Summary: Suicide rates have doubled since 2007 for kids ages 10-14 which is considered one of the main causes of death for a child along with motor vehicle accidents and homicide. Data has shown that motor vehicle accidents and homicide rates have improved with lesser deaths, but suicide, having hit its lowest record in 2007 of 0.9 deaths per 100,000 kids, doubled the next year with 2.1 deaths. The influence of suicide between teenagers and younger kids is significantly different. Most people tend to look for signs of depression which is mainly true for teenagers, but kids however tend to be influenced from a lack of attention. Parents should tend to look for isolation from school or other activities and listen closely to what their kids say with a derogatory meaning. Dr. Lisa Boesky hopes that more research will be done on kid suicides to find more ways they can prevent this since not much research has been done.
Analysis: This article is reaching out to any families who may be struggling with suicide or has already dealt with it. They point out some very shocking statistics about how suicide is the top cause of death for kids ages 10-14. In the past two weeks, I’ve heard two stories near my house of kids who took their lives and I think this article is extremely crucial these days when many people are struggling to prevent this. By informing parents of young kids, who may be unaware that someone who is only 10 years old is considering suicide, should hopefully help improve these high suicide rates. In U.S. history, slaves before the American Civil War committed suicide as a way of freedom from becoming enslaved.
This is definitely an issue that needs to be addressed. I think we should
ReplyDeletestart offering more mental health so teenagers feel like they can talk to someone and sometimes that can be life or death.
I feel that a huge contributor to anxiety and stress for teenagers is the excessive amount of standardized testing we have to do, alongside with homework, finals, social lives, and home responsibilities. Nowadays adults put a lot of unrealistic expectations on teenagers, and sometimes they just don't know to cope. The suicide rate of this country is a reflection of this society and how we treat today's youth. With it so high, some major changes have to be made.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Leah said. Teen suicides are commonly linked with depression and I think kids with this mental disorder have feelings pressured by expectations from society.
ReplyDelete-Alix Burns
I'm glad that awareness is being brought to something so sad and horrible that is becoming more prevalent. Hopefully this awareness spreads and leads to a shift in society that teaches kids that ending their lives has more repercussions than it seems.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all those above me. This is so sad, but I'm glad that people are starting to bring awareness to it. I wonder what is bringing these children to commit something so serious, and I hope that they can find a solution to bring these rates down.
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