»This is a serious problem

We have already discussed that if a teenager is unable to cope up with his present circumstances, there is a high risk that teen will undergo stress. Stress is something that can be avoided by taking some easy steps but DEPRESSION is something that leads to greater disasters. For the sake of relieving the depression, the teens get indulge in drinking, smoking or even exercising drugs that result in addiction to them. Even they later exploit their life so much that they found no other option then suicide. And in another case, depression also creates a self-destructive feeling resulting into suicides. Both the cases have a disastrous effect on the society. In this page we will be looking forward for these two problems and discussing the major effects on society. 

As we discussed earlier that when a teen get depressed mythological people take it lightly and assume that leaving that person alone will make him recover naturally. Such myths have grown tremendously in the society in the past few years. Results are in front of us….

Let’s have a look on these few results that proves this as a genuine real world problem:

1. Around 33,300 Americans commit suicide every year.
2. 1 out of Every 8 Teens suffers from depression and when the depression develops, it unfortunately creates suicidal feelings.
3. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) says that about 90% of all the suicides are related to depression.
4. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), of every 100,000 young people in each age group, the following number died by suicide in 2007:

• Children ages 10 to 14 — 0.9 per 100,000
• Adolescents ages 15 to 19 — 6.9 per 100,000  

Isn’t it a bundle of disaster?

Leaving that person alone in that worst condition could be dangerous because a depressed mind looses the ability to think about the right and wrong aspects of life. It then leads to substance abuse and suicide. 

It is believed that most of the failed suicide attempts are a way of demanding help. But Research indicates that suicide attempts are not always cries for help, as people with failed suicide attempts may not always seek treatment. Instead, suicide attempts may be desperate attempts to control symptoms of depression or mental illness.

However this is true that suicide attempts are in some cases “A Cry For Help”. In such cases, people having suicidal feelings don’t exactly wish to terminate their lives but try to terminate their pains. Conventionally that suicide committer generally leaves signs before committing suicide. They talk about their suicidal feelings with someone before committing suicide.

MYTH- People who talk about suicide don't commit it.

FACT - Studies have shown that eight out of ten suicide attempts had given signs of their will before committing suicide. Generally these people naturally leave signs of their suicidal feeling, directly or indirectly. Such suicidal signs should always be identified carefully and seriously. Such people should be listened carefully and should be encouraged to share and communicate their feelings and emotions because it provides an emotional support. Preferably, the person should also be encouraged to get professional support. However, it does not mean that every person who will talk about suicide will surely commit suicide. Signs naturally begin to appear in the person with genuine suicidal thoughts.

MYTH- Once a person determines for suicide, no one can stop him.

FACT-  Suicide is a temporary psychological feeling that protrudes in a depressed mind. With the help of emotional support and professional help, person can overcome this feeling. The companions should listen to that person carefully even if his talks makes no sense, encourage him to speak more and to throw out all his frustrations so as to feel better. Help the person to overcome from depression if you encounter such symptoms. This can brought him back from the dark suicidal feeling to a new shining life.

MYTH- The method which the suicide committer adopt, shows his seriousness towards ending his life.

FACT- Some mythological people believe that the methods that the person chooses for suicide, indicates how serious the individual is for ending his life. For example, if someone tries to commit suicide through over-medicinal dose then it indicates that he is not much serious for suicide as the chances of dying with this method is less.
However, just because a person is unsuccessful in committing suicide does not mean he is not serious about ending his life. According to the National Institutes of Health, one-third of people who attempt suicide will repeat the act within a year, and 10% will ultimately succeed in their attempt to commit suicide.

MYTH- You have to be mentally ill to even think about suicide.

FACT- Suicidal feeling is not unique and can strike anyone. In the page "Depression Stories", we have discussed about such famous people who thought and tried to commit suicide. For example, the famous novelist- J.K.Rowling. A depressed mind mostly invites the suicidal feeling. It is because the person finds himself hopeless and despair.

Parents often misbelieve that teens consume alcohol and drugs to "fit in" with the friend’s circle. Teens often consume drugs and alcohol to get relieve from the frustration and irritation building up in them due to depression. Unfortunately, these substances lead to even more complexity to the victim. These drugs damage the chemicals of brain resulting in change of mood. It damages the receptors in the brain that can badly affect a depressed mind. 

Parents often misbelieve that the consumption of drug and alcohol by their teen is simply a discipline issue for a child who is "bad." The teen sometime fails to express his feelings to the parents. Such situation requires an urgent need of a professional expert nailing down the source of the problem. Applying harsh rules and regulation may exploit such conditions.

Abusive drinking alcohol or usage of drugs can seriously hit a teen's physical, emotional, and psychological health. Recent studies say that the damage caused by the use of these two can be long-lasting and even permanent. The drugs slowly eradicate the brain cells as well as the person's power of differentiating between good and bad. They might feel 'out of the world' while consuming them. This pleasure makes them feel that they are relieved from depression, but it’s just an addiction which if once started can’t be leaved until the full disaster comes. This strategy may however provide temporary relief but can also result in drug or alcohol dependency and increased tolerance for the substance abused. It becomes their weakness and they find no other way except taking drugs again and again. Alcohol intoxication reduces inhibitions and increases the risk of impulsive or risky acts. Some drugs, can seriously affect the neurotransmitters, which are known as the "messengers of the brain." Recent studies suggest this damage can be long-lasting and even permanent. Increased impulsivity may increase the risk of self-destructive acts in people who are already suicidal. The longer they take drugs, the more difficult would be for the teens to get out from the web of drugs and consequently the more chances of them to collapse...