Depression and Suicide
We all have mild feelings of depression at times, but normal depression clears up quickly and without any form of treatment. Feelings of depression in adolescence are characterized by restlessness and bore· dam. The individual alternates between total disinterest and intense preoccupation with some activity or event. These extreme shifts iIl mood bring on physical fatigue and difficulty in concentrating, which often affect school performance. Acting out takes several forms- temper tantrums, running away, defiance, rebelliousness, and delinquency.
Extreme depression, however, can prompt suicide, but this does not mean that all extremely depressed people turn to self-destruction. Many factors are involved. First, suicide is most difficult to predict. Second, it occurs very infrequently in the population at large. It may seem to be a bigger problem than it actually is because one instance in a community is often dramatically publicized. Third, suicides claim our attention when they are near us. Fourth, many suicide "attempts" may be for reasons other than genuine self-destruction. Fifth, statistics show, in spite of popular belief, that there is a trend toward the diminishing of suicide among youth.
Suicide in adolescence is usually precipitated by some specific problem or event. Conflicts within the family, particularly those turning on some disciplinary action taken, are commonly related to suicides or their attempts. Like adult suicide, the suicidal adolescent, whose success at taking his life is often unintentional, usually has a previous history of either talking about or attempting self-destruction. It is seldom possible to predict an adolescent suicide attempt or its consequences except in instances where the adolescent verablizes his or her intention.
One writer has proposed the following "danger signs" of possible suicide. First, the possibility should be considered when the youngster begins to exhibit depression, accompanied by declining school performance and prolcHlged periods of rebellious behavior. The possibility of drug taking should be watched. Second, the risk of suicide is enhanced when there has been a recent and marked breakdown in previously existing communication channels. Third, note seriously any attempts at suicide, even though they may turn out to be maiJlly attention seeking. Attempts to hang or shoot oneself have greater lethality than aspirin overdosage or superficial scratches of the wrist.
