Why do you think the suicide rate is so high among adolescents?

Question

Many people believe that suicide represents the ultimate failure to cope with stress, whereas some people think that suicide itself is a coping response. Which view do you support, and why?

Answer 1

If you visited today's high schools you wouldn't even have to ask. Kids get bullied everyday for all kinds of things and schools never even acknowlege it until it turns into a full blown fist fight. I think it's a failure to cope with stress, you can't cope once your dead so the coping during the lifetime was a failure. They had an inability to see a brighter future

Answer 2

I feel that suicide is a misguided attempt to cope with stress.

Adolescents have it hard emotionally as we all know and without proper guidance they turn in on themselves wondering what's wrong with themselves. After some self-analysis they usually come to the conclusion they are not loved enough and I feel this is based upon that guidance factor.

Let's face it. In a healthy family with proper guidance adolescents will not likely commit suicide. It's those that are really left to themselves to deal with problems that kill themselves.

Many will say it's the kid's fault for pushing the parents away but there is a reason for that.

Think about it.

Answer 3

I think that as a teen, circumstances in life can seem overwhelming. Teenagers aren't quite equipped with the appreciation that life DOES and WILL get better. It seems interminable at the time, especially if it's something negative going on.

I definitely think suicide is an appropriate option for some people when they suffer something of a PERMANENT nature and they just can't bear it any longer. But it's when a PERMANENT fix is used for a TEMPORARY problem, that's when society needs to step in. Teens often use suicide as a permanent fix for a temporary problem, they lack vision to see that life will change for the better if they give it time and patience... patience is not a strong suit in teens yet!

Answer 4

I support the view that suicide is the ultimate failure to cope with stress. The suicide rate is high among adolescents because they may face difficult problems without having developed the coping skills to deal with them--and they may choose to commit suicide. Suicide cannot be a coping response because coping responses must be developed over time and suicide is a one-time (and tragic) event.

Answer 5

I think it is a sign of great failure in Parents and Socitey to raise a strong and healthy generation. As far as the individual? I won't say, because my opinion is quite cruel.

I think it is because kids don't have any strength anymore. Naturally they are born just as strong as any other generation, but my hero was someone who endured great pain and triumphed. We used to root for the underdog! When the going gets tough, the tough get going!!
When I grew up shows for children were about having strong moral character and cooperating with others to succeed. Now as my son grows up I see that there are really no good shows, they all are educational programs designed to build self esteem. I am referring to shows for very young children.
Today's parents are raising kids with an inflated sense of self confidence, who think minor problems are major dramas. You highs schools could be a lot worse, trust me.
Also the media has RAPED heroes. Why are Wolverine and Superman Skinny? Why are all the females dressed like whores? She-Ra and Wonder Woman made no compromises, they were just has tough as He-Man and Captain America... Supergirl? Hello!! You have to work hard to be the best, it takes muscle to be powerful... *sighs* doesn't anyone get it, how can anyone swallow these ridiculous images?
Anyways, Children need to realize suffering is what makes them stronger, and that it takes help from others to truly come out on top.

Answer 6

well, if a man has a problem, they tend to bottle it up, it is not as common for them to tell someone, as they would be scared of being seen as weak. On the other hand, a girl with problems is more likely to either tell a trusted friend, a parent or get help on a helpline. They don't feel such a need to bottle it up and so they can get on and get help. Boys are less likely to get the help they need with councelling or meds, which may have sorted out the depression/whatever was causing the problem, before it got to that stage. I think it has always been this way.

Answer 7

I think it is a response to both. Its when we can not, or fail to cope with our stress and also, we feel it is our only way to cope with stress. In other words...we can't cope efficiently as others do with stress, so we resort to the only way we see out..suicide. I do not support either of course. People that commit suicide are obviously hurting...but nothing compared to the pain they leave behind for those who love them (husband, wife, parents, children, etc.) In adolescents, I feel that they are lacking the coping skills needed to dal with life. Lets face it, its not easy for our youths out there today. I honestly feel that they are so afraid of all that is going on in the world and close around them that they act out in rebelllion, being "tough", gangs, drugs, suicide, etc. I am afraid for this generation and all they have to face in their lives. Its a great generation, with so much information and knowledge at their fingertips...the opertunities are limitless... I just pray they will take hold of those opportunities and not move toward the destruction that also is available.
Ok..I'm rambling..but..thats my opinion and I'm sticking to it lol

Answer 8

Suicide is prevalent among adoloscents because they respond to failures impulsively with great passion prompting them to do drastic acts that led to death like jumping from a high building or cutting the main nerve of the hands. Reacting to stimuli from loved ones or failure in studies and ambitions are crucial among the youth. Thus, more suicide is commited due to coping with response.

Answer 9

It looks to me like the teen suicide rate has been steadily declining since 1985 (see link below), so I assume we (as a society) must be doing something right, we just need to do more of it!

It's a complex issue, with (probably) fairly unique factors involved with each incident.

The best thing parents can do is to be involved with their kids.

Answer 10

I think its a coping device and a attention device. teens havent lived long enuff to know things will get better and they r unsure of how to help themselves and or get help from others. thay also have a hard time putting things in perspective.. suicide rates are high in western world but in places like africa where there is a severe poverty problem and everyone is in dire need of help they dont seem to think they have it so bad.. in aus/usa kids tend to think "oh i dont have the latest ipod and now everyone at school hates me.. ill never live it down i wish i were dead" they also have no idea how their tiny insignificant life/death could possibly affect anyone elses. they dont think about the poor family member that finds the body or the ppl that mourne them the rest of their lives.. if they did i dont think they'd do it.