Teen Suicide

For Parents, The Biggest Fear Of All Is Teen Suicide

By
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini

Q: Dear April Masini,

I keep hearing about high school students taking their own life. While I don't forsee any problems with my teenage son, I also hear the parents of these suicidal kids saying there was nothing wrong and then ... Has teen suicide become more common? What are the warning signs?

Sincerely,

Concerned Mom     

A:

Dear Concerned Mom,

High school suicide is no longer a blip on the radar screen. It’s becoming a growing epidemic — one student at a time. Hanging, drug overdose and shooting are all methods by which teens take their own lives. Most males use guns. Most women use drugs. But those are the norms. If a teen wants to commit suicide, they will find a method.

The causes of suicide are twofold.

Number one is that there is much more contact than ever before. Teens see things they didn’t used to see — more things more often, and this is because of technology. If a teen is in a good place, they’ll see the good in things or good things. If they’re in a bad place, they’ll gravitate towards the negative.

The second problem is that there is less tough love than ever. Parents indulge children way more than they used to, and they remedy depression with medication instead of behavior modification. Clearly, parents need to heed this sad cry by our American teens.

April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.

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