Preventing Teen Suicide By Knowing What Leads To It

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Unfortunately teen depression is either not recognized in time or even worse, ignored. However here are some signs that may help you in identifying depression. First of all there is a change in appetite and then a change in their sleep pattern. Then there is the loss of interest in activities in which the teenager usually found pleasure. Another sign is social withdrawal and the last and most worrying are thoughts of death or life-threatening punishment. If any of these five signs last for more than a week, then it is crucial that the parent or guardian take steps to help their teen fight their depression.

As said before teen suicide is brought on by substance abuse as well. In order to cope with their depression, a teen may resort to using drugs or alcohol. However many illegal drugs are depressants themselves and instead of relieving the depression they only add feelings of sorrow and gloom. Drugs and alcohol can bring on teen suicide because when a person is high with drugs or drunk, he or she will dare to do impulsive and injurious things, things that sober they would never even think of such as slitting their wrists.

Surveys have shows that the presence of a gun in the house increases the likelihood of teen suicide by five times. The availability of the gun just makes it much easier and quicker for a teenager to take away his life. Without a gun, a teenager who has decided to commit suicide will have to think of how to carry out his decision. The time that elapses may give the teen life-saving second thoughts.