"The Teen Suicide Epidemic"

[Minimalist]

Thanks, hon.

I think that here:

As adults, we can choose where we live, who we live with, who we associate with and where we work, to an extent.

you are ahead of the good doctors. A lack of control over significant living factors is coupled with the fact that teenagers are biologically adults who are forced into a netherworld of enforced dependency by society. It wasn't all that long ago in historical terms that kids were married off at age 12-14.

[Shell B]

Thanks, hon.

I think that here:

As adults, we can choose where we live, who we live with, who we associate with and where we work, to an extent.

you are ahead of the good doctors. A lack of control over significant living factors is coupled with the fact that teenagers are biologically adults who are forced into a netherworld of enforced dependency by society. It wasn't all that long ago in historical terms that kids were married off at age 12-14.

No problem, Min.

I left my home at 16 and it was a pain in the ass to get that far that fast, so I agree that it is forced upon them. I do think that the newfound longevity of humans means that marrying young is unnecessary, but I don't see anything wrong with self sufficiency if a teen can handle it. At the very least, allow them to be themselves once they hit a certain age. Forcing compliance in regard to sexual orientation, activities, work, etc., is overparenting, in my opinion and it breeds unhappy children. Now, with all of that being said, depression is about chemicals in the brain, so I don't think all of this is the source of teen suicide, but merely one of the reasons that despair reaches the point of suicide in teenagers.

[Violet]

No problem, Min.

I left my home at 16 and it was a pain in the ass to get that far that fast, so I agree that it is forced upon them. I do think that the newfound longevity of humans means that marrying young is unnecessary, but I don't see anything wrong with self sufficiency if a teen can handle it. At the very least, allow them to be themselves once they hit a certain age. Forcing compliance in regard to sexual orientation, activities, work, etc., is overparenting, in my opinion and it breeds unhappy children. Now, with all of that being said, depression is about chemicals in the brain, so I don't think all of this is the source of teen suicide, but merely one of the reasons that despair reaches the point of suicide in teenagers.

No escape, little to keep going for, hate of what one has, spite for oneself... suicide an attractive option. And one of the few that they can't take away without completely restricting your movement.

Compliance cannot be forced. They can do whatever they want to you, but you don't have to give them a damn thing.

Inb4 mind control.

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I volley between extremes... but I look forward to how I hope my life to be scant years from now, so suicide is an unattractive option.

I disagree that suicide (of anyone, teen or otherwise) is an epidemic. It is a symptom. The disease is coercion, and it plagues society.

Not that I have a problem with others attempting to use force or threatening it... as I tend to disarm that which threatens me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByZqx30OvVs

Bananas

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There is a lot of callousness when it comes to mental states of being. Even the overly happy get a dose of mental health stigma.

Yes we do.

And then it chills people deeply the moment we aren't

[Minimalist]

Now you've piqued my interest in this topic, Shel ( and Sae.)

From the WHO.



Suicides rates are highest in Russia, developed Asia and Western Europe. The 3d world is generally underreported but one would figure that stay alive was a bigger problem than killing yourself in a lot of those places.

[Shell B]

I've read that it is extremely bad in Japan.

This is particularly strange. http://articles.cnn.com/2009-03-19/world...s=PM:WORLD

[Violet]

People are concerned about this when the rate of occurrence is usually less than 13/100,000?!

Mother of my left ankle... as if we didn't have more to be concerned about.

[Minimalist]

Suicide has a cultural basis in Japan.

They even created a smilie for it.





Wakaramasuka?

[Shell B]

Suicide has a cultural basis in Japan.

Yep. Seppuku sounds like fun. So does kamikaze.

[Minimalist]

I read a book one time...wish I could remember the name...but it was excerpts from captured diaries/journals of Japanese soldiers during the war. The vast majority of them were dead and the diaries were found when G2 went over the bodies. The concept of suicide was so deeply ingrained that it led to some almost comical incidences. In addition to being told that it was desirable to die for the emperor they had also been threatened that they should never be captured. Since modern weapons, particularly artillery, could knock people out without killing them, one began to read things such as:

"The Americans are coming over the ridge....the sergeant says it is time to die." Then the diarist would describe how they would all take a grenade and prepare to blow themselves to bits. Usually the writer would pen some heroic sounding thing like "gloriously we die so his majesty may live."

Meanwhile, they wouldn't actually shoot at the advancing Americans. A bizarre little book. Reminded me of "Letters From Iwo Jima" when that came out a few years ago.

[Shell B]

I read a book one time...wish I could remember the name...but it was excerpts from captured diaries/journals of Japanese soldiers during the war. The vast majority of them were dead and the diaries were found when G2 went over the bodies. The concept of suicide was so deeply ingrained that it led to some almost comical incidences. In addition to being told that it was desirable to die for the emperor they had also been threatened that they should never be captured. Since modern weapons, particularly artillery, could knock people out without killing them, one began to read things such as:

"The Americans are coming over the ridge....the sergeant says it is time to die." Then the diarist would describe how they would all take a grenade and prepare to blow themselves to bits. Usually the writer would pen some heroic sounding thing like "gloriously we die so his majesty may live."

Meanwhile, they wouldn't actually shoot at the advancing Americans. A bizarre little book. Reminded me of "Letters From Iwo Jima" when that came out a few years ago.

That does sound interesting. I remember reading about their training and how capture was considered highly dishonorable. It wasn't just for soldiers, though. Civilians were fed propaganda to the point that they would kill themselves to avoid capture. The suicides after the Battle of Saipan come to mind.