Everyone wants to fit in, right? Teen suicides are happening more than we all think. I would like to make more people aware that this is happening and why.

Teens are committing suicide because of stress, parents, pressure, friends or not having friends.

Every year in the United States, about 30,000 people die from suicide. Eighty million people are at risk in the United States of becoming suicidal. In 2001, 30,622 people died from suicide, 132,353 individuals were hospitalized for suicide attempts. That same year 55 percent of all suicides were done with firearms.

Depression is not noticeable in younger children. It may just seem like they are angry. Some things that they might turn to are alcohol or other drugs. Those might seem to help relieve stress, but in the long run the situation will end even worse than it already is.

In the past 25 years, the general rate of suicides has gone down. The rate of suicides of teenagers 15 to 24 years old, however, has tripled. Males are four times more likely to die from suicide than women. Suicide is also the third-leading cause of death for people ages 15 to 24.

I think people should be more aware of teen suicide. Yes we learn about suicides and bullying, but not many people know how scary suicide can be. It is important for parents to talk to their teens.

Chelsea Hayes

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