Countries around the world have different attitudes regarding suicide. In Japan, suicide is a glorified act. They feel that suicide is an "honorable resolution of unsolvable dilemmas (GAP 4). In India, the Brahmins hold suicide as an honorable path to the afterlife. They would often practice a ritual called Suttee. This practice involves a widow being cremated on the funeral pyre of her husband (GAP 4). In the United States, suicide is an act that is not revered. Although many people accept suicide, it is often thought of as the cowardly way out of a situation.

Suicide is the willful act of killing one's own self. Suicide involves no coercion and often comes after a period of depression. Suicide is the route often taken when a person feels

In order to prevent adolescent suicide, one must become familiar with the behaviors common of those who are suicidal. These behaviors include, but are not limited to, isolation, loss of trust, feelings of despair, and depression. Suicidal adolescents tend to have a number of personality traits which differ from the traits of nonsuicidal teenagers. These traits include an extremely low self-esteem, blaming others for their own unhappiness, and trouble finding solutions to their current problems (Lester 59). There are several clues which often point to a possible suicide. These are previous attempts, verbal statements, cognitive clues, emotional clues, sudden behavioral changes, life threatening behaviors, and suicide notes (Lester 124-126). When one hears previous attempts, he or she will often visualize a botched suicide attempt. This is not necessarily the case. Often adolescents with suicidal thoughts will mock a suicide attempt by performing an act which is not necessarily fatal such as cutting one's wrist. These attempts are usually cries for help. Although not always life threatening, immediate treatment for the attempter must be sought. Verbal statements about suicide are often cries for help. These may be subtle statements about death that should not be dismissed. Questioning a person's motives when they make statements like this is a good way of bringing the person's problems to the surface. Cognitive clues refer to a change in the thought process. Suicidal persons often narrow their perceptions and opinions. They will often use words such as "only", "never", and "forever." Suicidal adolescents often display numerous emotional clues. Suicidal teenagers are often disturbed anxious, and extremely agitated. The adolescent may also experience feelings of hopelessness in which he or she feels that things will never change. Sudden behavioral changes are defined as drastic changes in attitude. People who are usually withdrawn will suddenly become very outgoing and those who are normally outgoing will suddenly become very introverted. A sudden obsession with death is also a sign of behavioral changes. Life threatening behaviors such as the abuse of alcohol, automobile accidents, and improper care of medical conditions should be viewed as suicidal clues. Another flag when determining whether or not an adolescent is suicidal is the suicide note. When one hears suicide note, many things come to mind. The note does not have to be a written out explanation of death. The clues may also be found in artwork, diaries, and music (Lester 124-127).

Many feel education is a good way to prevent suicide while others believe that teaching students about suicide plants the seed in their minds. Charlotte Ross, creator of one of the first suicide prevention programs in schools, says adolescents are already aware of suicide. She believes education is key to removing suicide as an option (Poland 162). The education of students would include stories of survivors who regret their decision to commit suicide. The students are told that suicide is an irrational decision to kill oneself and that the time of wishing for one's death is very short and not actually meant. Mark Twain once said, "There are times in every man's life when he would like to die temporarily (Poland 162)." It is not abnormal to wish that one were dead. The abnormality comes when that desire is acted upon. These discussions on suicide need to be held in intimate settings. Large classes or assemblies are not good because there is not a personal interaction between teacher and student. The groups also need to be small enough for all students to feel comfortable about expressing their feelings (Poland 165).

Davis, John M., and Jonathan Sandoval. Suicidal Youth. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1991.

There are many factors that possibly contribute to an adolescent committing suicide. These include some sort of psychological disturbance, chemi

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