Suicide In Young People: Data And Characteristics Of This Phenomenon
Unfortunately, youth is a stage of life in which suicidal behavior is not a rarity, at least statistically. Especially if we look at adolescence, it is observed that this psychologically complex transition stage has a negative impact on the mental health of many people.
In this article We will focus on the phenomenon of suicide in young people as well as in the psychological processes linked to it.
To understand the phenomenon of suicide from the point of view of Psychology, it is essential to first know the concept of suicidal ideation. This is the tendency to repeatedly think about the idea of taking one’s own life, with varying degrees of detail and that it has nothing to do with a simple creativity exercise (for example, “practicing” to write a novel thinking about how the protagonist thinks).
Additionally, suicidal ideation can be passive or active; In the first case, the person thinks about the fact that he is not interested in continuing to live, and in the second, he reflects on possibilities about how to commit suicide, that is, he performs “experiments” in his imagination about the technical aspects of how to commit suicide. I would.
It must be taken into account that Not everyone who attempts suicide consistently develops suicidal ideation. ; For example, it is possible that a person tries to take his own life more or less spontaneously and unexpectedly during a psychotic break or when he sees a family member die unexpectedly.
On the other hand, suicidal ideation is difficult to detect; Many people actively hide the fact that these kinds of ideas are on their mind, and it is estimated that approximately 60% of those who commit suicide had not reported having been experiencing suicidal ideation.
Key ideas about suicidal behavior in young people
These are the keys to understanding the way in which adolescents tend to experience the urge to commit suicide.
1. How common is it for young people to think about suicide?
It is estimated that, in Western culture countries and their areas of influence, between 5 and 25% of adolescents experience or have recently experienced suicidal ideation.
Furthermore, it is estimated that in adolescence, of those who present persistent suicidal ideation, approximately 47% claim to have planned in detail how to commit suicide and around 24% attempt to take their own life at least once. Furthermore, the majority (more or less 70%) of those who reach the point of attempting suicide and have developed suicidal ideation do so in the same year in which it begins to occur.
On the other hand, The part of adolescence in which suicidal ideation is most common is between 13 and 19 years of age. that is, from the last phase of puberty to post-adolescence.
2. There is not always a disorder behind the desire to commit suicide
Assuming that all people who commit suicide or attempt suicide have a diagnosable disorder implies assuming a very simplifying idea of this reality. It is not necessary to meet the diagnostic criteria for psychopathology to suffer from suicidal ideation. although this is a symptom of many of them.
The psychological disorders that most overlap with suicidal ideation are major depression, bipolar disorder, dysthymia, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, and body dysmorphic disorder.
3. Self-esteem problems become especially important in suicidal behavior during adolescence
In the case of adolescence, self-esteem problems caused by the changes the body goes through and identity crises Due to the transition between childhood roles and those of adult life, as well as the need for acceptance by the peer group, they seem to be an important factor in relation to suicidal ideation.
4. Previous attempts are the main risk factor
The fact that a teenager has attempted suicide before is the main predictor of trying again above whether or not there is a diagnosis of a psychological disorder.
Additionally, people who are not heterosexual and/or not cisgender are also at greater risk for suicidal ideation. The latter is relevant, because it is during adolescence when one begins to become aware of one’s own sexual orientation and gender identity.
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