… as well as aggressive school discipline and a higher likelihood of early onset puberty, as possible risk factors.
The trends in the study were driven by boys. Across all age groups, women are less likely to die by suicide, even though suicide attempts are three times higher among women than men.
This study pointed pointed to the reversal of a second trend. While the rate of suicides by firearm decreased among white boys, the rate among black boys remained flat. One possible explanation for this disparity could be that gun safety education isn’t reaching black communities as effectively as white communities, Dr. Christine Moutier, chief medical officer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, told The New York Times. Suicides by hanging, by far the most common suicide method in the study, nearly tripled among black boys, but remained flat among white boys.
So what can you do? It’s important to know the signs.
Common adolescent suicide warning signs include:
- Making suicidal statements
- Being preoccupied with death in conversation, writing, or drawing
- Giving away belongings
- Withdrawing from friends and family
- Having aggressive or hostile behavior
- Running away from home
- A change in personality (such as from upbeat to quiet)
It is extremely important that you take all threats of suicide seriously and seek immediate treatment for your child or teenager. If you are a child or teen and have these feelings, talk with your parents, an adult friend, or your doctor right away to get some help.