Warning signs of suicide in teens and young adults
Teenagers or young adults may give hints that they are considering suicide. Signs to watch for include:
- Depression or another mental health condition, such as bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness) or schizophrenia.
- Alcohol or substance abuse.
- Preoccupation with death in conversation, writing, or drawing.
- Recent breakup of a love relationship.
- Few or no friends or rejection by peers.
- Writing or leaving suicide notes.
- Accident-prone or risk-taking behavior, such as reckless or drunk driving or sexual promiscuity.
- Problems at school, such as failing grades, disruptive behavior, or frequent unexcused absences.
- Possession or purchase of a weapon, pills, or other means of inflicting self-harm.
- Aggressive or hostile behavior.
- Running away from home.
Other factors that may contribute to thoughts of suicide include:
- Knowledge of a suicide or suicide attempt by a friend, parent, peer, or hero, such as a sports figure, movie star, or musician.
- Unrealistically high expectations by a parent.
- An alcohol or substance abuse problem in a parent or close friend.
- Loss of a parent through death or divorce.
- Disruptive or abusive family life.
- Feelings of bisexuality or homosexuality.
- History of physical or sexual abuse.
| Author: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA | Last Updated: January 12, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Lisa S. Weinstock, MD - Psychiatry | |
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