You have heard it said that the young think themselves to be immortal.  Thinking it is one thing, of course, but acting on it can be devastating.  Many young people try drugs thinking that addiction can’t happen to them, that they would not be the ones to overdose.  They don’t understand that they are on a collision course with serious danger, if not destruction.  This compelling video gives an inside look at the problem of teen drug use in America today.

Often, the bullying begins quietly.  Many times it has only one perpetrator, and people in positions of responsibility such as teachers and parents may not be aware there is anything going on until it is essentially too late.  What do we mean by too late?  It could be several things:  the permanent scarring of a young mind, the development of anger and hatred towards a group of people over the actions of one, and even worse things like chronic depression.

Here are some statistics on bullying that might astound you:

Recently at a high school there have been two suicides in one school year. High school can be one of the best times in your life, but it can also be one of the hardest. There is constantly something working against you. For some students that are focused highly on their life after high school, the pressure of academic success becomes overwhelming to the point that they finally crack in one way or another. Other students focus on sports of popularity. Those are the ones that feel as though they are never good enough. The competition to be at the top of the roster and school puts a lot of pressure on vulnerable teenagers. When you throw love and hormones into this high school concoction, you are bound to have a chance result.  While many people remember high school as one of the best times in their lives, some get caught up in life and can’t find a way out. What many high school students that commit suicide don’t realize is how much they matter to the people around them.

At this high school one student in particular had a huge impact on the school. He wasn’t the most popular, wasn’t in any sports or clubs, he was a good, quiet student that has a funny side once you got to know him. When he made the choice to remove himself from this world he had no idea the impact that it would have not only on his family and friends, but the entire school. Every person that was in a class with him had to stare at an empty seat. Everyone that walked past him in the halls on a daily basis noticed his absence, even people that knew only of his name were grieving over the loss of a classmate.

It’s important to realize that everyone matters, everyone is noticed. The road to recovery for these students wasn’t easy. There were tears shed in classrooms not only by the students, but by the teachers. They wrote his name on their hands in his favorite colors, they made bracelets in  his honor that they sold to raise money for his family. They made banners encouraging others to take a stand against suicide in the hopes that it would never strike again.

While no one wants to go through something that needs recovery, at some point everyone must go through it in their own way. When you are recovering its important to sick with the people that you love and grieve in your own way. It also helps to fight to prevent others from going through what you have. Stand together and recover.

I have worked at a teen counseling facility for nine years now.  Many of the teens that I work with come from loving homes and have everything that most teens would love to have.  They have a nice home, Green cobra potpourri, and great clothes.  The fact is they just do not have hope.  Often there worries and troubles stem from a relationship gone wrong.  Sometimes addiction leads them into a state of depression.  It is sad, but it is true.  Parents, teachers, and those who are in constant contact with teens need to be a help and a healer.

I have been where a lot of the teens I interact with have been.  When I was seventeen I found myself addicted to drugs and in an abusive relationship.  I did not want to keep living and I was so depressed and broken.  Thankfully I found the teen center where I am now working.

If you are a teen who feels alone and broken, then know that you are not alone.  There are people who care for you.  It is time to heal, and you can heal.  The teens in my group right now introduced me to a song that they said really helped them on the journey to healing.  Maybe it could be of help to you. It is by a group called Red and it is called, “Pieces.”  Watch a video for it below.

Bullying is a serious matter that shouldn’t ever be overlooked. Many people are unaware that bullying is such a widespread problem as well as how great the effects of it are. When you see the statistics and learn how often a child is bullied and the extremes that it can push them to you begin to think about it in a different light.

It’s amazing how many children are involved in bullying, being both the bullier and the bullied. Bullying is an ever increasing problem among today’s youth. It is a  necessity to make this number decrease which will lead to a decrease in teen suicides. Problems that seem so small at first can grow very quickly into a dangerous situation. While the majority of the bullied can cope with things, there are a few that go to the extremes. Some of them finally take a stand for themselves while others take the opposite approach and try to remove themselves permanently.

To help protect today’s youth and make a serious change in school systems you must take a stand against bullying. Take a look at these bullying facts.

When you are in bad situations for a long period if time your mind begins to process things differently. If you are used to getting yelled at, it eventually will loose it’s effect. Over extended periods of time your body can adapt and be trained in certain ways, some for good and some for bad. It’s similar to how people can be brainwashed and trained to do whatever the person in charge tells them to do.

People that are going through depression and are thinking about committing suicide are not in a normal frame of mind. Most of the time this is not their fault. Someone or something has caused them to think differently. This alternate way of thinking is what makes suicides a devastating reality.

If you are being forced into an alternate state of mind that you don’t think that you can escape, know that you can! Many suicide cases are results from some kind of  trauma.

Bullying in schools is becoming an ever increasing cause of young peoples suicides. If you are being severely bullied in school don’t take matters into your own hands. You are not the problem, eliminating yourself is not going to make things better. The alternate solution to this problem is to tell someone, it doesn’t matter what kind of threats you receive about telling someone, the person you tell can help you get out of the bad situation.

The same thing goes for physical abuse, most of the time this is more common at home which makes it harder to get out of but it is very possible to do. You can go to a trusted person at school or go to a responsible person that is willing to remove you from the situation. You never have to stay in a situation that is so bad you want to take your own life.

If you have a fear of people getting you, from a traumatic event or just a psychological thing you can get help through therapy and having pets or other things that create a safety barrier for you. Don’t think that getting yourself before someone else does is the answer.

If you suffer a severe loss and don’t know how you can live without someone, know that you can. It’s a part of life that everyone faces when it’s their time. Don’t create your own time, it will come when it’s supposed to. There is always another solution, look through the clouds and see the sun of hope shining through.

The leading cause of teenage suicide is having a metal disorder such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or depression. Many people don’t even realize that they have these mental disorders until it is too late. You should understand these diseases and their effects.

Bipolar disorder- is a condition in which people alternate between a good mood and depression. These changes typically occur quickly and unexpectedly. There are two types of bipolar disorder, Bipolar I, which is where  people have had a period of manic (major depression) behavior in the past and Bipolar II, which have never experienced full mania they have experienced the lesser version known as hypomania. There is also a less severe version of bipolar disorder known as cyclothymia. Manic periods can be caused by life changing experiences, drug use, steroids, and long periods of time without sleep. During a time of manic symptoms can include: not needing sleep, lack of judgement, lack of self control, reckless behavior, extremely elevated mood, being hyperactive, high energy level, heightened self esteem, racing thoughts and excessive talking. In periods of depression symptoms include: sadness, loss of interest, eating changes, lack of energy, loss of self esteem, feeling worthless, sleep pattern changes, withdrawal from friends and activities.

Schizophrenia- is a mental disorder than causes a person to not think rationally and clearly. They have a hard time distinguishing real and unreal events, having typical emotions, and having normal social behavior. It’s unknown what causes the disease but it is known that genetics play a role in it. Some of the signs of Schizophrenia are: having problems keeping a job and close friends, feeling tense, lack of concentration, being unemotional, having delusional thoughts, having hallucinations, consistently having random thoughts, being angry, paranoid about someone harming you, childlike behavior, lack of physical activity, and strange facial expressions. Not everyone has all or many of these symptoms.

Depression- is a period of sadness that lasts for weeks or longer. Depression is a disorder that can be caused by: alcohol, drugs, an under-active thyroid,  cancer, long term pain, steroids, sleeping problems, relationship problems, failing at something, neglect, abuse, divorce, loss or sickness of a loved one, and isolation. The symptoms of depression are: irritation, change in eating and sleeping patterns, lack of focus, feeling hopeless, self hatred, self isolation or withdrawal, loss on interest in liked activities.

If someone you loved has or was thinking about committing suicide it’s never an easy thing to cope with but having a possible explanation may help to put your mind at ease.

It’s important to never under estimate the capability of a depressed teenager. Parents and peers are quick to judge a strange behavior as being “a teenage thing”, when it could be the starting signs of suicide. In order to keep an eye on your friends, and family you need to be aware of the signs of suicide. It’s also important to know how to handle the situation if you notice the signs in someone you love, or just a fellow classmate.

Signs

• Not being interested in or participating in extracurricular activities
• Having problems working or losing interest in their job
• Using Drugs -legal and illegal
• Having problems with controlling their behavior
• Not wanting to be around family and friends
• Not sleeping the way they typically do
• Eating differently
• Not caring how they look
• Not having personal hygiene
• Complaining of physical pain ex. headaches
• Can’t pay attention to things or concentrate
• Having an sudden worsening of grades in school
• Not caring about schoolwork
• Taking risks
• Frequently says they are bored
• Don’t care about being praised
• Having violent actions to themselves or others
• Being rebellious
• Running away
• Sudden change in personality
• Complaining of being a bad person
• Saying things such as “I wont be a problem much longer”, “Nothing matters”, “It’s no use”, or “I wont see you again”
• Giving away possessions
• Becoming very happy when depressed
• Having hallucinations
• Problems with relationships
• Writing or drawing about death
• Jokingly talking about suicide
• Having a past of attempted suicide

If you know someone that is exhibiting several of these symptoms you should do something about it before it is too late. While you want to help them you can’t barge in or start accusing them of things. Taking things slow is protecting their stable mind frame. It’s like ADT Security Safe from the Start for your home. The best way to go about helping someone in need is notifying someone who knows what to do. If you want to try and talk to a potential suicide victim you should be open and not aggressive. Ask questions that cause them to realize how important they are to many people. You also want to let them know that they aren’t alone and you be there to go through their problems together.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death to people between the ages of 15 and 24. Don’t ever take it lightly when someone starts to show the warning signs of suicide.

• They might openly talk about suicide or death
• They might talk about their feelings of being lonely or hopeless or guilty
• They might separate themselves from their friends and family
• They might give up all of the things that they used to love
• They might take part in things that are self-destructive
• They might change how they eat, sleep, or do other daily activities

So, what can you do to prevent suicide?  It has been shown that a lot of teens give a warning of some kind prior to committing suicide.  Be sure of the signs so that you will be there to help your teen get the help that he or she needs.  Follow some of these tips also.

• Make sure you are keeping a close watch on your teen if he or she seems to be depressed.
• Be open when communicating. Think of it like a TV drama on D3Q Direct TV. When you are open to listening to your teen, then he or she will feel better about talking to you, and that support could make all the difference.
• Find someone for your teen to talk to if he or she would rather not talk to you.  A close relative, their doctor, someone from church, etc. are good examples.
• Just ask.  If you have serious concern, then ask your teen how he or she is feeling, and ask if he or she is considering hurting their self.  It may be uncomfortable, but it is surely necessary.

Remember if your teen is suicidal then get help immediately.

Influences

• Emotions–often when feeling lost, depressed, or lonely, teenagers think of suicide as a way out.
• Addictions–an addiction to drugs, alcohol, or both can lead to thoughts of suicide.
• Loss–the loss of a loved one, divorce, or a break-up can make teenagers feel like giving up.
• Stresses–some teens who commit suicide were stressed over school, their relationships, or even expectations.
• Bullying–not only do teen who are bullied consider suicide, but bullies do as well.
• There are more influences, but make sure that you are talking with your teen.  If you need more help, then reach out for help by contacting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.  If you are aware that your teen currently is feeling suicidal, then take him or her to the emergency room immediately or contact 9-1-1.

Mental Illnesses

The majority of the people who attempt suicide or commit it are suffering from a mental illness.  The illnesses that are most common include the following:

• Depression–this gives the person feelings that are negative and scary.  Feelings of being lonely, scared, and sad, with no will to do anything.
• Alcoholism–this is a large contributor when there is alcoholism or a drug addiction along with another mental illness also.
• Bipolar Disorder–this is an illness where the sufferer goes from highs to lows at periods at a time.  It can lead to extrem invincible highs and incredibly depressing lows.
• Schizophrenia–this illness is marked by unrealistic views on reality and sometimes hallucinations.

Again, call 9-1-1 if your teen is suicidal, or proceed to the hospital emergency room.