The Teen Suicide Epidemic, What We Can Do as Society and Parents

I was baffled, disturbed and most of all angry when I learned that, according to the CDC, the third leading cause of death in teenagers between the ages of 12 and 19 is suicide.

There is definitely something shifting in society, something missing; a great threat looming over our children. For a while I thought technology was the main culprit; the way young people interact through social media nowadays is downright cruel, with bullying breaking the house/school barrier and online games designed to encourage kids to kill themselves. Yes, the landscape has shifted for the worst, and I believe the core of the issue is that we have failed to adapt, understand the risks and know how to counter-attack.

In today’s society, it is highly likely that both parents work full time, and with divorce rates also on the rise, many single parents may need to work extra shifts just to make ends meet. Children are left at the mercy of their phone applications and social media accounts. Communication with parents has dwindled down to brief interactions throughout the day and maybe a forced family meal. Kids are growing up by themselves in a world that doesn’t care about them, that sometimes wants to see them fail, and even worse, die. If that doesn’t make the hairs on your arm stand right up, I don’t know what will. The sad but actual fact is that many teenagers feel misunderstood, and they choose to end it all before remaining in a world where they obviously don’t belong.

What do we need to do, as a society and as parents to save our children’s lives? Please continue to read.

As A Society

We need to work hard at ending the stigma that surrounds mental health, especially depression, and understand the fact that when a teenager says they are sad, depressed, or they show signs of self-harm or suicidal ideation, we need to take immediate action at getting them help, and not just think that they are acting out to get attention (which unfortunately is what most people today prefer to think, until it’s too late). As a society, we need to become more educated on behavioral issues, and become more open-minded when it comes to discussing these issues openly. This will help our newer generations also be more open to talking about their mental struggles and seeking help.

As Parents

It is my strong believe that we, in general, are failing our children as parents. We are too consumed in our own interests, in the issues that plague us every day, and sometimes even in putting food on the table. It has become extremely easy to hand our children over to video games and social media, convincing ourselves that they will be ok, and if they have an issue they will know to come to us. I am not saying that these tools are destroying our kids, but the lack of communication and adequate parenting definitely is.

Do you know what keeps your child awake at night? Do you know what makes them happy, what makes them sad? Do you know what issues they are currently facing? Do they trust you enough to talk about intimate things? Do they respect you because of your example and your love, or do they just fear you? Have you openly spoken with them about coming to you with any issue, knowing that you will not judge or discipline with rage, but rather try to understand and help?

Taking these questions seriously could literally mean life and death for your kid. This is not an overstatement. The numbers reflect that and you as a parent need to be very aware of that. Your influence in their lives is crucial to really notice when something is going wrong. If you don’t know how to handle a certain situation, ask for help. Don’t ignore the signs simply because you don’t know what to do, or you are scared. Educate yourself on the signs of suicidal thoughts and the reasons behind changes in behavior. Most importantly, take the initiative in being a vital part of your child’s life, as a parent, and as a friend.

There is still a lot of work to do, and I believe that eventually we will get better. But kids are dying unnecessarily, and we must take immediate action. Please do your part in saving the lives of the future of your family, and the future of human kind.