Youth suicide, a growing issue on Australian shores.

Essay by adlitamHigh School, 11th grade June 2003

download word file, 3 pages 4.8

Carefree, well-educated and FULL of potential - that's the youth of the new millennium!

Statistically we are living longer and have a better quality of life than past generations. Yet suicide, in PARTICULAR youth suicide, continues to be a major issue on our shores.

Although statistics vary from study to study, most informed people agree that youth suicide is a major and increasing problem within the Australian community.

Young people aged 15 -24, have one of the highest suicide rates in the world. A closer look at this statistic means that over 2000 people are committing this act each year. After traffic accidents, suicide is the leading cause of death in this age group in Australia - the land we proudly call "young and free".

So WHY are the young people of Australia, one of the world's most democratic societies, with plenty of opportunities and freedom, committing suicide?

Even with improved management of mental illness, dramatically improved and easily accessible services, increased education and awareness of suicide, and dedicated programs to reduce the rates of suicide, we have still made little impact.

This poses the questions-

"What social change needs to occur in Australia to reverse this tragic trend?"

and

"Are we missing something?"

It is generally recognised that the factors linked to youth suicide are numerous and complex. Research in the area has been unable to determine exactly why people attempt and commit suicide.

The findings show that most youth suicides are the result of, and interaction between, biological, psychological, socio-cultural, and family factors. A suicidal act can be seen as the result of a combination of background, personal and family factors, current emotional state and recent significant events.

The "ingredients" required for a completed or attempted suicide vary from individual to individual. There are, however,