NCJ Number
55786
Journal
Adolescence Volume: 13 Issue: 50 Dated: (SUMMER 1978) Pages: 209-214
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
STATISTICS DOCUMENTING THE HIGH RATE OF ATTEMPTED AND SUCCESSFUL SUICIDES ARE GIVEN. THE COMPLEX DYNAMICS THAT UNDERLIE ADOLESCENT SUICIDE ARE BEST TREATED BY FAMILY THERAPY AND INTENSIVE GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING.
Abstract
IN THE UNITED STATES ESTIMATES INDICATE THAT MORE THAN 200,000 PERSONS ATTEMPT SUICIDE EACH YEAR, SOME 25,000 ARE SUCCESSFUL; MORE THAN 4,000 OF THESE SUICIDES ARE AMONG THOSE AGED 15 TO 24. ADOLESCENCE SUICIDE RATES VARY FROM LESS THAN 0.6 PER 100,000 FOR EARLY ADOLESCENCE TO 8.4 PER 100,000 IN LATE ADOLESCENCE, WHILE THE RATE FOR THE 15-24 AGE GROUP WAS 10.6 IN 1973. IT IS ALSO SUGGESTED BY RESEARCHERS THAT LARGE NUMBERS OF ADOLESCENT SUICIDES GO UNREPORTED OR ARE DISGUISED AS ACCIDENTS. IN MANY CASES THE SUICIDE IS A SUDDEN REACTION TO A PRECIPITATING STRESSFUL SITUATION, GENERALLY A DISORGANIZED FAMILY LIFE, A LACK OF EGO STRENGTH, OR A PROBLEM IN FORMING PERSONAL ATTACHMENTS. DEATH OF A PARENT OR A BREAKING UP OF A SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIP ARE FREQUENT PRECIPITATING FACTORS. THE COMPLEX PSYCHODYNAMICS OF ADOLESCENT SUICIDE ARE BRIEFLY REVIEWED. FAMILY THERAPY AND INTENSIVE COUNSELING ARE RECOMMENDED, AS IS A STRONG CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM. THE STRONG CORRELATION BETWEEN FAMILY DISORGANIZATION, PARENTAL DISHARMONY, CRUELTY, ABANDONMENT, AND SUICIDE IS POINTED OUT. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE THERAPIST AND THE SUICIDAL ADOLESCENT IS BRIEFLY EXPLORED. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)