New studies have revealed that depression may not be the only factor-probing adolescents to commit suicide.
New studies have revealed that depression may not be the only factor-probing adolescents to commit suicide. Health care providers might therefore need to watch out for other mental health problems to prevent youth suicide.
The World Health Organization re-examined the occurrence and distribution of mental disorders in 894 cases of completed suicides among young people worldwide. An analysis of the results of the study revealed a majority of them were due to mood disorders (89%). This was closely followed by substance related disorders (40%) and disruptive disorders (20 %).Mood disorders include major and minor depressive disorder, dysthymia, mania, hypomania, bipolar disorder and non-specific mood disorders. Substance-related disorders include drug abuse and alcohol dependency/abuse. Disruptive disorders include conduct disorder, attention deficit disorder, oppositional disorder and identity disorder.
The study has been conducted in subjects ranging from ages 13 – 29 years. Studies that met the criteria for this review originated mostly from Europe and North America. Hence, caution is necessary in application of findings from that region to program development in Asian, African, South American or developing countries.
It has been concluded that comprehensive suicide prevention strategies for young people should target mental disorders as a whole rather than just look for depression. Other components such as a person's predisposition, social and environmental conditions, psychosocial risk factors, and culture should be considered in the diagnosis and treatment of such disorders. To put it in a nutshell, the treatment and approach should be an individualized one to prevent suicide among youth from escalating.
Medindia on Suicide:
According to experts, suicides are mostly related to each other by the common link of emotional isolations, perceived sense of lack of attachment to anybody and a certain lack of ability to cope and adjust with the environment. Research also says that certain forms of mental disorders like depression plays a part in the 90% of the cases of suicides.
