Potentash
  • Relationships
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Dating
    • Sex
    • Parenting
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Food + Beverage
    • Fashion
    • Interviews
  • Stories
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Fiction
    • Poetry
  • Skin + Beauty
    • Skin
      • Skincare
    • Hair
      • Haircare
  • Wellness
    • Physical Health
    • Emotional Wellness
    • Mental Wellness
    • Social Wellness
    • Spiritual Wellness
  • Business
    • Business Finance
    • Personal Finance
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Investments
    • Personal Investments
  • Entertainment
    • Internet
    • Events
    • Music
    • Books
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
Potentash
  • Relationships
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Dating
    • Sex
    • Parenting
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Food + Beverage
    • Fashion
    • Interviews
  • Stories
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Fiction
    • Poetry
  • Skin + Beauty
    • Skin
      • Skincare
    • Hair
      • Haircare
  • Wellness
    • Physical Health
    • Emotional Wellness
    • Mental Wellness
    • Social Wellness
    • Spiritual Wellness
  • Business
    • Business Finance
    • Personal Finance
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Investments
    • Personal Investments
  • Entertainment
    • Internet
    • Events
    • Music
    • Books
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
Potentash
No Result
View All Result
Preventing Teenage Suicides: What Are The Risk Factors?

Image from https://listeninglounge.blogspot.co.ke/2013/01/teen-suicide-airs-jan-2nd.html

Preventing Teenage Suicides: What Are The Risk Factors?

Elsie Ndonga by Elsie Ndonga
15 September 2017
in Children, Family, Relationships
Reading Time: 5 mins read
27 1
0
33
SHARES
185
VIEWS
FacebookTwitterWhatsApp

In the last decade or so, cases of teenage suicide have been on the rise. According to statistical data published by World Health Organization (WHO), suicide is the second leading cause of death in young adults between 15- 29 years. More often than not, we hear heartbreaking stories of cases where teens have taken their lives; the bereaved families are unable to explain their loved ones’ actions. After all teen years are meant for fun and self-discovery.

A superficial look into teenage suicides is likely to yield little or no fruit. However, an in-depth look at the situation can help us better understand what is ailing our young adults. The Human Rights Audit on Mental Disorder stated that many children and adolescents experience mental disorders ranging from psychological to emotional or behavioural disorders. These disorders if not attended to can be a quick ticket to the grave.

Image from https://listeninglounge.blogspot.co.ke/2013/01/teen-suicide-airs-jan-2nd.html

These mental conditions are hard to diagnose due to a stubborn and persistent mindset that has infected many of us. Africans are yet to come to terms with the existence of certain mental illnesses. These illnesses are often regarded as ‘the white man’s disease’. This attitude and misinformation has contributed to ignoring conditions like schizophrenia, anxiety disorder, depression and bipolar disorders which often manifest in the stages of adolescence. These conditions coupled with the environment we have raised our teens in have led to the start of a chain reaction leading to numerous teenage suicides. Some of these environmental factors include;

  1. Unrealistic Expectations

Academic expectations heaped on teens by their parents can sometimes mount excessive pressure to attain certain goals in school. If left unchecked, this pursuit of parental approval can cause pressure to break often plunging the child into a state of depression which can lead to suicide. Encouragement of children to succeed is an important part of parenting. It is, however, best to gauge a child with realistic goals and watch them grow from that point. How To Cope With Depression

  1. Bullying

Physical bullying has quickly accelerated to emotional bullying. The adverse effects of emotional bullying have seen many teens pushed to the brink of suicide. The social media era has been an accelerant to the already problematic issue of self-esteem. Nowadays children rarely shy away from parading their lives on social media. They hover around various social media platforms indirectly seeking approval from their age mates. They open themselves up to judgment and criticism they may not be equipped to handle. This takes a toll on their emotional welfare bringing to life underlying mental issues that may be the beginning of the end. How Parents Can Identify That Their Child Is Being Bullied & Take Action

 

Image from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/67624431882890489/?autologin=true
  1. External Influences

Other technological aspects that we are yet to fully understand have also played a part in taking these young lives from us. Earlier this year there was a report of a 15-year-old boy who had committed suicide when he partook in the Blue Whale game whose last level involved taking one’s life. It is bizarre things like this that prompt parents or relatives to keep abreast with their children’s online activities. Social factors also come into the equation with teenagers engaging in drug abuse.

  1. Relationships

Teens are increasingly involving themselves in sexual relationships without a clear understanding of the responsibilities and consequences that come with such commitments. Often these relationships may not end well because of a lack of adequate emotional maturity. Sometimes they also end in tragedy like the case of two teen lovers from Marakwet who committed suicide after the girl found out she was pregnant.

Josephine Omondi, a child/adolescent psychiatrist, carried out research on the key indicators of clinical depression. In her presentation, she highlighted issues she felt that parents should keep an eye out for in their children. They include; sudden withdrawal from reality, continuous feelings of sadness and hopelessness, changes in appetite, loss of interest in things that your child would normally enjoy doing and self-neglect. The manifestation of any of these traits in your child should be dealt with sooner rather than later. Here is an article by the New York Times that is helpful – Preventing Teen Suicide: What the Evidence Shows and another by Child Mind Institute Teen Suicides: What Are the Risk Factors?

Parents should endeavour to build solid relationships with their children. Some of these issues can be spotted and managed before they spiral out of control. All you have to do as a parent is create a safe space by assuring your children that no matter what they may be going through, you are a shoulder they can lean on.  If you notice something is amiss there should be no shame in getting professional help. The mental health of our children is as important as their physical health when it comes to raising an all-rounded member of society.

Check out

How To Comfort Someone Who Has Lost A Loved One To Suicide And Things To Avoid Saying

Dealing With The Loss Of A Loved One By Suicide

Parenting: How To Explain Suicide To Children

Mental Health: Why We Need To Decriminalize Suicide Attempts In Kenya

Sextortion: Why Parents Need To Talk To Teens About This Online Danger

Share13Tweet8SendShare2Pin3
Previous Post

Dear SME, This Is Why You Should Register Your Business

Next Post

Challenges Faced By Pregnant Women And New Mothers In The Workplace

Elsie Ndonga

Elsie Ndonga

The power of the written word fascinates me. It abides- cannot be forgotten. I write in the hopes that I can document the stories of everyone I meet and everything that I see.

Next Post
Challenges Faced By Pregnant Women And New Mothers In The Workplace

Challenges Faced By Pregnant Women And New Mothers In The Workplace

Please login to join discussion

Recommended

Life like A Lady Part 2: Talk about Curves

Life like A Lady Part 2: Talk about Curves

4 July 2015
3.9k
How The M-PESA Bill Manager Will Help You Sort Out Your Business Finances

How The M-PESA Bill Manager Will Help You Sort Out Your Business Finances

16 February 2021
384

Popular Stories

  • Book Review: Things I Will Tell My Daughter By Joan Thatiah

    650 shares
    Share 260 Tweet 163
  • Relationships And A Tolerable Level Of Permanent Unhappiness

    1558 shares
    Share 622 Tweet 389
  • Jewellery: 5 Reasons Why The Hilton Arcade Curio Shops Are A Great Alternative To Maasai Market

    890 shares
    Share 356 Tweet 223
  • Musician Crystal Asige Lost Her Sight In Her Early 20s But She Has Not Let That Stop Her From Pursuing Her Dreams

    2303 shares
    Share 921 Tweet 576
  • 6 Things You Shouldn’t Cook With Butter

    16 shares
    Share 6 Tweet 4

Potentash Blog

Potentash is an award-winning lifestyle blog. We publish lifestyle content that intersects with health, women, beauty, travel, business, relationships, finances and entertainment.

Explore

  • The Singlehood Series
  • From Stairs To Ramps
  • Man Around Nairobi
  • Pearls And Heels
  • Personal Finance
  • Food + Beverage
  • Editor’s Pick
  • Reviews

Get the Potentash Newsletter

  • Newsletter Archive
  • Subscribe
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2023. Potentash, In Partnership with Decima

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Linked In
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
  • Relationships
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Dating
    • Sex
    • Parenting
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Food + Beverage
    • Fashion
    • Interviews
  • Stories
    • The Singlehood Series
    • Fiction
    • Poetry
  • Skin + Beauty
    • Skin
      • Skincare
    • Hair
      • Haircare
  • Wellness
    • Physical Health
    • Emotional Wellness
    • Mental Wellness
    • Social Wellness
    • Spiritual Wellness
  • Business
    • Business Finance
    • Personal Finance
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Investments
    • Personal Investments
  • Entertainment
    • Internet
    • Events
    • Music
    • Books

Copyright © 2023. Potentash, In Partnership with Decima