Voices of MontgomeryGuest Column
To Prevent Teen Suicide, Understand It
The apparent suicides of two Montgomery County teenagers, Rachel Samantha Smith, 16, of Potomac and Rachel Lacy Crites, 18, of Gaithersburg, have focused local attention on the issue of teen suicide. The girls were found dead on Feb. 2 in rural Loudoun County, 14 days after they told their parents they would be attending a movie in Georgetown.
Patricia Petralia, a psychiatric nurse who has worked with troubled teenagers and children for nearly 20 years, writes about the signs of teen depression. Petralia is vice president and chief operating officer of Potomac Ridge Behavioral Health Center in Rockville, a member of Adventist HealthCare.
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Montgomery County does not need to read stunning data or statistics to understand the impact of teen suicide. The recent tragic suicides of two Montgomery County teenagers are a call to action for parents and for this community.
This event has brought home to our community an issue that calls for adults to understand the early warning signs of teens at risk for suicide. Adults need to be aware of the resources for saving our teens, and our community needs to develop systemic collaborations to prevent suicides.
National data show that suicide is the third leading cause of death among our teens, and that one in five teens have thought about suicide or attempted suicide at least once during their young lives. Girls' nonlethal suicide attempts are more frequent, and boys are more successful in their suicide acts, with girls often using pills and boys using firearms. The rate of depression, bipolar disorder and other related mental illnesses associated with suicide victims is as high as 95 percent.
We watched the sad story unfold as two county teenagers took their own lives, and we struggled to understand this epidemic that is taking our children and how we can help.
Parents and adults who work with teens need to keep lines of communication open with vulnerable young people. Even now, as adults, we can recall vividly those inescapable feelings we had of being lost, overwhelmed and alone in the world of adolescence. In today's world of divorce, drugs, gangs and high academic expectations, the stress can seem insurmountable. They are not equipped at this young age to cope with the complex emotions of the life situations they are experiencing.
Teens often report they feel like there is "no other way out" of a bad situation than suicide. Failing grades, a broken love relationship, their parents' divorce, and sexual or physical abuse are often reported as causes for suicide attempts. Teens feel that suicide will provide the solution to make the "pain" stop. All too often, we are shut out of these painful worlds -- sometimes because we are too busy with our own pain. At other times, we are afraid to venture into their complex and perplexing world.
Parents need to have some basic tools to know how to begin to help. Identifying the early warning signs, having honest conversations about suicide and making homes suicide-safe are essential skills for parents. Some early warning signs include changes in eating, sleeping more or being unable to sleep, drug or alcohol abuse, and changes in physical appearance. More pronounced signs that a teen may be at risk are frequent physical complaints without a basis, crying, depression, isolation from friends and family, and writings about death.
Parents can also help by talking to their teens. This is not always easy -- a conversation with a teen can be strained, especially when the topic is not a comfortable one. Ask your teen if he or she is thinking about suicide. Don't be afraid to use the word.
Half of all children who have made one suicide attempt will make another, sometimes as many as two a year until they succeed. A suicide attempt is not just an effort to gain attention; rather it is a true expression of the teen's inability to manage emotions. It must be taken seriously. Lastly, if your child is suicidal, remove all weapons from your home and secure all prescription as well as over-the-counter medications.
Providing loving and supportive reassurance to your child is crucial. The teen needs your love and support through this difficult, challenging and, yes, sometimes frightening journey. The first and most important step is to recognize that the child needs help. The next step is to get help.
Effective treatment of depression and suicidal teens requires assessment and evaluation by a qualified mental health professional. This is a treatable problem that requires early identification and aggressive response. We are fortunate in Montgomery County to have a qualified network of mental health providers. Potomac Ridge is part of Operation Runaway, a community-based and crisis-oriented program that assists troubled youths and their families. Parents can also reach out to pediatricians, school guidance counselors, clergy members, county crisis centers and local emergency departments to seek help for their teens. The important step is to reach out for help.
We as a concerned community of parents and citizens need to develop a comprehensive, systemic approach to teen suicide through ongoing community collaboration and coordination. Columbia University's Teen Screen is an example of this type of collaboration. This national suicide prevention program for teens works with local communities to develop and implement depression and mental health screening programs. The locally based programs are operated and supported by the schools, police, mental health and government agencies. Montgomery County could use a program like this.
This an example of a community-based strategy that is working to help teens who are depressed, suicidal and in need of help. This type of approach will equip our adults with the skills to intervene in the suicide problem that is taking our young children from us.
