Causes of Teen Suicide

Research Paper # 112406

Child, Youth Issues > Suicide
Child, Youth Issues > Teen, Adult Issues

A thorough research paper on the causes of teenage suicides.

17,394 words () | 43 sources | APA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper researches the causes of teenage suicides. Terming suicide as one of the leading causes of death and an important public health problem worldwide, the author presents statistics for the prevalence of suicides worldwide and amongst teenagers. The paper discusses the causes of teen suicide according to three perspectives: the sociological perspective, the psychological perspective and the biological/medical perspective. From these perspectives, the author draws and tests hypotheses with a survey conducted among 34 random students. The paper explains the results of the hypotheses but warns that the survey was conducted in Malaysia and as such, the hypotheses that did not concur with the participants' opinion were probably due to different values compared to that of Western society. In closing, the author also provides recommendations to the problem of teenage suicide via suicide intervention programs. This paper includes tables, graphs and charts.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Prevalence of Suicide Worldwide and Among Teenagers
Causes and Hypotheses
Survey Results
Solutions
Conclusion
Bibliography
Appendix

From the Paper:

"Yet another, more personal reason for choosing this topic for my research paper was my own personal experience with suicide ideation and parasuicide a year and a half ago. Ever since I began secondary school, I had dreamed of being accepted into an Ivy League university in the United States, and right up until I completed my International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, I worked hard in order to achieve my dream. However, in May 2006, as the decision letters from universities flowed in day by day, I experienced extreme disappointment. I was waitlisted at all six of the colleges I applied to - including Harvard, Yale and Columbia - before eventually being rejected from all six of them."

Sample of Sources Used:

Allen, J.G. (2006) Coping with Depression: From Catch-22 to Hope. American Psychiatric Publications.
Bauer, K. & Johnstone, G. (2004) Sociology and Canadian Society. Toronto: Emond Montgomery Publications Limited.
Berman, A.L., Maris, R.W. & Silverman, M.M. (2000) Comprehensive Textbook of Suicidology. New York: Guilford Press.
Blumenthal, S.J. & Kupfer, D.J. (1990) Suicide Over the Life Cycle: Risk Factors, Assessment and Treatment of Suicidal Patients. American Psychiatric Publications.
Briere, J. (1992) Child Abuse Trauma: Theory and Treatment of the Lasting Effects. SAGE.