Teen Suicide - Letter to the Editor

Mark Hensley, ARNP Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

I think we all feel so helpless and powerless to do anything when a tragedy strikes one of our young people like what happened over the recent July 4 th holiday (2007). I had a chance to experience the depth of our community’s grief this past weekend at the Alley as teenagers and adults gathered to try to understand what had happened. I have also sensed the deep grief of my teenage son and his friends as they gathered and tried to console one another.

It’s difficult to comprehend how anyone can take his life – let alone someone who has so much ahead of him as a teenager. Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for Iowa youth between the ages of 15-19. A recent survey of sixth, eighth, and eleventh graders found that ten percent have made one or more suicide attempts. Another ten percent of those surveyed had planned a way to kill themselves. On the average, two young people take their life every month in Iowa. Chilling – absolute chilling – isn’t it?

When something like this happens, we all look backwards in time. In many cases, we even see the “signs.” We begin to blame ourselves. If only I … if only I … It doesn’t work that way. Blaming ourselves is not a helpful way to respond to this type of problem. It is our calling to figure out how we may reduce the risk of such a loss in the future.

It is important to take active, assertive measures. Look for the signs as they happen. The Iowa Department of Public Health list theses suicide warning signs (See: Teen Suicide Signs):

Previous suicide attempts.

Current talk of suicide, or making a plan.

Giving away favorite possessions, or throwing away important belongings.

Expressions of depression, hopelessness, helplessness and anger at oneself or the world.

Statements revealing thoughts of death, such as “I won’t be around much longer,” “It’s hopeless” or “I won’t be missed when I’m gone.”

Recent loss of a friend or family member through death or suicide.

Other losses, such as loss of a parent through divorce.

Strong personality changes, withdrawal, aggressiveness or moodiness.

New involvement with high-risk activities.

Sudden, dramatic decline or improvement in schoolwork.

Use or increased use of drugs and/or alcohol.

Chronic headaches or stomach aches, fatigue.

What do you do if you see these signs in a teenager? Of course, I am going to tell you to get that teenager to someone who can help them. Over the past weekend, I offered at least one free session with a Community Health Centers of Southern Iowa therapist for anyone who wanted to just talk about what happened or has feelings of sadness or depression.

Iowa has a statewide crisis line that is answered 24 hours a day which is 1-800-332-4224. The national suicide hotline is 1-800-SUICIDE. Not everyone needs to see a therapist – many teenagers just need someone to talk to about their feelings. For those teenagers, Iowa has a Teen Line which is 1-800-443-8336 . I urge you to cut it out or copy it and post it everywhere – in schools … churches … stores – on your refrigerator!

As a community, there are many things we can do to reduce the chances of another similar incident. Blame isn’t one of them – I see hopeful signs that we are going through the healing process. I give a lot of credit – the most credit – to the youth of Lamoni who have supported each other as they make the effort to cope and choose to live life at their best. I hope that I never have to participate in another session at the Alley like I did over the past weekend because I can say the Lamoni community took steps to give our teenagers the kind of help they need when they think “It’s hopeless.”