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Adolescence

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In today’s day and age the adolescence in under more stress than ever before. Peer acceptance lack of coping skills and or social support leads the adolescence to feel that suicide is the only way out. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among teens between the ages of 15-19(Ball & Binder, 2008. Pg.1132). Too often the adolescence may feel that they are unable to cope with every day’s stressors partly due to the lack of appropriate skills and outlets, adequate support systems, or available mental health interventions. Depression suicide and substance abuse emerge as life becomes overwhelming and the future unmanageable (Edelman, & Mandel, 2010). There are warning signs of the possible suicidal ideations in the adolescence. The distressed adolescence tends to give clues, both verbally and nonverbally. Some of the warning signs may be the expression of hopelessness a preoccupation with death or an increasing rage or anger (Health Promotion Throughout the Life Span list several other warning signs on page 558). Any single clue may mean nothing but, in this writers opinion serves as a red flag and the idea should be taken seriously. Suicide threats should never be ignored, and the adolescent who is thinking harming or possibly harming themselves should never be left alone (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2006, Shaw et al., 2005).
Adolescent suicide can be prevented. When you suspect that an adolescent may be or is suicidal an immediate intervention should be made. Programs such as Arizona Suicide Prevention Coalition at www.azspc.org can offer help to teens that are thinking of suicide. A primary intervention would be to try and identify any warning signs and to have the child express any problems they might be having. Secondary intervention would be to seek counseling and getting the child professional help. Lastly tertiary intervention would be

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