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Suicide rates among girls on the rise
Filed under: Teens, Health & Safety: Babies, Development/Milestones: Babies
After falling steadily since 1990, the rates of suicide among young girls went up -- in some age groups, significantly -- between 2003 and 2004, the latest period for which data is available. Whether this is an ongoing trend or an anomaly remains to be seen; hopefully, it was a fluke and rates will again fall.There were 4,599 suicides in 2004, making it the number third largest cause of death after automobile accidents and homicide. "There's a lot of pressure in and around middle school kids. They're kind of all transition kids. They're turbulent times to begin with," said Richard Lieberman, who coordinates the suicide prevention program for Los Angeles public schools. "The hotline's been ringing off the hook with middle school kids experimenting with a wide variety of self-injurious behavior, exploring different ways to hurt themselves."
This is indeed a sad turn of events. Hopefully, this is just a temporary increase and the rate will again decrease. In the meantime, maybe this would be a good time to give your daughters a hug and tell them how much you love them.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
9-10-2007 @ 2:27AM
DaMoKi Bob said...There are many reasons a teen might attempt suicide. The saddest one to me is not being able to handle failure; not recognizing failure is not a reflection of personal deficiency, but only a slice of time filled with an attempt, which did not work.
The next moment, that next tock after the tick of failure, holds all the opportunity for reflection and correction needed to attempt again, and possibly fail again, before yet another correction. Therein we see the cycle of learning: attempt, fail, correct, and attempt again. How grand it is to fail in a true and honest attempt, and how gratifying to succeed in the next swing of the clocks pendulum!
Girls (and guys) need parents to assist with and model the gift of persistence, perseverance, and attitude, which in the face of obstacles demand they stand against the puzzle and try again. In truth, most people do not fail as much as they simply quit. To quit means to giving up, and the one thing I heard so often when I worked on a suicide and crisis phone line was they had given up; they were simply quitting.
The one thing I know a person depressed and trapped in the caverns of failure and ready to quit, needs to hear is that someone cares and values them, and wants them around.
But, too many parents only tell their kids how great they are, and that they are proud of them. It is more important you show them: spend time with them, touch them, not just with a hug, or a hand grasp, but touch their minds, their hearts, and their dreams.
When kids know someone close cares about and values them, they tend to care and value themselves too. Self-value is the basis of self-confidence, self-control, and self-reliance: all of which correlate poorly with suicide.
Like Roger said, go hug your kids! But, also be with them and invest yourself in their lives.
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