Developing Horizons Magazine (2).pdf April 2014 | Page 6

. Several factors increase the risk that a teenager will attempt suicide:
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Depression or feelings of loneliness or helplessness
Alcohol or drug addiction
A family history of abuse, suicide, or violence
Previous suicide attempts; almost half of teens who commit suicide had attempted suicide previously.
A recent loss such as a death, break-up, or parents’ divorce Illness or disability
Stress over school, relationships, performance expectations, etc.
Fear of ridicule for getting help for problems
Being bullied or being a bully
Exposure to other teens committing suicide, such as at school or in the media
Access to firearms or other lethal objects
A belief that suicide is noble

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90 percent of people who attempt or commit suicide suffer from a mental illness, such as:
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Depression, which causes a teen to feel sad, lonely, withdrawn, and unable to accomplish simple tasks.
Bipolar disorder, where a teen alternates between periods of depression and mania, characterized by
exuberance, insomnia, irritability, and inability to concentrate.
Schizophrenia, a complicated condition where a teen has hallucinations or distorted perceptions of
reality.
Alcoholism or drug addiction, especially when combined with another mental health disorder; 20 to 50
percent of suicide attempts are related to drug or alcohol use.

These statistics are just that, statistics. Buried inside is the horror of warped and twisted lives