According to Kroning & Kroning (2016), depression among teens is rampant, affecting over 10 percent of all adolescents. The research also shows that 30 percent of all high school children are depressed, resulting in a suicide rate of 17 percent. This situation is absurd since teenage years are significantly confusing yet fundamental in the growth and development process. Most teens experience physical, psychological, and social changes during adolescence. These teens end up depressed, leading to increased suicide cases. This proposal explains the role of depression in teen suicide and recommends interventions to prevent such occurrences. Psychotherapy is a crucial measure that should be initiated to protect teenagers from suicide resulting from depression.
Justification
According to Wilkinson, Kelvin, Roberts, Dubicka, & Goodyer (2012), suicide remains the third-largest contributor to death cases among adolescents in the US and the second-largest contributor in the European Union. The general assumption in the past was that children could not suffer from depression. However, the evidence from recent research showed clinical depression among teens. The study conducted by The National Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (YRBSS) indicates that three out of every ten US high school students suffer from depression (CDC, 2015). The data collected also revealed that female students and Hispanic teens who feel sad often consider suicide as a solution.
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Risk factors
Adolescence makes teens vulnerable to suicide. It is a period of transition from childhood to adulthood that is characterized by freedom of movement and changes (both social, physical, and psychological). Teens are obligated to make crucial decisions that shape their entire lives during adolescence (Buchman-Schmitt, Chiurliza, Chu, Michaels, & Joiner, 2014) . These decisions range from the peers they choose, the educational institution they attend, to the personality they embrace. While building their identity, these teens are expected to address the challenges they encounter in the new environment. The pressure of high expectation emanating from family, peers, and other parties invades their self-esteem (Kim, 2014). Teens in such scenarios find themselves grappling with insecurity, stress, sadness, and loss of self-control.
Intervention and Recommendations
Awareness
The high cases of teen suicide can be averted through strategic approaches which carefully consider developmental stages. One such strategy is the organization of awareness on the symptoms and effects of depression among teens. Trained personnel such as psychologists and psychiatrists should be contracted to educational institutions and communities to diagnose mental health issues (Wilkinson, Kelvin, Roberts, Dubicka, & Goodyer, 2012) . Schools with easily accessible mental health services and practitioners have reported a decline in teen depression and suicide cases.
National Suicide Strategy
Another strategy entails the coordination of a national strategy by stakeholders such as the government, education institutions, and non-profits. The implementation of a national strategy to prevent suicide is crucial in averting this crisis. Through public dialogue and support from all stakeholders, the concerns of teens will be addressed. Measures should be developed to prevent prejudice, shame, and depression. The introduction of policies that condemn suicide is also essential in the prevention of teen suicide incidences (Romero, Edwards, Bauman, & Ritter, 2013) . The strategy must also amalgamate public health and behavioural health to utilize clinical knowledge in addressing teen suicide.
Social Networks
The incorporation of social networks is also another intervention. Relevant agencies and stakeholders must develop a social media strategy to identify teens contemplating suicide and link them with trained professionals (Kroning & Kroning, 2016). Social media platforms such as Facebook provide options for users to report suicidal comments from other users. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides a helpline that connects to a crisis worker.
Conclusion
Depression is a social crisis that is difficult to diagnose through observation. This proposal acknowledges that through increased awareness, the introduction of mental health programs, and psychological outreach, teen suicide incidences can be prevented. Initiatives on social media platforms also provide a compelling way to reach teens who might be quietly suffering. Collaborations between government agencies, family members, education institutions, and healthcare professionals will save lives and avert the teen suicide crisis.
References
Buchman-Schmitt, J. M., Chiurliza, B., Chu, C., Michaels, M. S., & Joiner, T. E. (2014). Suicidality in adolescent populations: A review of the extant literature through the lens of the interpersonal theory of suicide. International Journal of Behavioral Consultation and Therapy , 9 (3), 26-34. doi:10.1037/h0101637
CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019, January 7). Results | YRBSS | Data | Adolescent and school health | CDC. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm
Kim, H. (2014). Role of discrimination on the relationship between depression and suicide. PsycEXTRA Dataset . doi:10.1037/e550792014-001
Kroning, M., & Kroning, K. (2016). Teen depression and suicide. Journal of Christian Nursing , 33 (2), 78-86. Retrieved from https://journals.lww.com/journalofchristiannursing/fulltext/2016/04000/teen_depression_and_suicide__a_silent_crisis.9.aspx
Romero, A. J., Edwards, L. M., Bauman, S., & Ritter, M. K. (2013). Preventing adolescent depression and suicide among Latinas: Resilience research and theory . Springer Science & Business Media.
Wilkinson, P., Kelvin, R., Roberts, C., Dubicka, B., & Goodyer, I. (2012). P-1448 - Clinical and psychosocial predictors of suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-injury in depressed adolescents. European Psychiatry , 27 , 1-2. doi:10.1016/s0924-9338(12)75615-8
