Associated Press
ATLANTA – The suicide rate among preteen and young teen girls spiked dramatically in a disturbing shift that federal health officials say they can’t fully explain.
For all young people between ages 10 to 24, the suicide rate rose 8 percent from 2003 to 2004–the biggest single-year bump in 15 years–in what one official called “a dramatic and huge increase.”
The report, based on the latest numbers available, was released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and suggests a troubling reversal in recent trends. Suicide rates had fallen by 28.5 percent since 1990 among young people.
The biggest increase was in the suicide rate for 10- to 14-year-old girls. There were 94 suicides in that age group in 2004, compared to 56 in 2003, a 67 percent increase. The rate is still low–fewer than one per 100,000 population.
Suicide rates among older teen girls, those aged 15-19 shot up 32 percent; rates for males in that age group rose 9 percent.
“In surveillance speak, this is a dramatic and huge increase,” Dr. Ileana Arias said of the overall picture. She is director of the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.
More research is needed to determine whether this is a trend or just a blip, said one child psychiatrist, Dr. Thomas Cummins of Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago. “We all need to keep our eye on this over time to see if this is a continuing trend.”
Overall, there were 4,599 suicides among young people in 2004, making it the third-leading cause of death, surpassed only by car crashes and homicide, Arias said. Males committed suicide far more often than females, accounting for about three-quarters of suicides in this age group.
The study also documented a change in suicide method. In 1990, guns accounted for more than half of all suicides among young females. By 2004, though, death by hanging and suffocation became the most common suicide method. It accounted for about 71 percent of all suicides in girls aged 10-14; about half of those aged 15-19; and 34 percent between 20-24.
“While we can’t say (hanging) is a trend yet, we are confident that’s an unusually high number in 2004,” said Dr. Keri Lubell, a CDC behavioral scientist who was one of the study authors.
Scientists speculated that hanging may have become the most accessible method.
“It is possible that hanging and suffocation is more easily available than other methods, especially for these other groups,” Arias said.
The CDC is advising health officials to consider focusing suicide prevention programs on girls ages 10-19 and boys between 15-19 to reverse the trends. It also said the suicide methods suggest that prevention focused solely on restricting access to pills, weapons or other lethal means may be of limited success.
As for why rates are up, Richard Lieberman, who coordinates the suicide prevention program for Los Angeles public schools, said one cause could be a rise in depression during tumultuous adolescent years.
“There’s a lot of pressure in and around middle school kids. They’re kind of all transition kids. They’re turbulent times to begin with,” he said. “The hotline’s been ringing off the hook with middle school kids experimenting with a wide variety of self-injurious behavior, exploring different ways to hurt themselves.”
Arias said the declining use of antidepressants in those age groups might play a role. But it’s “not the only factor” that health officials will be studying.
Four years ago, federal regulators warned that antidepressants seemed to raise the risk of suicidal behavior among young people, so black box warnings were put on the drugs’ packaging.
When partial teen suicide data was published earlier this year, experts noted at the time that the drop in sales of the drugs corresponded with a rise in the suicide rate. Now there is concern that some children who need the medication aren’t getting it.
“Suicide is a multidimensional and complex problem,” Arias said. “As much as we’d like to attribute suicide to a single source so we can fix it, unfortunately we can’t do that.”
More education is needed, some specialists said, so that teachers, parents and others can quickly spot troubled teens.
“It underscores the need for more evaluation methods for school personnel and pediatricians to be able to better identify at-risk youth,” said Dr. Alec Miller, director of the adolescent depression and suicide program at Montefiore Medical Center in New York. “They are out there, and everyone needs to be better trained in identification.”
He said people who commit suicide tend to have a psychiatric condition, even if it has not been formally diagnosed.
Arias said warning signs include mental illness, alcohol and drug use, family dysfunction and relationship problems.
“For some, talking about suicide is awkward,” she said. “Our goal is to stop suicides, and to do that we need everyone’s willingness to talk about it.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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posted September 7, 2007 at 3:48 pm
A disturbing report. Obviously many possible reasons for a child to want to end their life, thinking that that is a solution. I have often wondered if the teens now have any more problems than children from other generations. Or with today’s rapid communication that there is now more awareness of the problem.
posted September 7, 2007 at 8:27 pm
Teens are strong and resilient; Teens are vulnerable and susceptible. Both are true. But the teens need to know they are accepted and appreciated. All the garbage out there offering “advice” and “how to” only fuels a person’s sense of inadequacy or failure. Anyone who ties to manipulate teens (and they are quite malliable) is criminal. This applies to Churches as well as cults, gangs, families, and friends.
What is true for a Bonsai tree is very true for teens. Let them grow, with only the subtlest pruning, and they will be strong. Try too hard to shape them and they will weaken and fall. Maybe all potential parents need to raise a Bonsai before they try to raise a teen.
posted September 7, 2007 at 9:05 pm
As the parent of a teen and of another slightly older, I have noticed a rather widespread fatalism among young people. Many of them are reluctant to make plans for the future because they say they don’t expect there to be much a future for them. I’ve seen several that abuse alcohol and generally “fail to thrive”, through a lack of a belief that anything they might do will ultimately matter. They feel that they cannot influence their futures and so, do not try.
I don’t know where this attitude has come from; it certainly wasn’t the case when I was that age. It is truly troublesome and, hopefully, something is being done (by both authorities and families) to determine the cause and find a solution for these kids.
posted September 7, 2007 at 10:20 pm
The article points out many possible reasons for teen suicide, and many more could be added to it. They have the numbers from 2004 (last taken) and numbers from other years before. Are they following up for similarities in each of these teens backgrounds, without this what good are numbers? For instance: Did both parents work or were they away from home for other reasons. Were the parents split up by seperation or divorce. Were the parents alcoholics, drug-users, were the teenagers. Was poverty or wealth a problem. Was there sexual orientation problems for either the parents or the teenager. Was abuse by physical or mental acts being used by a parent to a spouse, or teenager. Were other mental problems being treated by physicians for the teen or parents. Was the teen being bullied by other teens. If parallels show at least there would be something to work with.
posted September 7, 2007 at 11:35 pm
This is of course tragic and worthy of note, but so are other topics like the Bush-Cheney push for the US to attack Iran, which would be a disaster for millions of people.
So why are we discussing this, which has no obvious religious element (though I’m sure religion will come up and I have comments too, if it does) rather than the Iran attack buildup which can be connected to religion pretty easily and will affect so many more people.
posted September 8, 2007 at 3:25 pm
I do not have any ready solutions for the tragedy of teen suicides. I do know that the things mentioned in the article – alcohol, drugs, dysfunctional families and failed relationships – all contribute to a young person deciding to take his or her own life.
But the fact is, there are a number of teens who experience family and relationship problems and come out stronger as a result. That would suggest to me that we need to push further for addressing the use of alcohol and drugs in our society, not only by teens, but by adults as well. Alcohol and drugs are easily obtained by young people, and adults often provide an example of the use of these things, portraying their use as positive, pleasant, and popular.
And, yes, I will introduce religion into the equation. In the more than forty years I have been involved in Christian ministries, I have yet to know of a young person raised in a loving home and church environment with positive input from parents, pastors and friends, who committed suicide. In my experience, a positive faith experience provides strength through the tumultuous teen years, and gives a young person positive examples of not using alcohol and drugs to cover up the difficulties every person faces. I believe a positive faith experience helps to prevent suicide by providing healthy ways of dealing with the problems of life and by encouraging teens not to turn to chemicals for solutions.
posted September 8, 2007 at 8:07 pm
Well, loving parents and any ongoing positive experiences are going to help. I worry about the effect of the idea of original sin on young people or, in fact, on any people who can’t spot nonsense at 50 yards. If you are young and taught by someone you trust that you deserve to burn in Hell forever, even if you are reassured believing the right thing will get you off, that will surely affect some kids who are perhaps inclined to doubt their worth anyway.
I understand many Christian churches don’t teach that, but many do. I think it’s a terrible thing to hit a kid or a vulnerable person with.
posted September 9, 2007 at 9:32 am
I would agree completely nnmns!
posted September 10, 2007 at 7:44 am
It is not the effect of original sin being of any consequence for kids. I have worked with troubled youth for twenty years. What they are seeking is a sense of stability. They are taught anything but in our western education system. Our morality is anything goes. That is deadly to the human mind.
It is the lack of absolutes and the anything goes, “do what thou wilt . . .” Aand the purveyors of this propaganda that gives teens a sense of hopelessness.
MTV is killing our kids. Sex, drugs and rock and roll as a religion and not as phase anymore. It is a diabolical civil right to embrace.
We have turned our children over to the worse kinds of people, starting with psychologists and ending with secular humainsts. There is no hope in world view of medications for normality and choas creating the human being.
Our liberal-secular positions on control and education are killing our children.
Deny it if you like, but the reality of a crushed and hurting child is a horrible thing to have to deal with. I know.
posted September 10, 2007 at 1:16 pm
A FIRST! I agree with Donny, on his last line (only)
“the reality of a crushed and hurting child is a horrible thing to have to deal with. I know.”
Where we differ is I have helped deal with adults who were crushed and hurt by conservative religious groups who were as senseless and uncaring as video images of popular musicians. I have also helped young people whose spirits were mangled and whose minds were made mush by foolish theologies and unthinking policies of organizations more oriented on control than care. Helping these people, of several generations, regain their spirit, their self-esteem, and their sense of value to themselves, their community (church, too) and God is very hard.
People need to appreciate the value of questioning authority but also allowing some appropriate authority to help them determine values and sensibilities. Giving them the tools to make these determinations, and the opportunities to try using these tools safely, is far more useful than simply saying “This is so, and that is not because I SAID SO!”.
posted September 10, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Donny:
Gotta watch those secular humaanists!
So you are basicaly saying that conservative, fundamental religion is the answer to teenage problems? All the problems that teenage children face wouldn’t happen in the first place if they were raised without anything but fundamental Christianity? That’s certainly a stretch! Lack of AbSOLUTES? You’re working on robot children here.
I think the try at total control would produce great rebellion in many children.
My 2 children have become caring and loving adults, and I didn’t raise them in a fundamentalist religion….Unitarians are certainly not that. They had their bumps in the road also, but always knew that their father and I were there for them. There are many, many influences and situations that might cause a child to want to end their life. Wish I had answers to their situations, but one I don’t think is the cure all, is fundamental Christianity (or any fundamental religion). Religion can help, but not ones that don’t allow for questions and free thought. “Because the bible says so” isn’t an answer to a question.
posted September 10, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Donny:
Need to add…the bible is so full of contridictions that using that as a basis for rules? Very “iffy”.
posted September 10, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Well said pagansister. This secular humanist can definitely relate!
posted September 10, 2007 at 4:37 pm
jd70:
Thanks!
posted September 10, 2007 at 11:47 pm
You know who is as bad as secualr humanists – Christian Humanists. And speaking as one of “THEM”, I am with you pagansister (once again). Radical cultic religion (no matter to which expression of God they bow and pray) simply complicates the already treacherous path of adolescence and childhood.
posted September 11, 2007 at 8:59 am
“It is not the effect of original sin being of any consequence for kids. I have worked with troubled youth for twenty years. What they are seeking is a sense of stability.”
Donny, again you misread. I was talking about young people who already doubt their own worths being told they deserve to roast in hell forever and you sidetrack the issue to “troubled youth”, by which I assume you mean some who have committed crimes. And while poor self image may well be part of their problem it’s not the same group.
And I pity the troubled youths you try to fixate on your religion. I don’t doubt they do need some stability but false foundations like your religion don’t lead to sound structures.
posted September 15, 2007 at 5:28 am
Children entering puberty with out a sense of self are most at risk for deviant and rebellious behavior. And some who by appearence seem stable have a fantasy world in which the behaviors of degradation and oppression are explored. The answer is that before these two possibliities can take effect [I am sure there are numerous variants of these] the TRUTH must be spoken to them AND lived by the most influential examples.[Parents]. This will not cause a child to be good, but it will give them notice that there is an alternative to speculative and deceptive alternative expressions. And the right of choice is most important for all of us. Suicides are always the result of a sense of nothing left to lose, hoplessness, discouragement, NO CHOICE but to… That is the deciet of lies surrounding the truth of all things.
snooky325
posted September 15, 2007 at 5:39 am
This is also true for young adults, adults, 49+ and the ancients of days [really old guys]. It is never to late to recieve the truth of life. If you sincerely seek for it and abide in it it will abide in you. Truth is not capricious and morphs from person to person, it is applied according to the faith we have in it and the understanding we have of it.
posted September 16, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Suicides happen to people of all professions or no professions. They happen to people who are well aware of “faiths” truths or to people who haven’t got a clue about any truth. They happen because of physical reasons, I’ll repeat again: Mental problems caused by various diseases or drugs; recreational or prescribed. These physical maladies are complicated by psychological problems they also probably have in combination with the physical. Snooky325, you’re right people should be seeking for the truth in their life, whatever age, but to find it doesn’t insure you are suicide-free if you have a health problem with your brain, and mind.