Strong family ties greatest deterrent for suicidal teenagers, new study finds

Untreated depression can sometimes lead to teen suicide, which makes the mental condition a clear warning sign that a young person is contemplating taking his or her life. Establishing strong, positive connections with family members, school faculty and the community at large may offset depressive feelings, and potentially prevent tragedies from happening, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Cincinnati (UC).

Teen suicide is the third leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, due to the prevalence of the problem, many indicators can warn family members and healthcare providers prior to an attempt. The UC study outlines warning signs that can be picked up on by loved ones or teachers, especially for those individuals who Paxil or other online pharmacy medication to remedy the symptoms of depression or panic disorders.

Recently published in The Prevention Researcher journal, the report, titled "Teen Depression: Effective Prevention and Intervention Strategies," by study authors Keith King, Ph.D., professor of health promotion, and Rebecca Vidourek, assistant professor of health promotion, is an analysis of the warning signs that lead to suicide among teenagers. The authors placed suicidal warning signs into three categories of strong indicators: behavioral warning signs, verbal warning signs and stressful events in a teenagers' life.

Noticing the signs
Behavioral signs that indicate a teen may be contemplating suicide include over-sleeping or difficulty going to sleep, dramatic changes in school work and displaying signs of unhappiness in activities or hobbies that used to bring joy. Stressful life events could be anything from the loss of a loved one or pet, to a divorce or a teen's breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend. And verbal warning signs, possibly the most explicit, are clear indicators that a child is seriously considering the act, and certain comments should not be taken lightly.

The LGBT youth
Pointing to national research, the authors suggest that even though suicide is not uncommon among young people in general, teens that fall into the categories of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered are the most susceptible and the stand the highest risk of developing suicidal thoughts and prolonged bouts of depression due to harassment by their peers and oftentimes a weak support system at home, according to the UC study.

"As research indicates, the key component to effective depression/suicide prevention is the development of positive social and emotional connections among teens and supportive adults," the authors state in the report. "Thus, getting teens positively connected to positive people and positive situations should remain the goal."