Introduction
Suicide is a severe problem in many countries around the globe. While it is one of the significant causes of death among every age group, it is known that suicide is more frequent among youth compared to other ages (Cha 460). Adolescence is the time when teenagers form as individuals and begin to explore the world more deeply and are fragile in terms of mental health problems. There are risk factors, knowledge of which gives an understanding of the overall picture. The world needs to pay more attention to this issue because of the many young lives that society loses and the socioeconomic and psychological effects suicide causes.
The Suicidal Statistics Among Teenagers and Children Need to Have More Attention
Teachers are One of the Groups that Have a Strong Impact on the Adolescent Suicide Rate
Suicide is present in different age groups, and its rate rises with time. However, “it is the second leading cause of death during childhood and adolescence, whereas it is the tenth leading cause of death among all age groups” (Cha 460). The COVID-19 pandemic only strengthened this issue because of the loneliness many teenagers experienced during lockdowns or isolation. According to Stickl Haugen’s research, twenty percent of high schoolers consider suicide seriously (2). However, there are groups of people that can positively affect the statistics and help young people not to make fatal mistakes. One of the groups that play a significant role in the suicide rate decrease is teachers. It is not unexpected because children spend most of their time at school. Teachers can usually be the first adults to discover the psychological or emotional problems of students and have an opportunity to help. However, it is crucial for them to understand how to act right, not to make the situation worse. Every teacher needs to be educated about preventing children from suicide, providing support, and engaging professional mental health workers to help students with their problems.
School Nurses’ and Peers’ Impact is Crucial for Children’s Safety
Another group that is crucial for children’s safety is school nurses. They are positioned to help students with their health issues and must be trained to determine if they need professional help. Even though there is no empirical evidence about school nurses’ role in suicide proclivity detection and intervention, it is hard to overestimate their influence on children’s health in many aspects. Psychological factors, such as drug use or depression, personality characteristics like impulsivity, and different stressful situations, are identified as the main factors contributing to suicidality. Bullying, drug use, and other stressful setups are not new in the modern world, especially for teenagers. All of these aspects can become the ones that form suicidal thoughts in a young person. In fact, because “children and adolescents spend a large amount of their time in schools, the school can be an ideal setting for the implementation of suicide prevention programs” (Pestaner 41). Peers can also be important in suicide prevention because of their classmates’ understanding. Peer support “can be characterized by the degree of healthcare system integration, relationship, and mental health status of the peers” (Bowersox 233). Sharing the common experience they have, peers provide needed support.
Conclusion
To conclude, this issue needs to be discussed more to save and secure future generations. The increase in suicide rate affects many factors, including psychological impact on society. People need to study how they can help each other in difficult situations. Different groups of people, such as teachers, classmates, school nurses, and other people in school, have an opportunity to help youth that wants to commit suicide potentially. Proper education and training can save many lives, and that is why it is vital to understand the procedure in case of suicidal danger.
Works Cited
Bowersox, Nicholas W., et al. “Peer-based Interventions Targeting Suicide Prevention: A Scoping Review.” American Journal of Community Psychology, vol. 68, no. ½., 2021, pp. 232-248. EBSCOhost. Web.
Cha, Christine B. et al. “Suicide among Youth: Epidemiology, (Potential) Etiology, and Treatment.”Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines, vol. 59, no. 4, 2018, pp. 460-482. Web.
Pestaner, Mitzi C., et al. “The Role of the School Nurse in Suicide Interventions: An Integrative Review.” Journal of School Nursing, vol. 37, no. 1, 2021, pp. 41-50. EBSCOhost. Web.
Stickl Haugen, Jaimie et al. “Teachers as Youth Suicide Prevention Gatekeepers: An Examination of Suicide Prevention Training and Exposure to Students at Risk of Suicide.”Child & youth care forum, 1-19. 2022. Web.