Recognizing Suicidal Behavior

Suicide is the third main cause of death for teens ages from 10-24. Studies have proved that 90% of the teenagers that commit suicide generally present certain behaviors that can be described a suicidal. These behaviors can be:

• ·         Excessive sadness or moodiness.
• ·         Sudden calmness.
• ·         Withdrawal.
• ·         Changes in personality and/or appearance.
• ·         Dangerous or self-harmful behavior.
• ·         Recent trauma or life crisis.
• ·         Making preparations.
• ·         Threatening suicide.

Most of the teens present mood disorders which can be either a bipolar disorder or depression. In a bipolar disorder teens may change between three different behaviors which are mania (angry or very happy), depression (sad or irritable) and euthymia (normal mood). 

Teens that suffer from depression generally present certain characteristics which are:

• ·         Feeling sad, down, or irritable or not feeling like doing things.
• ·         Changes in sleeping or eating habits.
• ·         Feeling guilty, worthless, or hopeless.
• ·         Having less energy, or more difficulty paying attention.
• ·         Feeling lonely, get easily upset, or talk about wanting to be dead.
• ·         Lose interest in things they used to enjoy.

Mania and depression may happen at the same time; this state is called mixed state.  People that suffer from a mixed state may present this behavior which is characterized by:

• ·         Strong overreaction when things do not go their way.
• ·         Become hyper, agitated, or aggressive.
• ·          Be overwhelmed with thoughts or feelings.
• ·          Sleep less.
• ·         Talk a lot more.
• ·         Act in impulsive or dangerous ways.
• ·         Feel they can do things they really can't.
• ·         Spend money they do not have or give things away.
• ·         Insist on unrealistic plans for themselves or others

Consequences of teen violence

• Total direct and indirect costs of teen violence is more than $158 billion per year. 
• Six percent of teens missed school due to feelings of insecurity regarding being at school, or traveling to and from school. 
• Healthcare costs increase in communities with teen violence. 
• Costs arise from injury and death, such as medical care and funeral expenses. 
• Decreasing property values affect areas with high incidents of teen violence, impacting both long time residents and new residents

One of the main reason of violence in México is the fight against the narcotrafic implemented by Felipe Calderon

Teenagers who show signs of violent behavior cause concern in their parents. Violent teens are at risk for developing other violent behaviors and taking part in illegal activities, which puts the teens at more risk of being injured or arrested.
Something you can do is to show them your love and support, an of course help them to find a good way to deal with their angry feelings 

Teenage suicide facts: 

1. Nearly 30,000 Americans commit suicide every year.

2. In the U.S., suicide rates are highest during the spring.

3. Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for 15 to 24-year-olds and 2nd for 24 to 35-year-olds.

4. On average, 1 person commits suicide every 16.2 minutes.

5. Each suicide intimately affects at least 6 other people.

6. About 2/3 of people who complete suicide are depressed at the time of their deaths. Depression that is untreated, undiagnosed, or ineffectively treated is the number 1 cause of suicide.

7. There is 1 suicide for every 25 attempted suicides.

8. Males make up 79% of all suicides, while women are more prone to having suicidal thoughts.

9. 1 in 65,000 children ages 10 to 14 commit suicide each year.

10. There are 2 times as many deaths due to suicide than HIV/AIDS.

11. Over 50% of all suicides are completed with a firearm.

Types of Violence

Violence is the intentional extreme form of aggression against oneself or another person.

There are different types of violence:

a) Physical Violence: When someone uses a part of their body or an object to control a person's actions.

• Using physical force which results in pain, discomfort or injury.
• Hitting, hair-pulling, arm-twisting, strangling, burning, stabbing, punching, pushing, slapping, beating, kicking, choking, biting etc.
• Assault & threats with a weapon or other object.
• Murder.

b) Sexual Violence: When a person is forced to unwillingly take part in sexual activity.

• Touching in a sexual manner without consent.
• Forcing a person to perform sexual acts that may be degrading or painful.
• Beating sexual parts of the body.
• Forcing a person to view pornographic material.
• Exhibitionism;
• Denial of a person’s sexuality or privacy.
• Humiliating, criticizing or trying to control a person’s sexuality.
• Forced prostitution.

c) Emotional Violence: When someone says or does something to make a person feel stupid or worthless.

• Name calling.
• Blaming all relationship problems on the person.
• Not allowing the person to have contact with family and friends.
• Destroying possessions.
• Jealousy.
• Humiliating or making fun of the person.
• Intimidating the person; causing fear to gain control.

d) Psychological Violence: When someone uses threats and causes fear in an individual to gain control.

• Threatening to harm oneself.
• Destruction of personal property.
• Verbal aggression.
• Socially isolating the person.
• Not allowing a competent person to make decisions.
• Inappropriately controlling the person’s activities.
• Treating a person like a child or a servant.

e) Spiritual Violence: When someone uses an individual's spiritual believes to manipulate, dominate o control that person.

• Not allowing the person to follow her or his preferred spiritual or religious tradition.
• Forcing a spiritual or religious path or practice on another person.
• Making fun of a person’s spiritual or religious tradition, beliefs or practices.
• Using one’s spiritual or religious position, rituals or practices to manipulate, dominate or control a person.

f) Cultural Violence: When an individual is harmed as a result of practices that are part of her culture, religion or tradition.

• Seeking divorce.
• Infidelity; committing adultery.
• Being raped.
• Lynching or stoning;
• Banishment.
• Abandonment of an older person at hospital by family.
• Female circumcision.
• Rape-marriage.
• Sexual slavery.
• Murder.