TEENAGE DEPRESSION

&
SUICIDE PREVENTION
 TITLE

“A study of the causes

and preventive
measures of teenage
suicide in Bangalore”
 ABSTRACT
An investigation on the causes of teenage suicide through the
following procedures:
• Distribution of survey- questionnaires among teenagers mainly
comprising of upper middle class- ages(16-19)yrs
• Followed by a comparative study of individuals backed by strong
and healthy family environments vs. teenagers with broken
families or divorced parents.
• Studying the impact of factors that have not been commonly
observed by teenagers such as the negative effects of the media
and chronic illnesses that may stir up suicidal feelings in
teenagers
• Our study of the teenagers belonging to the lower class districts of
Bangalore (through personal interviews of close associates of the
victims) was limited & carried out on a small scale since this study
is mainly focused on those belonging to the upper middle class.
 Introduction
Teenagers are overwhelmed by the
uncertainties of adolescence & feel they have
nowhere to turn. Teenagers who consider
suicide feel alone, hopeless, & rejected. When
a teen commits suicide everyone is affected.
Family, friends, neighbours, & even those who
didn’t know the person well may experience
feelings of grief, confusion, & guilt.

We need a strong, healthy self esteem built by

family , social support and a spiritual life which
will help us cope with teen pressures.
SCOPE :
Why talk about suicide???
• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death
• Suicide, worldwide, causes more deaths each year than homicide or
war.
• Nearly 30,000 lives are lost each year as a result of suicide.
• Someone in INDIA commits suicide every 17 minutes.
• Every 2 hours & 15 minutes a person under the age of 20 completes
suicide!
• Almost 17% of high school students have seriously considered suicide
• The highest suicide rate in the world has been reported among young
women in South India by a new study.
• The research is of major importance, according to the World Health
Organization, as it brings to light Asia's suicide problem.
• because ~ suicide is the most preventable form of death in today’s
world.
Secondary data

Statistics
 OBJECTIVES
 To determine the major cause of teenage
suicide
 To suggest effective control and
preventive measures
 To convey a moral message to the
audience
 HYPOTHESIS

Through personal experience and situations

we assume that the major cause of suicide
could include the following
• Peer/parental/family pressure
• Communication barrier
• Unhealthy Relationship
• loneliness
 METHODOLOGY
INVESTIGATION OF NATURE OF STUDY

• The study is based on a social

problem/concern
• The study is subjective in nature
• It is a Pure and Descriptive type of
research
 RESEARCH TECHNIQUES
• Statistical technique and Survey
(Quantitative study)
• Personal interview method (Doctors,
Psychiatrists, teenaged individuals,
Parents & Teachers)
• Snowball sampling
• Case study (Qualitative study)
• Data obtained through Primary and
Secondary sources
NOTE : THE TABLES ARE BASED ON THE STUDY OF TEENAGERS COMPRISING
MAINLY OF THE UPPER MIDDLE CLASS.
" **VALUES ARE ROUNDED OFF FOR CLARITY PURPOSES."
MAJOR REASONS BEHIND TEEN MALE FEMALE TOTAL
SUICIDE
IMPROPER PARENTING/ FAMILY 25% 45% 35%
RELATED / DOMESTIC VIOLENCE/ TRAUMA

LACK OF AWARENESS OF DEPRESSION & 5% 5% 5%

HANDLING IT

PEER PRESSURE/ PUBLIC HUMILIATION/ HOSTILE

SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT/ BULLYING
5% 10% 8%
PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT/ LOW SELF-ESTEEM/
ANXIETY/ INABILITY TO EXPRESS FEELINGS/ LACK
20% 20% 20%
OF COMMUNICATION/ IMPULSIVENESS
ACADEMIC PRESSURE/ PRESSURE OF PURSUING A
CAREER
15% 10% 30%
UNDIAGNOSED/ IMPROPER TREATMENT OF
MENTAL DISORDERS/ UNTREATED DEPRESSION
0% 0% 0%
LONLINESS/ ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS/
REJECTION/ DEATH/ LOSS OF A LOVED ONE
30% 10% 20%
 MOST COMMON SIGN OF A MALE FEMALE TOTAL
SUICIDAL TEEN

WITHDRAWING FROM FAMILY & 10% 25% 18%

FRIENDS

CUTTING OFF HOBBIES/ INTERESTS 15% 25% 8%

SUBSTANCE ABUSE 10% 0% 23%

VERBAL HINTS 0% 35% 5%

BEING ALONE/ EXCESSIVE 45% 10 % 28%

BROODING/ WEEPING

HOSTILE/ SUDDEN MOOD SWINGS/ 20% 15% 18%

EMOTIONAL INSTABILITY/ REBELLION

CHANGES IN EATING/ SLEEPING 0% 5% 3%

HABITS/ LACK OF INTEREST IN
GROOMING THEMSELVES
THE BEST PREVENTIVE MEASURE MALES FEMALES TOTAL

GOOD PARENTING/ VALUES & ETHICS

10% 30% 20%

EDUCATION ON DEPRESSION/ STRESS

10% 5% 8%
MANAGEMENT

COUNSELLING/ SOUND SCHOOL

0% 20% 10%
ENVIRONMENT/ AMICABLE & APPROACHABLE
TEACHERS

DIAGNOSIS/ MEDICAL TREATMENT OF

0% 0% 0%
MENTAL DISORDERS/ ANTI-DEPRESSENTS

HAVING GOOD FRIENDS/ STRONG

60% 30% 45%
SOCIAL SUPPORT SYSTEM/ HEALTHY
RELATIONSHIPS

MOVING OUT OF TOWN/ TAKING A BREAK/

15% 5% 10%
VACATION/ ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE THEIR
WAY OF LIVING

SPIRITUAL/ RELIGIOUS EXPOSURE

5% 10% 8%
 MAJOR MALES FEMALES TOTAL

FINDINGS
THROUGH SURVEY

TEENAGERS WHO THINK RECALLING

HURTFUL WORDS OR RUDE BEHAVIOUR
80% 80% 80%
BY THEIR PEERS/ FAMILY/ LOVED ONES
SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTES TO
SUICIDAL FEELINGS
TEENAGERS WHO THINK CHRONIC/
LONG TERM ILLNESSES/ DISEASES
35% 35% 35%
BOOST SUICIDAL FEELINGS IN THEM

TEENAGERS WHO BELIEVE THAT MEDIA/

NOVELS/ MOVIES/ MUSIC SUCH AS EMO/
55% 45% 50%
RAP HAVE THE POWER TO INFLUENCE
THEM NEGATIVELY & TO GIVE THEM THE
COURAGE TO COMMIT SUICIDE

TEENAGERS WHO BELIEVE THAT

PARENTAL SEPARATION/ DIVORCE
50% 45% 48%
MAKES THEM MORE VULNERABLE TO
SUICIDAL FEELINGS
 Reasons for suicide
Teenagers experience:
• Strong feelings of stress
• Confusion
• Self-doubt
• Pressure to succeed
• Financial uncertainty
• And other fears while growing up
• Recent significant losses (to the individual)
• Parents separate or divorce or loss of relationships
• Death (person, pet)
• Moving to new geographic location (loss of friendships)
• Economic security
• Lack of coping skills
• Lack of resilience
• Homosexuality
• Bullying Behavior
 PERSONAL INTERVIEW METHOD
• “The vast majority of teenagers who complete suicide have some
sort of psychiatric disorder commonly depression or mood disorder.”
– Dr Fiaz Ahmed Sattar, 
Prof. & HOD, Psychiatry, VYDEHI INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL
SCIENCES & RESEARCH CENTRE.

• “Suicide multi determined. There is no simple reason for suicide. It

results due to a complex interaction between various factors.
Unfortunately, we look at the final reason and say that is the reason
for suicide. But what we see is only the tip of the ice berg.” – Dr
Lakshmi Vijayakumar, Regional representative of the World Health
Organization for Suicide prevention (WHO), founder of SNEHA
(India's premier suicide prevention centre)
 DISCUSSION
FINDINGS OBTAINED THROUGH PRIMARY SOURCES:
 80 % feel that in a phase of depression, recalling hurtful words, rude statements/ remarks
made by peers/ family/ friends or even teachers trigger suicidal feelings in them.
 Suicide is more common among those suffering from physical illness. Teens feel
frustrated at not being able to live normal lives, 35% claim that this tends to cause suicidal
feelings. However a majority of the teenagers believe that it is not a significant factor. 
 There’s a general agreement between psychologists and teachers that the main reason 
is the increasing pressure on children to perform well in exams especially in the case of
the middle-class teenagers.
  Parental separation is not strongly related to teen suicides in the case of the lower class
in Bangalore. The main causes usually tend to be love affairs with people belonging to
another caste, parental abuse, financial uncertainties and domestic violence.

However, our study reveals that a significant number of teenagers of the middle and
especially the upper middle class  are deeply affected psychologically on parental
separation. 48% of teenagers claim that  broken families, specifically separated parents
cause suicidal feelings.
Further investigation through journals reveal the following:

"Three out of four teenage suicides occur in households where a parent has been
absent.“ -Jean Beth Eshtain.
 "Fatherless children are at dramatically greater risk of suicide.“ -U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services.
But the dramatic increase in teenage suicide is unlikely to be explained by
separation/divorce as the overall impact of divorce on suicide risk was small. However,
factors that arise as a result of separation such as poor parental communication etc may
lead to depression, untreated is the number one cause of suicide.
 50% of the teenagers of the upper sections of the society do not recognize the Media's
role in connection with teen suicides. However our study indicates that music such as
'Rock' and 'Emo' plays a role in stirring suicidal feelings by evoking emotional traumas in
them. Often using sarcasm to register bitterness with society, family, interpersonal
relationships, or life
itself.                                                                                                                      
  Many rock songs suggest suicide, intentionally or unintentionally, as a response to the
listeners' troubles. A vulnerable listener's extreme identification with a rock /movie star
whose behavior is suicidal or self-destructive can lead to imitation. 
 Hence those most vulnerable to suicides who often suffer from substance abuse/stress,
extreme bouts of hopelessness and social alienation, such media may strongly strengthen
a suicidal inclination stemming from other factors.
 MAJOR FINDINGS
SUICIDE MYTHS

• “People who talk about suicide won’t really do it.”

• 􀂱FALSE (Most people who commit suicide have given some clue or
warning of intent)
• “Anyone who tries to kill him/herself must be crazy.”
• 􀂱FALSE (People who have mental illness are not “crazy;” they have very
real medical brain disorders. Still, though people who commit suicide were
often distraught, upset, or depressed, many would not have been medically
diagnosed as mentally ill)
• “If a person is determined to kill him/herself, nothing is going to stop
him/her.”
• 􀂱FALSE (A suicide attempt is usually made during a particularly stressful
time. If a person receives help in managing that crisis, he/she can often
move on with life successfully.)
• “People who commit suicide are people who were unwilling to accept
help.”
• 􀂱FALSE (In retrospective studies of committed suicide, more than ½ had
sought medical help within the 6 months preceding the suicide.)
 SUICIDE MYTHS
• “Talking about suicide may give someone the
idea.”
• FALSE
Asking directly about suicidal intent often
• reduces the anxiety surrounding the feelings, and acts as a deterrent.
• shows that you are concerned
• shows that you take the person seriously
• invites honest sharing of the person’s pain
• Type 1 error as a result of an incomplete
hypothesis
 More truths . ..
• Most suicidal people don’t really want to die ~ they just want
their pain to end.
• About 80% of the time, people who kill themselves have
given definite signals or talked about suicide.
• The key to prevention is to know the signs and what you can
do to help.
• If someone you know seems depressed or gloomy and has
spent a lot time questioning whether life is worth the bother

~Its time to
 Pay
attention..!!!
 Becoming Aware:
WARNING SIGNS
• Talking about suicide (at any level) or making a plan
• Statements about Hopelessness, Helplessness, or Worthlessness
• Strong wish to die or preoccupation about death;
• Hinting at ‘not being around’ in the future, saying Goodbye, visiting,
calling, contacting significant people.
• Signs of depression: moodiness, hopelessness, withdrawal
• Sudden mood swings, including moving from a depressed mood to
suddenly feeling calmer, happier, and more energetic
• Increased alcohol and/or other drug use
• Previous suicide attempt
• Giving Things Away
• eating disorders
• risk-taking behaviors
• social isolation/running away
 Prevention Tips:
• Take the time to show love and concern: Parents
need to show interest and question them about what is
going on in their lives. Questions such as: Who are
your friends? Where do you like to hang out? How are
the relationships in your life? What decisions are you
facing?
• Communication is a two way street: We need to
spend more time listening, finding out how the teen
feels without making judgments. Let the teen know
he/she can always talk to you about anything.
• Encourage positive self-esteem through family,
social and spiritual connections.Teens with strong,
positive self esteem are better able to cope with life’s
challenges.
• Teach teens how to talk over problems.
 To be a lifesaver
RESPOND with kindness
• Listen & Speak non-judgmentally
• Don’t act shocked. This will close off
communication
• Give the person your FULL ATTENTION
• Be Patient (It’s not about you)
• Don’t Leave (You are in this now)
• Don’t be sworn to secrecy
• Don’t debate if suicide is right or wrong, or
feelings are “good” or “bad.”
• Offer HOPE, not glib reassurance.
 INFERENCE
•Suicide is not a solution for a temporary problem.
•THE MAJOR CAUSES OF SUICIDE AS PER OUR STUDY:
UNDIAGNOSED PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS (More than 90% of youth suicide
victims have at least one major psychiatric disorder) Untreated depression is the
number one cause for suicide.
Among girls, the most significant risk factor is the presence of major depression,
increasing the risk of suicide 12-fold.
Among boys, a previous suicide attempt is the most potent predictor, increasing the
rate over 30-fold.
problems such as unhealthy family environments/ lack of parental attention/
communication/ abusive relationships/ loss of friendships and rejection.
THE BEST PREVENTIVE MEASURES WE SUGGEST INCLUDE:
Prompt professional treatment.
This is extremely important as if depressed teenagers feeling suicidal are left untreated,
their situation can worsen to the point of becoming life-threatening. If they refuse
treatment, it may be necessary for family members or other concerned adults to seek
professional advice.
 BUILDING A STRONG SOCIAL SUPPORT SYSTEM/ MAINTAINING HEALTHY
RELATIONSHIPS/ FRIENDS
 GOOD PARENTING/ IMBIBING ETHICS AND VALUES ETC, apart from those
discussed previously.
 CONCLUSION
As a serious public health problem it demands our
attention, but its prevention and control, unfortunately, are
no easy task. Our research indicates that teen suicides
have a number of causes the most significant of them
being untreated mental disorders and the prevention of
suicide, while feasible, involves a whole series of activities
ranging from provision of the best possible conditions for
bringing up children and youth, through the effective
treatment of mental disorders, to the environmental
control of risk factors. Appropriate dissemination of
information and awarness-raising are essential elements
in the success of suicide prevention programmes.
Be a life saver!
Share the facts about suicide with
others everyone can help
prevent suicide..!!
 LIMITATIONS ENCOUNTERED
• Time constraints
• Anticipating and avoiding problems
• Sensitive topic/difficulty in extracting
sensitive information through victim’s
family members and friends
 REFERENCE
This work was made possible UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF Ms. PRIYA ANAND
 The team acknowledges the assistance of the following medical examiners:
 Dr. NOOR  KHAISER , MD, Miami Valley Hospital, (IL), US
 DR. FIAZ AHMED SATTAR, 
PROF. & HOD, PSYCHAITRY, VYDEHI INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES & RESEARCH CENTRE,BANGALORE
 DR. LAKSHMI VIJAYAKUMAR,
REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF SUICIDAL PREVENTION IN INDIA, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO), CHENNAI, INDIA.
  DR. ISHTIAQ, MD SHIFA HOSPITAL, BANGALORE, INDIA.
 
 SPECIAL THANKS TO: MS. SARAH SHAH, MOUNT CARMEL COLLEGE, BANGALORE.
 (SISTER OF MS. ZAINA SHAH/ VICTIM OF TEENAGE SUICIDE )
 CLASS MATES, FRIENDS & THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO OUR RESEARCH WITH THEIR VALUABLE
FEEDBACK/ INFORMATION/ EXPERIENCES.
 JOURNALS/ LITERATURE/ RESEARCH PAPERS

WEBSITES
http://www.deathreference.com/Sh-Sy/Suicide-Influences-and-Factors.html#ixzz0zsYzvQrS
Http://www.informaworld.com
Http://www.suicide.org
WWW.GOOGLE.COM
Team members
Anuj Agarwal
Burhan Khan
Farina Kalim
Himanshu Joshi
Lipokmongla
Mukund Rinwa
Sagar Patel
Sarah Jowhar