Escalating problem of adolescent suicide probed
By Judy Sammon Adolescents who attempt suicide and have not been treated will succeed at it as adults, said a Cleveland psychiatrist yesterday.
Dr. Victor Victoroff, chief psychiatrist at Huron Road Hospital, urged a group of educators attending a 'seminar on "Youth and Suicide" not to ignore even the slightest clue from a student that he may be considering taking his life.
"Suicide is the third most serious risk to life among high school students today, and the second among college-age students," he said at the seminar at John Carroll University.
Some clues included a change of behavior or statements revealing a wish to die. Behavioral changes cited were moodiness or apathy, be said
While statistically the person with the greatest risk of taking his own life is a late middle-aged male homosexual, alone and suffering from a chronic disease, professionals are alarmed at the recent epidemic increase among young people committing suicide.
More than 4,000 young people between the ages of 15 and 24 in this country die as suicides each year. It is estimated that the num-
ber is even greater because many
suicides are hidden by families and reported as accidents or even homicides.
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In 1955, the suicide rate for men and women between those ages was 4.1 suicides per 100,000. It jumped to 11:8 in 1975, an increase of 290% in 20 years. "According to the Cuyahoga County coroner's office, there were six suicides among Young people between the ages of 15 and 19 in 1975, or 3.9 per 100,000," said William H. Hill, associate director of the Suicide Prevention Center. "In 1976, there were 23 suicides in that age group, or 15.1 per 100,000."
Why do adolescents commit suicide? "I wish I had a cookbook answer," said Hill. "Every time we isolate one variable, it is replaced or joined by another.”
Among the theories he referred to was the tumultuous period of adolescence, "a certain loss associ ated with growing up," a feeling
Youngsters that they are unloved and a parental ambivalence toward children who perhaps were never wanted. How successful a child has been dealing with losses and failures growing up can be important in determining his suicide potential, he added.
Stressing the importance of educators to be aware of verbal and behavioral clues, Hill said a
The Plain Dealer/James A. Hatch
Dr. Victor Victoroff shows surgical instruments used to revive suicide victims.
change in behavior is not always a sign of suicide, "but it means something is wrong.”
Some clues are more obvious than others, such as a youngster giving away his prized possessions, but most clues are not so apparent, be said.
"Ask them if they are thinking of hurting themselves or thinking about suicide. Demonstrate an awareness and a concern. It is a myth that you will induce suicide by asking about it. If there is an attempt, do anything except noth ing," he said.
That might involve violating the youngster's confidence, especially those who have asked a teacher or "counselor not to tell anyone else. "Action first, then worry about confidentiality later," he said. Courage and a willingness to act could save a child's life, Hill added.