Introduction
The problem of suicide within youth is one of the most burning problems nowadays. Originally, young people commit suicide because of their lack of self-confidence, lack of confidence in their future, and lack of life experience. Nevertheless, even if the key reasons are known, it is almost impossible to prevent suicides among youth, as additional factors often influence their decision.
Thesis Statement
Suicide is generally regarded as the third cause of death for young people between 10 and 24. (Lester and Lester, 65) The dramatic statistics reveal that three of the most popular means of suicide are firearms, suffocation, and poisoning. Originally, the reasons for suicide are various, nevertheless, the final cause is approximately common. Moreover, special risk factors and risk groups exist, as two young people behave differently in the same situation.
Analysis
The fact is that the final cause, which pushes youngsters to pull the trigger, is the feeling of hopelessness and abandonment. Thus, the most effective solution to the problem will be psychological help and assistance in solving the appeared problem. Such help will be definitely anonymous, as youngsters are often too vulnerable and do not wish to share such a problem with their friends, parents, and other surrounding people. (Pritchard, 67)
Even though special hotlines exist, few know of their existence, consequently, extensive advertisement campaigns should be held. Moreover, people should be persuaded that a solution really exists, they just need to become courageous enough for finding this solution, and implementing it in real life.
Risk Factors
Some people commit suicide unexpectedly for the surrounding people, while others are in the risk group. The risk group entails the following factors:
- Those, who already had suicide attempts
- Instances of suicide in a family
- Mental deceases
- Alcohol or drug affection
- Incarceration or any other stressful event (Miller and Eckert, 198)
Thus, the special monitoring system should be arranged for controlling the risk group and performing the corresponding psychological assistance and educational work.
How to Prevent
Originally, suicides are spiritually weak people, who do not have anybody to rely on. Assisting them in overcoming the problem, there is a strong necessity to encourage them of being strong, and resist the world, as life always tries us for strength, and all the challenges, which happen in life, can be overcome, independently of the circumstances.
If this does not help, the statement of the opposite should be resorted to. Weak people are like a virus on a planet, which weakens the entire organism, and cannot be tolerated. Thus, if you are weak – you are nothing. Thus, shame should be used in the argumentation strategy and self-compassion. Nevertheless, if these strategies do not work, the strategy of psychological shock may be resorted to. Famine, drought, floods, hurricanes, and other disasters should be shown. When people see all the miseries and horrors of the disasters, they feel that not all is lost. Finally, the histories of those who fight for life should be demonstrated. Injured people, deceased, with AIDS or cancer – those who wish to live despite all.
The only aim of the assistance should be the statement that life is worth living and that no one is abandoned. These are the key aspects of preventing suicide, especially among youngsters.
Conclusion
Despite the dramatic statistics and the frightening tendencies of suicide within the youth, the problem is solvable, as the main aim is to make them feel assistance, and persuade that not everything is lost.
Works Cited
Lester, David, and Gene Lester. Suicide: The Gamble with Death. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 2001.
Miller, David N., Tanya L. Eckert, and James J. Mazza. “Suicide Prevention Programs in the Schools: A Review and Public Health Perspective.” School Psychology Review 38.2 (2009): 168
Pritchard, Colin. Suicide–The Ultimate Rejection? A Psycho-Social Study. Philadelphia: Open University Press, 2005.