The suicide rate among teens and other young men and women is alarming. When did this rate begin to rise? Why? What factors are involved? What is the outlook for the future? As in all such papers, cite statistics, quote sources, name the "experts," etc.
Teen suicides are the newest and ugliest epidemic to hit the United States. Since 1968, records show that suicide among teens aged 15 to 19 has increased 72 percent. It is now the third leading cause of death in this age group, the fourth leading cause of death in the 11 to 14 age group, and second among young adults aged 20 to 24. Since when did committing suicide become a repeating trend in today's society? What aspects of the American society have caused this horrific trend to copulate? Unfortunately, teen suicide is no longer a rare event in the lives of everyday Americans. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the third leading cause of death for the ages 15-24, surpassed only by car accidents and homicide. Experts part of the US Food and Drug Administration, estimate that 750,000 American adolescents suffer from depression and 500,000 attempt suicides every year. 1,700 young individuals succeed. These statistics are astronomical and alarming, but what changes in life over the past years have caused this? What factors are involved in this epidemic of suicides among teenagers? Is the near future going to be continually grim, or are there ways to stop these tragedies from happening?.
The rate of suicide began its exponential increase in the 1960's where the rate of suicide was four teens per 100,000. By 1995, the rate had jumped to a disturbing eleven teen suicides per 100,000. The reasons for this epidemic are extremely hard to follow, but there is conclusive evidence citing that the increase of teen suicides has been caused by the recent explosions of parental divorces, higher parental abuse, poor impulse control stemming from watching too much television, the availability of hand guns, the lack of access to mental health services, and an increase of isolation and alienation from caring adults at home and school.