Dr. Linda Helps - Suicide is now the third leading cause of death among people ages 13-24. According to a recent survey of high school students, teens (60 percent) often think about killing themselves and some (9 percent) say they have made an attempt at least once.  In the past three decades, teen suicide has risen 300 percent.

Here are some questions to ask in order to decide if a teen is at risk for suicide:

• Is there a family history of suicide? Teens often identify with those close to them and repeat their actions.
  
• Does he talk about suicide? If a teen talks about suicide, take it seriously. Four out of five teens who talk about suicide attempt it.
  
• Has there been a previous suicide attempt?
  
• Are there signs of depression? -Changes in appetite, sleep, concentration, irritability, restlessness, withdrawal and isolation, declining grades, undue guilt, loss of interest in normal activities, mood changes, a wish to die.
  
• Does he abuse substances? 13 percent of people who commit suicide do so while abusing alcohol.
  
• Is he acting out violent feelings?
  
• Does he feel hopelessness, rejected or alone?
  
• Is he giving away favored possessions?
  
• Has he been abused physically or sexually?
  
• Is there a cheerful upswing after a bout of depression  which could be caused by a decision to die and escape the pain of living?
  
• Has there been a recent loss like a parent’s divorce, separation, or custody change, a move, a death, a break up with boyfriend/girlfriend?
  
• Does he suffer from severe loss of self-esteem?
  
• Is he withdrawing from those to whom he was close?
  
• Does he have major peer problems?
  
• Is there a downward dive in school performance?
  
• Is there a chemical imbalance or other mental illness?
  
• Is there a chronic physical illness?
  
• Is there a dramatic change in personality and/or appearance?
  
• Is she pregnant and not coping well?
  
• Is he a runaway?
  
• Does he write about death?
  
• Does he have many psychosomatic complaints?
  
• Has he been humiliated in front of family and friends?
  
• Does he have substance-abusing parents?
  
• Is his family life filled with strife?
  
• Is he rebellious in a serious way?
  
• Is there a sudden recklessness?
  
• Does he feel unloved?

If you see these signs in any teen you know, you should consider getting him/her professional help. You may have a depressed teen that is thinking about suicide. With help, suicide is preventable.

Dr. Mintle – author, professor, Approved Supervisor and Clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy – is a speaker and media personality, as well as a licensed clinical social worker with over twenty years in psychotherapy practice.

For more articles and information, visit Dr. Linda Mintle's Web site.