Study: 8 Percent Of Teens Thought About Suicide
DETROIT (WWJ) - It appears that more teens than ever before are considering suicide.
That's according to new study by the Centers for Disease Control finds nearly 8-percent of all teens say they've thought of suicide or attempted it.
Talking to WWJ Newsradio 950, Beaumont Psychiatrist Dr. Joel Young said there are several reasons for the uptick.
He said more teens than ever are depressed.
"Anyone who has a diagnosis of depression, who know that suicidal thoughts are a part of this," said Young, adding that up to 40 percent of people who suffer from depression are likely to have suicidal thoughts.
Young said substance abuse can be a factor, along with outside influences.
"When kids are humiliated, when they're bullied, when they are denigrated -- whenever people feel shamed, this greatly increases suicidal thoughts," Young said. "If you child feels like he or she has been humiliated, we need to take that very seriously, because it's that sense of shame that is very hard for them to recover from."
Young advises parents to talk with the teens and seek medical help if necessary.
For information on suicide prevention from the CDC, visit this link.
