What Are the Causes of Suicide Among Adolescents?

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May 7, 2010 | By Barbara Aufiero Photo Credit sad image by 26kot from Fotolia.com Adolescence is a period characterized by hormonal changes and instabilities in mood and behavior. Teenagers experience strong emotions and become emotionally distraught more easily than adults. According to Suicide.org, this makes them more vulnerable to suicidal thoughts than adults. In fact, suicide is the third-leading cause of death among adolescents, as of 2010. DEPRESSION Depression is the most common cause of suicide among adolescents. The isolation and self-loathing associated with depression is particularly harmful during adolescence, when self-discovery and affiliation with others are focus points. Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness that lead to suicidal thoughts can become prominent if depression is left untreated. In fact, according to the U.S. surgeon general, more than 90 percent of teens who commit suicide have mental disorders. Sermon PowerPoints Want Power Points for Your Sermons? Visually Inspire Your Church! PreachIt.org/sermon-powerpoints Sponsored Links FAMILY PROBLEMS Although teenagers yearn for independence and freedom from their parents, they are greatly affected by problems within their families. Witnessing or experiencing domestic violence can be traumatic. Verbal abuse also is damaging to an adolescent's sense of self and could result in feelings of worthlessness. Teenagers who believe their family members don't care about them might question their reason for living. REJECTION Teenagers constantly struggle to fit in with their peers. They often mimic how their friends talk or dress, and they hold their opinions in high regard, so disagreements with friends can be considerably distressing. In addition to friends, teenagers seek the approval and acceptance of the people they date. Intimate relationships make teenagers vulnerable to rejection,

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