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Teen depression can be a very dangerous thing. It can start and grow quietly, without parents finding out about it. In fact, oftentimes parents are the last to know that their children are dealing with depression. Suicide is one of the serious effects of depression. According to studies, 4 out of 5 teens who attempted suicide showed classic warning signs before they committed the suicidal act.
Becoming aware of these signs can help you prevent a tragedy. Here are the most common suicide warning signs for teens:
- Losing interest in favorite activities - If your teen used to love being a cheerleader but all of a sudden quits and does not offer a satisfactory explanation for it, or if your child suddenly drops a hobby for no apparent reason, it may be an indicator that he/she is depressed and could be suicidal.
- Substance abuse - If you see signs of drug abuse (whether illegal or illegal), or if you catch your child drinking, it's a red flag that shouldn't be ignored.
- Withdrawal from some social interaction - Suicidal teens tend to withdraw from some social interaction, although not get completely cut off from all of their friends. If your child suddenly makes excuses not to go to family affairs or interact with family members, or if he suddenly stops having friends over or going over to friends' houses, it may be a sign of depression as well.
- Neglecting personal hygiene - Suicidal teens seem to just stop caring about how they look and how people see them. If your teen doesn't usually show carelessness in this area but suddenly loses interest in taking care of his/her appearance, it could be cause for concern.
- Physical complaints - Emotional distress often brings about physical discomfort. Suicidal children often complain about migraines, stomachaches, fatigue, and other physical issues. However, there doesn't seem to be any physiological sources for the pain.
- Loss of interest in school work - Suicidal teens cannot get themselves to care about school work. Most of them are failing their classes and don't pay attention while in the classroom.
- Boredome - Depressed teens often complain of boredom. They appear more unmotivated about anything as time goes by and act as if nothing about their life is important.
- Dangerous risk-taking - Teens who act like they have a death wish and engage in dangerous activities may be depressed and suicidal. They may be at a phase where they want to do something daring in order to "feel alive", or push the limits and get closer to death or hurting themselves. More often than not, these teens are just getting up the nerve to commit suicide by their own hand.
- Talking/Joking about death - When somebody talks about death and dying, it should be brought to the attention of that person's parents. While it's true that the person may just be joking, it doesn't hurt to err in the side of caution.
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