depression and suicide
Moods and Worldviews
According to the American Federation For the Prevention of Suicide (AFPS), suicide is the third-leading cause of death among Americans between the ages of 15 and 24, and it"s the second-leading cause of death — behind only traffic accidents — among college students. In addition, the suicide rate is higher among 19 to 24-year olds enrolled in college than it is for those who aren"t enrolled. These numbers tell only part of the story. Since 1950, the suicide rate among college-aged women has more than doubled, while the rate among college-aged men has tripled.
Even suicide "clusters" aren"t all that uncommon. As Kay Redfield Jamison, a professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins points out in her book Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide, the past 10 years have seen clusters in communities as different as South Boston and Fairfax County, Virginia.
But all the talk of numbers and patterns still leaves us with the question: "Why do people, especially the young, take their own lives?" The most common factor is mental illness — in particular, "mood disorders" such as clinical depression and manic-depressive illness, also known as bi-polar disorder.
Clinical depression is a medical condition "which paralyzes all the otherwise vital forces that make us human ..." leaving us with a life that is "bloodless" and "painless." Manic-depressive illness adds the element of mania, which leaves people feeling exultant, grandiloquent, expansive and irritable. Contrary to what you may have heard, the holidays are not the peak time for suicide. Late spring and early summer are.
As Jamison notes, the presence of mood disorders not only makes it more likely that a person will attempt suicide, but also will incline them towards more "serious" efforts in that direction — that is, efforts that exhibit more forethought and planning.
The impact of mood disorders, which begin, on average, between 18 and 25 years of age, is heightened by a staple of college life: drinking. Any way you slice it, alcohol and mental illness is a bad, often lethal, combination. Many people with depression drink, or use drugs, to relieve their symptoms. But, as Jamison puts it, alcohol and drugs "more often worsen [the pain]" they"re intended to alleviate. They "undermine the individual"s willingness to seek out and receive good clinical care" and "sabotage the effectiveness of prescribed treatment." They reduce inhibitions and increase risk-taking, thus reinforcing whatever tendencies toward self-destruction we may possess.
Although medical and personal factors get the lion"s share of attention, cultural factors are not faultless. Nihilism — which Thomas Hibbs of Boston College defines as "spiritual impoverishment" and "shrunken aspirations" — has come to characterize much of American culture over the past 50 years. To put it plainly, today"s Americans, in particular the young, have more difficulty in identifying something that provides purpose and meaning to their lives.
And the fallout can be deadly.
Background Information
Risks and Signs of Suicidal Behavior
Suicide is common in the adolescent years. Knowing what to look for is the best prevention.
Depression and Suicide
Teens suffering with depression need to be assessed for their risk of suicide. Pay particular attention to these risk factors.
The Symptoms of Depression
Most people associate depression with a feeling of gloom or sadness, but there is a much more important set of symptoms to keep in mind.
Understanding Depression
Depression afflicts everyone at some point. Knowing what to expect can make it easier to address.
No Teen Is an Island
If your child is isolating himself, here's what he might be trying to tell you.
Questions and Answers
I have a 14-year-old who is depressed, angry and will only talk about our old home. How do I help her?
Answer
Review Frequently Asked Questions
Stories
You Never Get All the Answers
A couple touched by suicide shares their walk through grief.
If you've been through a experience related to this topic, we invite you to share your story with others.Share Your Story
Other Things to Consider
Spend It Any Way You Like
Sometimes, the meaning of life is found in the most surprising places.
Related Topics
Relationships: Blended Families, Parents and Adult Children
Transitions: Preparing for Adolescence, Empty Nest
