Why Did Suicide Rates in Teen Girls Jump?
 Data recently released by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) shows that from 2003-2004, the suicide rate for US youth and young adults aged 10-24 years rose 8%. The increase in rates for girls, however, were much more extreme than those in boys. In that one-year span, the suicide rate for girls aged 10-14 rose 75.9% (from 56 to 94 deaths); for females aged 15-19 years it rose 32.3% (from 265 to 355 deaths). Rates for boys aged 10-14 remained stable, but the rate of suicide in boys aged 15-19 also rose 9% (from 1,222 to 1,345). It is unclear whether this increase is the beginning of a trend or a one-time anomaly, but from 1990-2003, the suicide rate for youth aged 10-24 years declined 28.5%.
This finding has received a lot of press (see coverage in USA Today and MSNBC for examples) mostly because, although not mentioned specifically in the CDC report, this increase in suicides corresponds to a decline in prescribing SSRI antidepressants to children and teens. In 2003, research was published that linked SSRI use to an increase in suicidal ideation in youth. The result of the 2003 research was that in October 2004, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered that all antidepressant medications be labeled with a “black-box” warning about the increased risk of suicidal symptoms in children and adolescents. Dr. Tom Laughren of the FDA made this public statement: "It is true that antidepressant prescriptions in pediatric patients has come down and that coincides with this one-year uptick in adolescent suicides. Obviously, that is a concern for us."
Questions for Discussion:
- Can you think of any reasons – other than the decline in antidepressant use – that caused the suicide rate to climb so rapidly in one year?
- Why do you think the increase was much more marked among girls than among boys?
- Do the findings from the study raise concerns for you about decisions you may have to make in your work or family life? If so, how?
- What can be done to prevent suicides among young people?
Your thoughts…
Comments:
 We are going through a time of uncertainty with regards to how to be successful college costs are astronomical we are told that the education is not up to par and Star tests is the focus of the education system now. SAT and ACT tests are not a way to prove anything except that if you come from a wealthy family you have the ability to get help to increase your scores. We need to get back to the idea that learning is fun it is not about a test because this is the start of anxiety and depression for many students. Teachers and Parents push and make student feel that they have to be perfect if "Johnny can do it you should too" models needs to be stopped.
Religion is not the answer you can find depression and suicide across the board. I think open communication and less stress is what is important we need to find the strengths in all youth.
Posted Monday, September 24, 2007 by HSU BSW graduate 07 at 05:19 AM
One of the comments asks if a decline in moral and religious values might be partially responsible for the jump in suicides. I don't suppose we really have a good measure of moral values generally, but as far as religiosity and suicidality go, it is not true that individuals who are attached to an organized religion are less likely to commit suicide. However, interestingly enough, it is true that in communities that are more homogeneous--ie in which all members are of the *same* religion--the community suicide rate tends to be lower. The interpretation is that this is because there is a stronger social fabric. But this does not hold at the individual level such that church attendance or religiosity acts as a protective mechanism for individuals. Posted Friday, September 21, 2007 at 02:24 PM
Regarding the post about "...what are we doing to our children..." that they are depressed: Apparently our society is toxic to both mental and physical health. New immigrants to this country (including Caucasians) have been shown in a series of studies to have better mental health than their counterparts who have been living in this country for several generations or more. Our "winner take all" society creates tremendous pressure on our children to succeed, and then the metric of success that our society holds out (material goods, for the most part) turns out not to make people very happy after all. And for those who don't make it--an increasingly large portion of the population--there is less and less available, including less of the basics like good health care, affordable higher education, a healthy environment, and healthful food. As a remedy we hold up our "science"-based mental health treatments. But treatment, however good, is like bailing with a teaspoon when our society creates so much pathology by crushing children and families. Posted Monday, September 17, 2007 at 08:29 AM
I think the reason for increased suicides are multi-factorial. A question I raise, "Have we decreased moral and religious values which have been recognized as a suicide deterant by having taken God out of schools, celebrations, and courts?" Have suicidal rates been compared between public and Christian schools for this age group? I have simply raised questions about one variable.
Thanks, Posted Wednesday, September 12, 2007 by Thomas N. Elliott, Ph.D. at 05:48 AM
Social scientists have known for quite some time the antecedents behind suicide among specific age groups. For me, the disturbing reality is that large numbers of children and teens are clinically depressed. What are we doing to our children...? Posted Wednesday, September 12, 2007 at 05:35 AM
I think it is always problematic to jump to conclusions about "new" findings or to accept the first explanation that comes along. Often there seems to be a sort of hysteria to (prematurely) settle on an explanation for negative findings. To me, it makes sense to wait and see what other kinds of evidence develop before making up one's mind about what could be the cause of this (or whether, in fact, it turns out to be a statistical blip or measurement error of some kind). That said, I do not envy parents who might have to weigh the possible benefits of use of antidepressants versus the possible risks. I guess I would study the actual levels of risk more closely and try to make a decision based on best available evidence. Posted Monday, September 10, 2007 at 09:29 PM
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