Disturbing trends among America's youth
Elizabeth Gunn
Issue date: 9/25/07 Section: News
While most youth are thinking about their next date, an ever-increasing amount of young adults are contemplating, attempting, and committing suicide.
According to the Center for Disease Control, suicide was the third leading cause of death among youth ages 10-24 in 2004.That year 4,599 youths committed suicide.
"The problem is there are so many reasons why youths commit suicide that it's hard to come up with a set of solutions," Livier Martinez, 37, a licensed clinical social worker at Mt. SAC said.
"There is a combination of various factors that are different among each person," Martinez said. "Pressure is one…demanding roles and expectations are another. There is a link between depression and substance abuse. The list goes on."
Disturbing as well is the method in which youths are committing suicide. According to the CDC study, most young men resort to guns to commit suicide, while females mainly overdose on drugs or hang themselves.
According to the CDC report, an increasing number of youths cut themselves for attention and end up committing suicide by accidentally cutting too deep or too often. Though there is something that can be done, Martinez said. Friends and family members need to watch for warning signs such as a history of mental illness, drug use, a fascination with death and/or dying, prior suicide attempts, expressing feelings of inadequacy or of being a burden to those around them, she said.
People can also look for symptoms in themselves such as not wanting to get out of bed, or things that used to make them happy do not anymore, Martinez said.
"People are finding they are not able to find happiness, no matter what they do," she said.
Services are available to students who believe they are suffering from depression. If a student would like to speak with a counselor, the health services department offers counseling services free of charge to credit students in 67B on the lower level, up to six visits.
According to the Center for Disease Control, suicide was the third leading cause of death among youth ages 10-24 in 2004.That year 4,599 youths committed suicide.
"The problem is there are so many reasons why youths commit suicide that it's hard to come up with a set of solutions," Livier Martinez, 37, a licensed clinical social worker at Mt. SAC said.
"There is a combination of various factors that are different among each person," Martinez said. "Pressure is one…demanding roles and expectations are another. There is a link between depression and substance abuse. The list goes on."
Disturbing as well is the method in which youths are committing suicide. According to the CDC study, most young men resort to guns to commit suicide, while females mainly overdose on drugs or hang themselves.
According to the CDC report, an increasing number of youths cut themselves for attention and end up committing suicide by accidentally cutting too deep or too often. Though there is something that can be done, Martinez said. Friends and family members need to watch for warning signs such as a history of mental illness, drug use, a fascination with death and/or dying, prior suicide attempts, expressing feelings of inadequacy or of being a burden to those around them, she said.
People can also look for symptoms in themselves such as not wanting to get out of bed, or things that used to make them happy do not anymore, Martinez said.
"People are finding they are not able to find happiness, no matter what they do," she said.
Services are available to students who believe they are suffering from depression. If a student would like to speak with a counselor, the health services department offers counseling services free of charge to credit students in 67B on the lower level, up to six visits.
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