Teen Suicide Rate At Record High – What Parents Should Know

In a recent study into the matter of leading causes of death in America, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that for children and teenagers – suicide was the 2nd leading cause of death. Once considered to be a rare consequence of untreated mental disorders, the rise of this preventable condition has been nothing but shocking. Although news coverage may not reflect this epidemic properly, the facts are scary – from under 30,000 deaths of children in 1996 to over 47,000 registered deaths in 2017.

A Generation in Crisis

What are the contributors to this state of mind that is leading thousands of children on a monthly basis onto the path of self-harm? What can cause a young person with infinite potential to take their own life? What responsibility do parents have in resolving this? What definite steps will change this course? These are the few burning questions that beg to be answered. Rising teenage deaths by suicide indicate that the modern conditions under which our society is structured are simply not good enough. 2015 saw the rate of suicide among adolescent girls rise to the highest it has ever been since 1975. (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

A Wide Communication Gap in the era of Hyper-Communication

It can be difficult to treat individual cases of teenage depression and self-harm. Knowing how to help, when to intervene, and how to formulate a prescribed set of guidelines for parents to adhere to is extremely difficult because this phenomenon is so sporadic and widespread in most first world countries. The best thing a parent can to do is to communicate with their kids about their problems and search for symptoms of depression. Between 2007 and 2015, communication technology has developed into a predominant feature of modern society. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Meet Me, and other “social media” apps have replaced television as the number one pastime for the average teenager. Although these platforms were created with a positive future in mind, regrettably it is easy for youngsters to get caught up in cyber bullying and partake in immoral behavior when given the convenience of doing it all from behind a screen. It is much more uncomplicated to send someone a spiteful message anonymously. Technology has completely eradicated the need for teenagers to converse in person. This widespread shift in behavior can be linked to abnormal neurological growth – when a child finds out it is easy for them to be offensive or hateful without having to face any actual consequence, he or she is bound to be tempted by it. These traps are everywhere and impressionable children can be unknowingly seduced into this wicked cycle of either propagating or receiving abuse, and it can continue into adulthood as anyone can see by logging into Twitter. It is ironic that the intention of social media was to tighten the relationships of people. Yet it serves as one of the key reasons why the modern generation of kids is feeling more prone to depression. There are also many other causes of depression for the youth in the modern world such as obesity, academic pressure, and isolation. Teenagers can find it difficult to come to terms with the fact that they are suffering from depression. There is a total lack of communication and clarification about this topic in our society. Parents can’t rest on their laurels and rely on their children, who are essentially unaware patients, to come and tell them in detail about their problems. They may not know about these problems themselves. Other than their own admission, there are certain symptoms that all parents must keep an eye on.

Cautionary Signs and Symptoms of Depression

A few of the main symptoms that a depressed child might show include

• Sadness or despondency in their attitude – If your bright child is suddenly overwhelmed by a sense of gloom and is forcing him or herself into a fixed lifestyle that entails limited conversation – that is a major sign that something is not right.
• Irritability and hostility – Acting out for no reason, being irritated at the slightest of things. The child resolving to arguments instead of conversations in order to get their suppressed emotions across.
• Withdrawal from friends – Sudden shift in behavior towards old friends, family members, etc.
• Loss of interest in day to day activities such as family dinners, etc.
• Poor academic performance – Parents often complain that their child’s grades have suddenly plummeted. How can a child who was so bright just the previous year do so poorly this year? An open conversation and consulting a child psychologist can go a long way as opposed to mere punishments.
• Changes in eating and sleeping patterns
• Constant restlessness and anxiety
• Feelings of unimportance in the family
• Expressions of guilt
• Lack of enthusiasm
• Fatigue
• Unexplained body aches and pains
• Tendency to stay in bed all day instead of leaving the house

A Variety of Factors

• Stigma

It is no secret that mental health is not properly understood and as such, carries a stigma with it in our society. Many people still believe depression is simply “feeling bad” and those who suffer it just need to get over it. There is much ignorance when it comes to the brain chemistry tied to depression which leads to people who actually have depression not getting the proper care whether it’s from them believing they should get over it or out of fear of the judgement they will receive.

• A Rapid Shift in Parenting Roles

Fluctuations in our society add to the seclusion and anxiety that too many suffer from. The indoctrination of American youngsters from extremely early ages into the digital universe is an unchecked phenomenon that we still have much to learn about. No other generation in history has ever had this much access to digital data and devices, and parents at times have too much rapidly changing, conflicting advice on the best way to parent.

• Unlimited Access to Cell Phones and Social Media

Unchecked online activities are a natural by-product of parents offering nonstop accesses to their children into the world of cell phone use. In a study published by the American Journal of Public Health, this phenomenon has vastly contributed to unfortunate shift in behavioral patterns in much of America’s youth. Thus, social media can provide a hostile platform for inappropriate interactions with others, particularly for our young people. These mediums cut personal interaction, hinder education regarding satisfactory social norms, and wreak outright maltreatment on some, such as teenagers being imperiled to cyber bullying. In recent surveys published by the American Journal of Public Health, it was revealed that 34% of youth reported incidents of being cyber bullied. In this study, bullying was also cited as a vital factor in cases of students being mentally compelled into committing acts of self-harm. In a 2014 study entitled ‘The Invisible Addiction’, author J. Roberts stated that high-school and college students were spending more than 9 hours every day on their cell phones. Even if parents keep an eye on their child’s social media profiles, majority of children still use texting for communication. If your child goes to sleep with their cell phone by their side and it’s the first thing they touch in the morning, it is clearly an addiction. Government can’t halt these activities or the probable outcomes of those choices that almost every other teenager is making. This must be addressed at a grassroots level – American parents, concerned individuals, family members, schools, and local communities, all need to take conclusive steps in order to recognize and address these problems.

Help Prevent Teen Suicide

If a teenager you know is expressing any of the mentioned symptoms, the first step would be to communicate with him, letting him know about the changes in behavior you have observed. In most cases teenagers crave the feeling of their parent or sibling listening to their problems. If you are doubtful about their actions and they may be suicidal, immediately contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-TALK). Seek immediate professional help.

Battling the Ills of Technology with Technology

The best way to keep an eye on your child without necessarily invading their privacy is to install a parental control app on their phones. By doing so, parents can be alerted about red flags without having to go through their child’s day to day digital activities. MMGuardian is such an app designed to help parents protect children through the power of Artificial Intelligence. It offers a unique feature called “Priority Alerts”. After automatically scanning text messages sent to and from the child’s phone, together with their internet browsing practices, the app senses possible bullying, suicidal warning signs, and other such concerning content. Once an indication of any such activity has been sensed, the parents get an automatic alert directly to their phones. This allows parents to have peace of mind knowing MMGuardian is looking out for their children without the parent having to go through their phone on a daily basis, not to mention the variety of other features such as app blocking, time limits, contact blocking, location retrieval, inappropriate picture detection, detailed reporting, and more. To get started with MMGuardian and receive a 14-day free trial, click here.

Consider also joining our Facebook group “Tech-Savvy Parenting” to discuss raising kids in the 21st century with other parents.

The bottom line is that tackling issues of teen suicide and associated societal problems has to be a partnership between government bodies, parents and technology itself. Modern problems require modern solutions and parents need to be prepared to take every step possible to guarantee the safety of their child.