Morganne P. Grutsch
mpgrutsch@unomaha.edu
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Suicide is far more common than many people think, especially in adolescents.
While most agree that suicide is a tragic and unfortunate incidence, the public still
generally condemns the act. Although suicide rates have always been a prominent issue
in American society, the public still hides the facts and chooses to avoid the conversation
at all costs in schools and in the media. Unfortunately in the past few decades the rates of
adolescent suicides have been growing dramatically, in one 2013 study, 17% of 9-12
graders admitted to seriously considering suicide (The Best Schools 2018). If that many
young people feel that ending their life is the best option, clearly the issue needs to be
addressed more in schools, and some educators and activists are using this as a calling to
bring the issue to the forefront of conversation. Why are so many adolescents turning to
In the past decade, despite a more progressive view on mental health and
depression, teen suicide remains a growing problem. The statistics are rising
dramatically, “among those ages 15-24 increased by a startling 24% between 1999 and
2014 and for those between 10-14, a heartbreaking 200%” but what is being done to
confront these intense statistics? (The Best Schools 2018). “While it is probably true that
most people who try or commit suicide are depressed, it is not true that all depressed
especially in teen suicide looking at the risk factors, evidence of bullying and harassment,
as well as unanswered calls for help on social media (Meier and Clinard 2016). The
adolescent brain, because the frontal lobe is not fully developed, can be unable to handle
the stress and rationally understand how problems relate in the scope of the big picture.
68% of those who had seriously considered suicide started doing so in high school or
even younger, which is why it is so important for schools to make a better effort in
suicides, more research has been done, and more media attention has been brought to the
issue, how are educators responding to the increased coverage of the growing epidemic in
teenage suicide, and what else can they do to help prevent future suicide attempts?
Whether with a quick Google search, or by typing someone’s name into Facebook,
thousands of search results, pictures, and data is available to anyone about almost
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anything. Although this technology can be extremely useful and makes so many lives and
jobs easier, how is this time of instant gratification affecting the younger generation?
These days everyone has research and opinions on Millennials, the selfie-loving, tech-
enthusiast generation growing up with growing technology, but what about the younger
generation, Generation Z, where technology and social media has always been an
Many believed that increased time on the Internet and social media is damaging the
conversation.
Cyber Bullying
The negative affects of social media are emphasized greatly in the context of teen
suicide risk factors. High school is an already hard enough time with the “pressure to
succeed, to compete, or to simply fit in” and social media cyber bullying does nothing to
help that pressure (The Best Schools 2018). With the multitude of different social media
platforms, hours and hours of time can be dedicated to the anonymous “hallway” culture;
you can never leave. Traditional bullying, harassment, and name-calling ends as you go
home, but with cyber bullying on social media, it never ends. Jack Dickey states,
“findings in neuroscience have shown how the developing teen brain is ill equipped to
override emotional reactions,” and with constant engagement on smart phones and social
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media “the fragile and self-destructive minds have a tool to indulge their worst
Social media and the anonymity of chat rooms thrive on the cruelty of young
people, with very little censorship. Although app and website creators do have
monitoring systems that suspend and ban users for inappropriate comments and cyber
bullying, there is no feasible way to catch every instance. Well-known parenting book
writer, Rosalind Wiseman describes the savagery of cyber bullying perfectly “It creates a
culture among kids that slander, backstabbing, and libel are normal parts of human
“dehumanization of others” is exactly why the tools of anonymity on the Internet are so
dangerous to the adolescent brain with the lack of impulse control and inability to cope
and “evaluate their immediate difficulties in the perspective of lifelong events” (Meier
and Clinard 2016). Responsibility falls teachers, parents, and older generations to educate
young people to value life over the negative experiences of the digital world.
Suicide has been around for centuries, and across different cultures and countries
has been viewed differently from a respected militant sacrifice in Japan, to an act to
restore honor for virgin suicides in Islamic cultures. However, in modern western culture
suicide is still seen as a taboo, something everyone knows about and many have been
affected by, but no one wants to talk about. Recently with the increased adolescent
suicides, authors and the media have made a push to normalize the issue and spark
For years communities and school boards have been banning books from libraries,
for having deviant topics or themes disagreeing with the conservativeness of the
community. But librarians and activists alike are campaigning against the banning of
books in schools and elsewhere claiming that students and teens have the right to
question society, learn, and be curious about what the public may view as deviant
behaviors. When speaking of suicidal themes in books specifically, research has found to
have no correlation between reading books discussing suicide and suicide behavior
(Davidson 2016). One study actually found that reading books with suicide themes or
suicidal characters actually decreased the likeliness of a future attempt, even among teens
with preexisting suicidal thoughts (Davidson 2016). Interestingly enough, the more
descriptive the depiction of suicide or self harm, the more empathy the reader was to feel
for the character, and less likely to consider their own self-destruction.
Despite what you may hear, young adults are adults too. Sometimes they die;
sometimes they know people who die. To deny YA readers the chance of finding
comfort in literature is only a comfort for those denying them, out of some
misguided pomp of moral authority. Whether they are grieving or curious about
death (or life), young adults can be reassured by the power of knowing that their
innermost feelings can be mapped on to others; that despite whatever feelings
they are feeling, it is not unimaginable that someone else (fictional or real) has
felt it too. (Davidson 2016).
Literature is a resource for students to learn, discover, cope, and escape the world around
The New York Times young adult best seller, turned hit Netflix series has sparked
huge movements for better suicide prevention and conversations in high schools.
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Unsurprisingly, Thirteen Reasons Why, has also been known for its controversy. Many
parent boards demanded its banning from school libraries, as well as fearing the
television show would lead to increased suicides for students watching. The story tackles
countless deviant themes in the United States youth culture, ranging from underage
drinking and driving, bullying, sexual harassment, and rape; all while depicting a young
Although there are many opponents to the story, believing it will contribute to the
growing suicide rates, one sociological theory explaining that suicide can be a learned
behavior, and people can associate attention and rewards for committing the act (Meier
and Clinard 2016). Contrastingly, Thirteen Reasons Why is actually a statement pointing
out the problems with society and schools not handling adolescent suicide effectively,
and what should be done to change that. Schools can often cultivate an environment of
secrecy and fear rather than promoting a safe place for questions, and finding comfort
and help, one of the story’s main characters, Clay says, “It has to get better … the way
we treat each other and look out for each other!” (Swanbrow 2017). Due to the story’s
increasing popularity today, now is the time for schools to implement better education
Many social scientists believe that teenagers today are experiencing more
stressors than the generations before them, with increased competitiveness of college
admissions, to the pressures of social media, and constant need to live up to parent
expectations. As suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in young adults age 15-24, it
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is time to create more effective prevention techniques and education in schools (Meier
Most recent research has all been saying the same thing: conversation is key.
Even though the public does not want to bring light to the taboo subject, the best way to
confront the issue of suicide head on is by having these hard conversations in schools and
in the community. Many educators are starting to implement safe place programming
where students can come talk openly with guidance counselors and teachers about what is
going on in and out of the classroom. The three part article “Teen Suicide: Breaking the
Silence” explains the importance of education and awareness, while also emphasizing
how to respect students who have died by suicide, “without glorifying the suicide itself”
in an important factor into preventing future suicides (The Best Schools 2018). Teaching
students and teachers alike the signs and risk factors for someone who might be
considering taking their own life is vital for prevention. Some of the mains signs to look
for are impulsive behavior, trauma, history of abuse, substance abuse, depression, anger,
and isolation (The Best Schools 2018). The best way for schools and educators to best
combat teenage suicide, is to de-stigmatize mental health, and have students learn to be
proactively supportive of each other and knowing the importance of being present. Also
understanding the importance and signs enough to know when to get professional help
(The Best Schools 2018). Requiring more faculty and staff trainings about suicide
prevention, and allowing conversations about mental health and suicide in the classroom
Adolescent suicides are rising, and that should concern our society, but the answer
is not to hide media and discussions about mental health from students, it is the opposite.
hiding this very real problem from their students. Making suicide prevention training
easier and more available to implement in schools makes “the topic less scary for
among students as early in the educational system as possible” (Swanbrow 2017). There
may never be a cure for the epidemic, but prevention begins with valuing life and
learning how to have these hard conversations and discussions by putting down the
References
Meier, Robert F., and Clinard, Marshall B. 2016. Sociology of Deviant Behavior. 15th Ed.
Swanbrow Becker, M. (2017). Why Schools Need to Step Up Suicide Prevention Efforts.
The Best Schools. 2018 “Teen Suicide: Breaking the Silence.” Retrieved April 18, 2018
(https://thebestschools.org/magazine/breaking-the-silence-around-teen-suicide/).