Teenage Suicide Crisis on Nantucket
March 18, 2008 9:56 am CrisesTake a look at this NY Times story  on this crisis about  a third suicide by a teenager in the last year on Nantucket Island. It is a sad story. What struck me is the fact that the “experts” don’t agree and are not always helpful.
We need to realize that we have very few answers to this and many other Mental health questions.  We also are not paying much attention or doing much research in this area. Mental health care often has sparce coverage by insurance companies. In this country our attention is often on other things:  money, possessions, power. Our educational system training “experts” is lacking to say the least.
What we do know about teenage suicide is:
- Nearly 5,000 teenagers commit suicide each year.
- Suicide is the third leading cause of death among those aged 15-24.
- Young women attempt suicide four times more frequently.
- Young men commit suicide 4 times more often.
- White males are more at risk.
- Reports of one suicide triggering others within a school or community, have increased.
What can a parent do to prevent this tragedy?
- Talk to your teen-ager .
- Don’t be afraid to say the word “suicide.” Using the word will not “give him/her ideas” but will provide relief by saying its ok to talk about this.
- Reassure him/ her that you love him no matter what. Remind him that no matter how bad things seem you want to help and problems can be solved.
- Ask him/Â her to talk about her feelings. Listen carefully. (see my blog on listening)
- Do not make light of  problems ( relationships, thinking no one likes them etc.)
- Do not give glib answers or get angry.
- Remove guns from your home.
- Seek professional help. Finding a good therapist is difficult. Ask around, school counselors may be a good source of referrals but usually can not handle this problem on their own.
- Get help yourself to deal with this. Do not be ashamed of this problem, it is not uncommon enough.
- Â A variety of outpatient and hospital-based treatment programs are available that have sliding fee scales.
Not enough can be said for the powerful protection of a loving stable family life. Suicide often runs in famlies. Unhappy, troubled  families unwittingly may pass on genetic or environmental factors to their children. If you are a parent with your own painful past, get help for yourself and your children!�
