school killed himself by kicking out an eighth-story window at the hotel across the street from the school and jumping to his death.  Consequently, I want to cut straight to the chase on this post so I don't lose anyone before I get to the point.

It is important to know the signs of teen depression and suicidal ideation because it is more common than most people want to admit.  The Centers for Disease Control claims that suicide is the third-leading cause of death for 15-24 year olds.

Here's a chart from the website HelpGuide.org:

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION IN TEENS
Sadness or hopelessness Irritability, anger, or hostility Tearfulness or frequent crying Withdrawal from friends and family Loss of interest in activities Changes in eating and sleeping habits	Restlessness and agitation Feelings of worthlessness and guilt Lack of enthusiasm and motivation Fatigue or lack of energy Difficulty concentrating Thoughts of death or suicide

Please do not assume that a "successful" teenager is not depressed and is not in danger of hurting themselves.  The most important thing you can do is to be truly tuned in to your child, to have an open channel of communication, and to encourage their healthy relationships with other adults/role models who will also be able to tell if something starts to go astray.

I may seem reactionary right now and admittedly, this post was inspired by this recent, local tragedy.  However, in my daily work I see teens who are struggling with this very issue and my guess is that if these students were wandering around anonymously at a large school, most adults would be oblivious to the seriousness of the situation.  Too often adults are dismissive of teens' concerns, downplaying them with platitudes like, "You don't have any real problems. These are the best days of your life so stop complaining."  If we were to know the full extent of the stressors of being a teenager today we'd undoubtedly approach them differently.

If there is any concern at all that your child is experiencing depression, based on the factors listed above in the chart or just your gut instinct, please take the time to check in with them to assess the situation.  It wouldn't hurt to call their teachers or coach or anybody who works with them on a daily basis to see if they are observing the same thing.  If there is a possibility of depression and/or suicidality, contact whatever mental health professional to which you have access, or call the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. It could be a life saver.