Final Argumentative Report

Esmeralda Santa

English 21003, Section M

Professor Matyakubova

10 October 2017

Final Argumentative essay

                                                                       Every Person Matters

Abstract

        Among teens, suicide is the third biggest cause of death (suicidepreventionlifeline.org). For a teenager who wants to commit suicide it does not matter how they kill themselves as long as they are successful. This issue has become a nationwide dilemma, yet no one bothers to bring it up until another teen falls victim. There are many reasons that a teen can turn to suicide such as stress, bullying, feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness etc. Although we might never be able to eliminate the problem, we should at least address the issue and the best place for suicide awareness to begin is in school. Critics on the other hand have stated that exposing suicide in school will just get the idea stuck in the child’s mind and lead them to take the actions. Nevertheless, suicide discussions in schools can be considered as a solution to the issue.

                                                                     Every Person Matters

         In 2014, youths between the age of thirteen and eighteen accounted for 1,668 of the 42,773 deaths by suicide in the United States (suicidepreventionlifeline.org). Shocking as it is the numbers continue to rise each year. Suicide is the act of trying to take one’s life. There are many factors that can lead a teen to take drastic measures such as bullying, family issues or emotional distress. During the difficult times teens can take their lives by pill overdosing, hanging or shooting themselves. It is a hard topic to talk about because no one wants to have a discussion on death or its connection to mental illness, especially with teenagers. Many have opposed taking this tactic because they believe teens will just be influenced and make the problem bigger. This lack of discussion is what leaves a hole in the development of a teenager. For this reason it should be mandatory that teenagers learn about suicide and its effects in school, so that they feel more comfortable talking about it.

        There are various factors that can trigger a teen to commit suicide, but the leading cause has been connected to psychiatric problems such as depressive disorders and substance abuse. In the article Teen suicide is a Major Health Problem, the behavioral signs of suicide and the types of factors associated with suicide are discussed. “A person’s suicidal intent is associated with a history of depression and anxiety and current stress from a mental disorder” states Otsuki (2). A person who feels depressed or feels they have no control of their lives are most vulnerable to fall a victim of suicide.  Often times because a teen does not want to be categorized as someone who is mentally ill they stay quiet and keep the thoughts of suicide to themselves. Depressive disorders can arise from negative events that occurs in a teens life such as relationship problems, neglect, or abuse (Otsuki 2). Whatever the case, the teen feels trapped and has no way to cope with all the negative events thus, turning to suicide.  

          Having an open discussion of teen suicide can also lead on ways to prevent it from happening such as dealing with bullying. Bullying has been one the causes of teen suicide. Kids, especially in High school can be so cruel that it leads to the point where others can not take it anymore. Teens can bully someone because of their looks, the way they dress, or even how they talk. Whatever reason they get bullied for, it leaves the same impact; sadness and hurt. In a journal article An open letter on Media Coverage of Teen Suicides, the author makes a plea on the importance of talking to teens about how bullying someone can kill them. The author specifically states how LGBT teens have to suffer constant teasing or pushing around for choosing to be themselves (Anthony 41). Infact because others see this kind of bullying occur, they choose to stay in the closet due “to the dangers of coming out” (Anthony 41). Some kids experience verbal bullying while others physical bullying. It is this constant abuse that lead a teen to take drastic measures. They want the abuse to end which is why they can kill themselves. By having suicide workshops in school, teens can at least know the effects that bullying can have on someone. Perhaps the next time a teen wants to bully someone, they will think twice about doing it. Talking about suicide in school will make students realize how their actions can have a big impact in someone's life. 

            Media is a big part of a teenagers life. In the 21st century they have access to computers and t.v.s. When it comes to teen suicide there are also not many shows that talk about it. Which is why when the show 13 reasons why came out it sparked conversation. The show 13 reasons why, follows the story of a teen named Hannah Baker who commits suicide and leaves behind 13 tapes, each one explaining why she killed herself. The point of this show was not to give teens ideas of suicide, but rather show them how the death of Hannah Baker could have been prevented. Much of the parents who watched the show took it as a chance to talk to their kids about the issue. In an article in the Sydney Morning Herald, What I Learnt Watching ‘13 Reasons Why’ With My Teenage Son, a father discusses how their son made him watch the show together and he saw how it had a positive effect. The father stated how there had been recent suicide incidents in his son’s school, but did not have the nerve to talk about it with his son. After watching the show 13 reason why, the father believed that it made the discussion easier and opened the doors to a stronger relationship with his son (Stokes). The show 13 reasons why is the first world-wide show to address the issue of teen suicide and there is talk about many other producers trying to follow. Teens will be able to have more access to suicide awareness, but it should not just be the media exposing them to this issue. Teens should be having suicide discussions with the people they trust such as teachers, or counselors. 

             Besides the T.V industry, the music industry has also showed a lack of teen suicide awareness, but there is one artist who has used his platform to speak about the issue. Rapper Logic created a song titled 18002738255, which is the suicide prevention hotline, where he raps about in the beginning wanting to kill himself because no one care about him, than in the end realizing that there is help available. This song has a powerful message and the music video is powerful as well. It is based on a gay African -American teen whose father wants nothing to do with him for being gay and also gets bullied in school for the same issue. The teen feels that his life is worthless and is close to shooting himself, but at the last minute changes his mind. Instead he seeks help by calling the hotline and from then on his life changes for the better. When Logic performed this song at the MTV VMAs show, “the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline experienced a 50 percent increase in calls”(Billboard, Holterman). This shows the power of discussion, now imagine what can happen if suicide was addressed in schools. Teens would be more aware of the problem and seek help.

There are many benefits to having a suicide prevention program in school, primarily being able to decrease the number of suicide incidents. There is the common mentality that teenagers dislike talking about their emotions and enjoy keeping to themselves, but on the contrary if teens are encouraged to talk they will most likely talk. Teens especially those dealing with suicide thoughts, need to know that they are welcomed to go to a teacher or counselor, so that they do not feel alone. The state of Ohio has also seen the positive impact of creating suicide prevention programs in its schools. In the journal article, Do Increasing Adolescent Suicide Rates Result In Increasing Prevention/Postvention Programs In Ohio Schools?, a study is conducted where a group of researchers try to see how suicide programs have benefited schools. Wolfle states:

            Schools with prevention programs are more likely to report no suicide attempts 

            (16%) than those with no plan (35%) [...] Respondents in schools with a prevention program                are more likely to state that there have been no students attempts in the last 3 years (16%)                    compared to 35% reported by those with no program in place. (427) 

The many schools in Ohio who have put in place suicide prevention programs, have seen a decrease in the attempts of suicide in their schools. This means that the programs actually work and teens are benefiting from them. Schools across the nation should follow the steps of Ohio schools.

           On the other hand, many critics have argued that starting suicide prevention programs in schools will have a negative impact on teens and increase their risk of suicidal thoughts. Many critics believe that suicide has the potential to spread through social networks meaning that if you have a friend who deals with suicide you are most likely to be affected by it during some point in your life. Wanting to do more research in these affects two professors conducted a study “to know whether or not knowledge of a friend’s suicide attempt would change someone’s own risk of attempting suicide” (Mueller). In their results they discovered that teens who “knew about a friend’s suicide are nearly twice as likely to attempt suicide one year later” whereas “teen’s whose friends didn’t tell them about their suicide attempts didn’t experience a significant increase in their risk a year later” (Mueller). What many are afraid of is that having suicide programs can allow a teen to befriend someone who is dealing with suicide and then they will fall victim. Teens are vulnerable to fall into peer pressure, so it is better to keep the mention of suicide out of their lives. On the contrary, this is where the problem lays; ignoring the issue and hoping it stops on its own. Ironically the same two professors who showed that suicide could spread through social networks later conclude that although this is the case, schools shouldn't stop the creation of suicide prevention programs. The schools need to continue the programs because if  “we don’t talk about it we will miss chances to help those affected”(Mueller). We shouldn't just leave something like suicide to a teens imagination. Helping those who are affected and preventing it from happening again should be our priority as a society.

            

               All in all, suicide is a common issue that occurs in the United States, but little to nothing is done about it, so that it can decrease. The first solution to the problem is to accept it. As Carl Jung once said “We cannot change anything until we accept it. Condemnation does not liberate, it oppresses”(suicide prevention.com). We need to come to terms with the effects of suicide and do something about it, so that we do not leave more innocent teens die unnoticed. Second, the need for suicide prevention programs in school is urgent. Teens need to know that the schools will provide them with any resources available. Making teens more aware of suicide will allow them to better cope with the situation or even save someone else's life.

                                                                       Works Cited

• Anthony, Adelina “An Open Letter on Media Coverage of Teen Suicides.” Activist Notebook,Vol.10, No.2, 2011, pp.40-42
• Mueller, Anna, and Seth Abrutyn. "To talk or not to talk? The dilemma of suicide contagion." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2017. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/UVILBS606001129/OVIC?u=cuny_ccny&xid=a02ced53. Accessed 9 Oct. 2017. Originally published as "To talk or not to talk? The dilemma of suicide contagion," The Conversation, 3 Dec. 2015.
• Otsuki, Michiko, et al. "Teen Suicide Is a Major Health Problem." Teen Suicide, edited by Christine Watkins, Greenhaven Press, 2014. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010026229/OVIC?u=cuny_ccny&xid=eff38b37. Accessed 10 Oct. 2017. Originally published as "Fact Sheet: Youth Suicide," Southern California Academic Center of Excellence on Youth Violence Prevention, Spring 2010.
• Stokes, Alan "What I learnt watching '13 Reasons Why' with my teenage son." Sydney Morning Herald [Sydney, Australia], 26 Apr. 2017, p. 18. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A490552456/OVIC?u=cuny_ccny&xid=c9d3d08c. Accessed 10 Oct. 2017.
• Wolfle, Jane A., et al. "Do increasing adolescent suicide rates result in increasing prevention/postvention programs in Ohio schools?: a survey." Education, vol. 118, no. 3, 1998, p. 426+. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A20494608/OVIC?u=cuny_ccny&xid=25943cd6. Accessed 9 Oct. 2017.
• “Logic's VMAs Performance, Kesha's Speech Boost Suicide Prevention Hotline Calls 50%.”Billboard, www.billboard.com/articles/events/vma/7942341/logic-kesha-vmas-suicide-prevention-hotline-calls.
• “We Can All Prevent Suicide.” Lifeline, suicidepreventionlifeline.org/how-we-can-all-prevent-suicide/.