Why Do Teens Commit Suicide?
Bader Alhouli
Portland State University
WR 121
Xian Wang
5 April 2020
Cutler, D., Glaeser, E., & Norberg, K. (2001). Explaining the Rise in Youth Suicide.
Teenage suicide has been a growing concern in modern society. Teenagers take their own lives over matters that seem unlikely to drive anyone to have suicidal thoughts. Western countries have registered the highest numbers of teenage suicide to the point of addressing it as a national disaster among youth. For this paper, I used David M. Cutler, Edward L. Glaeser, and Karen E. Norberg’s study on Explaining the Rise in Youth Suicide, which they wrote in trying to understand why teenagers commit suicide and the rate at which they commit them. Their work is precisely a breakdown of their ideas and thought to the use of graphs that aid in comparing youths’ suicidal rate over a given period. Their use of titles and subtitles acts as an introduction to their readers on what to expect after each headline. On their data presentation, they have taken the liberty to elaborate on the meaning of symbols in their calculative formulas. In their explanations on why teenagers commit suicide, they have come up with simple theories that make it easier for a reader to understand.
In this case, teenage suicide is explained in theories. The variability of emotion has been a significant concern. They are found to be driven by emotions that, at one point, get out of hand and make them opt for suicide as a solution to end the torturing emotions. Experts have concluded that this type of suicide is mainly contributed by the lack of guidance in communicating with teenagers. Lack of parents and teacher’s involvement makes them lack control of their emotions (Cutler et al., 2001). They are having no alternative to managing their suicidal thoughts and will look for other solutions. Lack of financial resources has been established as the second theory. According to Cutler and his team of researchers, as a teenager, the thrill of being classy and on the latest fashion trend drives them into finding jobs to sustain their desired lifestyles. Those who do not manage to attain employment and their parents are not able to provide them such necessities develop social anxieties. These social anxieties make them distance themselves from teenagers with trending lifestyle accessories. For some, they result to suicide as a solution to escape a life of poverty as they would call it (Cutler et al., 2001).
The Rational-Suicide Theory explains that teenage suicide is prompted by rational decisions. In this, teenagers opt into commuting suicide without examining any other possibilities of dealing with what is affecting them. The theory suggests that teenagers whose lives have been interfered with by changing their daily routine are the ones who go for rational suicide. Cutler et al. (2001) state that teenagers tend to value their happiness, their physical appearance, their romantic life, and their material possessions. These issues affect their wellbeing and could lead to suicidal thoughts. Other factors, such as parental divorce or family violence, affect them, and could drive them to suicide (Cutler et al. 2001). When parents conflict and misunderstandings end up in divorce, the legal battle on whom to stay with the kid becomes the main topic. This phenomenon may lead to violence between parents. The children start viewing themselves as the obstacle and cause of division to people whom they once knew and recognized as their idol. They end up commuting rational suicide to prevent the parents’ conflict (Cutler et al., 2001). In my opinion, teenagers need to be taught there is bound to be hard times in life. However, how you manage these dark times is what matters, and suicide should never be an option. Additionally, parents and guardians should engage with teenagers in trying to understand their life and giving them advice on how to handle them.
Strategic-Suicide Theory is when teenagers are assumed that they attempt to commit suicide as a way of attracting sympathy and attention towards them. Usually, children who feel the need to use this theory feel neglected. These teenagers grow the feeling that they are not well-taken care of or that other children are getting and receiving too much attention than them, and therefore they feel the urge to create a scene. Primarily, their main concern is the need to own things such as clothes, shoes, and electronics. However, they do not receive them hence attempting suicide to prompt their parents to acquire what they need.
Additionally, Cutler et al. (2001) insist that teenagers show signs such as avoiding their parents or guardians before they attempt to commit suicide. Other signs include solitary, change in routine, and writing suicidal notes that they leave unattended in the aim they are discovered. These are the red-flags that the parents should be looking for in their kids. Alternatively, parents should foster good relationships with their kids. They should always explain to their kids why they cannot afford a particular item. Also, parents should share their time and attention to all their children equally.
Contagion Suicide Theory educates that teenage suicide is at some point about peer pressure and social imitation. It is mainly considered as a contagious type of suicide where one attempts suicide in the same way as someone else committed it. Teenagers are motivated to commit specific acts that are suicidal. Primarily Cutler et al. (2001) found that, teenagers may get into risky and death-experiencing challenges as a way of making names for themselves. The widespread of social media has been a great contributor to this theoretical suicide experience. This type of suicide is usually gruesome as one may record their own death experience online, as his or her followers may be watching in aware; these are usually, dare, or adrenaline games. Phone games also contribute to this suicidal theory. Some mobile phone games challenge teenagers in dangerous steps of activities that they end up doing. These activities boost their confidence and the courage to commit suicide (Cutler et al., 2001). If these teenagers fail a particular level challenge, they have to start from the beginning making them suicidal. The best approach to help teenagers in not engaging in this type of suicidal theory is by educating them on the power, and the proper use of technology for limiting them from accessing these technologies may lead to strategic suicide thoughts. Upon an occurrence of contagion suicide, guardians should take upon themselves in engaging and encouraging teenagers not to try it.
After examining David M. Cutler, Edward L. Glaeser, and Karen E. Norberg study on Explaining the Rise in Youth Suicide, I can conclude that the article is credible and reliable. Their theoretical representation is brief and focuses on understanding the causes of youth suicide. However, a reader who is interested in having an in-depth analysis of suicidal and related causes among contemporary teenagers would be left with few points to understand. Additionally, for a reader who is not into mathematical representation and calculations, they would find it hard to evaluate and understand them. Their introduction is on the various sources they managed to conduct and produce their information from; this would allow any reader who is not satisfied with their work to search further. They have also given humble time to their readers by explaining based on their research, where it was conducted, and the specific group they researched on this being youths aged between 15-24. Their appendix provides detailed information, especially on the mathematical abbreviations that they have used in their work, such as the Strategic-Suicide Theory and The Rational-Suicide Model. This analysis gives their mathematical enthusiast readers an easy time understanding and evaluating their calculations and data representation. Finally, the referencing of their work is at par and gives acknowledgment to various writes whom they used their work.
In conclusion, the Rise in Youth Suicide by David M. Cutler, Edward L. Glaeser, and Karen E. Norberg was written and presented in the right techniques and strategies possible. The topic was well selected as it is a concerning issue in modern society. Their arguments are accurate and do not accuse any party as a contributor to teenager’s suicide but teenagers themselves.
Reference
Cutler, D., Glaeser, E., & Norberg, K. (2001). Explaining the Rise in Youth Suicide. Retrieved 30 April 2020, from http://www.nber.org/papers/w7713