The Mystery of Teen Suicide

Teen Suicide is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Based on what authorities have debated, teen suicide is far beyond homicide deaths, which is now dropped to third on the list. The way to prevent or decrease teen suicide still remained an iceberg that needs to be breaking. The traits of teen suicide or attempting to kill oneself can be traced back to adolescence or developed among teenagers who suffered with different kind of trauma. Teen suicide is quite common in different countries, ethnicities and race, but teen suicide in the United States is becoming a huge concern. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 'teen suicide and suicide attempts happen among 15 to 24 years old and the two states with the highest teen suicide are Alaska and Montana.' There have been many debates and studies on teen suicide rate in different groups and some of the key factors to note are, gender differences, geographic location, risk factors, the warning sign of suicide, available prevention resources, and support programs.

When it comes to teenage suicide rate, gender is a huge concern that should always be taking into consideration. Teen suicide rate can affect a whole population. However, teen suicide rate can be a very useful tool for understanding the statistic of teen suicide among different groups of people. According to 2016 statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 'suicide was the second leading cause of death for American teenagers. The CDC figures showed that while suicides were more prevalent among teenage boys in 2015, the suicide rate among teenage girls reached its highest level since 1975. The suicide rate among teen boys aged fifteen to nineteen was 14.2 for every 100,000. Among teen girls, that rate was 5.1 for every 100,000. These numbers marked a 30 percent increase in the suicide rate for boys since 2007 and a 50 percent increase among girls '(citation).

Concerning the demographic location, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 'the states with the highest rates of suicide, above the national average of 13.42 suicides per 100,000 people, were Montana at 26.1 suicides per 100,000 people. CDC stated that 'The suicide rate in Montana's counties varies from year to year due to small populations in the rural counties that greatly influence the rate of teen suicide with even one death by suicide". In Alaska, the rates of teen suicide were highest for males (32.8 per 100,000) and females (10.2 per 100,000) in the American Indian/Alaska Native group, followed by males (26.5 per 100,000) and females (7.9 per 100,000) in the White/non-Hispanic group".

An important aspect to consider when it comes to teen suicide rate is understanding the major risk factors that are causing teen suicide to rise among different groups of people. According to the 2017 Montana Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 'during the 12 months before the survey, 9.5% of all Montanan students in grades 9 through 12 had made a suicide attempt and 14.8% of 7th and 8th graders. In Montana, for American Indian students, 18.3% had attempted suicide one or more times in the twelve months before the survey. There is a 380% increase in suicidal ideations for students getting 'D"'s compared to students getting 'A's". the Montana Youth Risk also stated that 'LGBTQ youth are 4 times more likely, and questioning youth are 3 times more likely to attempt suicide as their straight peers. Nearly half of young transgender people have seriously thought about taking their lives, and one-quarter report having made a suicide attempt". LGBTQ youth who come from highly rejecting families are 8.4 times as likely to have attempted suicide as LGBT peers who reported no or low levels of family rejection. Each episode of LGBTQ victimization, such as physical or verbal harassment or abuse, increases the likelihood of self-harming behavior by 2.5 times on average". On some other risk factors that increase teen suicide in Montana, 'Vitamin D Deficiency which correlated with increased of risk of depression, stigma, Alcohol, Access to lethal, social isolation, lack of behavioral health services, socioeconomic which 1/5 of Montana kids live more than 100% below the federal poverty, Firearms (62%), suffocation (20%), and poisoning (9%) are the most common means of suicide in Montana. Other means include carbon monoxide, overdose, motor vehicles accidents, and jumping from heights.

Concerning the risk factors that are causing teen suicide to rise among youths in Alaska still remained a debate. According to Matthew Berman who works with the Institute of Social and Economic Research at the University of Alaska, Anchorage, stated that 'I compiled suicide data, alcohol control status, and community-level social, cultural, and economic characteristics for Alaska Native men aged 15 to 34 years in 178 small Alaska communities from 1980 to 2007. Poisson regression equations explained variation in suicide rates as a function of endogenous alcohol control and community characteristics. Alcohol control is ineffective in preventing suicide among Alaska Natives; suicide instead appears related to particular complex community characteristics that are either protective or increase risk. Communities have limited means to pursue economic and cultural development strategies that might offer more protection" to branch out on more of the risk factors that are causing teen suicide to risk among youths in Alaska, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration stated that, 'Indigenous suicide is associated with cultural and community disruptions, namely, social disorganization, culture loss, and a collective suffering".

Also 'in these communities, significant cultural and societal-level stress is a risk factor that is often linked to or interacts with factors at other levels, elevating suicide risk for this population. For example, Social Ecological Model Suicide Prevention in Alaska, the potential interaction of historical trauma and drug or alcohol misuse as risk factors, one study finds that AN/AI adults who attended boarding school as children reported higher rates of illicit drug use and alcohol use disorder and were also significantly more likely to have attempted suicide and to have experienced suicidal thoughts in their lifetime compared to nonattenders". Suicide symptoms can be quite challenging to vividly identify.

However, authorities have initiated some key factors of warning signs of suicide that can be found among teenagers. According to the Montana Youth Risk Behavior Survey some warning signs of suicide are 'increased of alcohol or drug use, no sense of purpose in life, start giving things away because there's no purpose in keeping anything, no reason to maintain their hygiene anxiety, agitation, unable to sleep or sleeping all the time, difficulty concentrating trapped feeling trapped (like there's no way out and things will never get better) hopelessness, no future orientation withdrawal from friends, isolating from family and society anger rage, uncontrolled anger, seeking revenge, irritable recklessness or engaging in high risk activities, seemingly without thinking, impulsive behavior (especially in younger people) mood change dramatic mood changes, flat affect, depressed mood, acting out of character". Along with that being said, Youth Risk Behavior Survey stated that, If the youth does have a suicide plan, remember the four factors that help you determine the seriousness of the risk. Specificity How specific are the details of the plan of attack. The greater the amount of detail, the higher the risk.

Lethality“What is the level of lethality of the proposed method of self-attack? The higher the lethality, the higher the risk. Availability “What is the availability of the proposed method? The more readily available the proposed method is the higher the risk. Proximity which is the greater the distance the youth is from those you could help him, the higher the risk.

Prevention resources to reduce teen suicide is becoming a powerful base in most states with high teen suicide rate, especially in Montana and Alaska. According to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 'Among the key themes in participant responses related to protective factors for suicide, violence, and, in some cases, bullying, the following factors emerged as most critical: 1) youth connectedness; 2) the presence of safe and caring adults; 3) the role of Elders; and 4) reestablishing ties to culture. These factors are presented individually; however, they are closely intertwined and blend across ecological layers (individual, relationship, societal/community). Themes in participant responses are presented below along with data from the cross-site evaluation of the GLS Suicide Prevention program". beginning at the individual level but also spanning the relationship and societal/community levels is youths' sense of connectedness to their community. By participating in community traditions, culture, and practices, respondents suggest, youth build resilience as they connect to something larger than themselves". Along with that being said, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration also stated that as one of the largest entities within Alaskan communities, the school”kindergarten through 12th grade (K“12)”is the primary provider not only of education but also of after-school activities and enrichment. Schools often serve as a central gathering place for the community as a whole".

In Montana prevention resources to reduce teen suicide is also becoming a priority. Since Montana is becoming one of the known states for the rising of teen suicide, authorities have been initiating plans and strategies to fight suicide in Montana's communities. According to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, 'facilitate implementation of the Montana Native Youth Suicide Reduction Plan through the governor's Native Youth Suicide Reduction Advisory Council with new federal funding, including development of local and statewide Native youth councils Through federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant, expand the Zero Suicide Initiative to adults in tribal communities Maintain and strengthen the suicide crisis response infrastructure in Montana including two regional State Suicide Prevention Lifelines, with embedded, targeted support for military personnel, and statewide crisis texting services through the National Crisis Text Line. Support implementation of the Communities that Care evidence-based substance use and mental illness prevention framework beginning in fall 2018 with support from the Montana Healthcare Foundation and technical assistance from the University of Washington. Enhance the capacity of local public health agencies, community coalitions, and community-based organizations to assess behavioral health concerns in their communities and engage stakeholders to address local needs. Support cultural healing methods for tribal communities, families, and individuals experiencing the effects of suicide and suicidal behaviors"

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