February, 2016/ Vol 4/Issue 2 ISSN- 2321-127X Editorial International Journal of Medical Research and Review Available online at: www.ijmrr.in 142 | Page Adolescent Suicide- A Rising Trend Rabindran 1 , Gedam DS 2 1 Dr. Rabindran, Consultant, Neonatologist, Billroth Hospital, Chennai, 2 Dr D Sharad Gedam, Professor of Pediatrics, L N Medical College, Bhopal, MP, India Address for Correspondence: Dr Rabindran, E mail: rabindranindia@yahoo.co.in ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….............. Abstract Suicide has become one of the leading cause of death in adolecesnt age group. In this abstract we are trying to find out causes of increasing trends and preventive stratigies. Keywords: Adolescent suicide, firearms, Suicide prevention .................................................................................................................................................................................................. Suicide is the 3 rd leading cause of death among adolescents after accidents & homicide. According to WHO, a suicide occurs every 40 seconds & an attempt is made every 3 seconds. The ratio of attempted suicides to completed suicides among adolescents is estimated to be 50:1 to 100:1, & the incidence of unsuccessful suicide attempts is higher among females than among males [1]. However adolescent males have 6 times higher rate of completed suicide than females because they use more lethal methods such as firearms, hanging, or jumping from heights. According to CDC, One in five teenagers in the U.S. seriously considers suicide annually. In India, adolescent suicide amount to one-third of all suicides. Overall adolescent suicide has increased 300-400% over the past 10 years [2]. The major risk factor for adolescent suicide is the presence of mental illness [3]. Adolescents have strong feelings of stress, confusion, self-doubt & financial uncertainty. Other risk factors are family history of suicidal behaviour or mood disorder, history of physical or sexual abuse, exposure to violence, easy access to firearms, conflict with close friends or family members, use of alcohol or drugs, social isolation, academic pressure, loss of a valued relationship, struggling with sexual orientation, impaired social skills & impaired peer relationships & bullying. Moreover adolescents have a stigma associated with asking for help. The barriers to accessing services along with cultural & religious beliefs are other factors associated with the rising trend among adolescent suicides. There is an increase in firearm use among adolescents recently. Firearms were the instrument of death in 88 % of teen homicides & 41 % of teen suicides in 2014 [4]. While non-firearm injuries result in death in only one out of every 760 cases, almost one in four youth firearm injuries is fatal. Alcohol use has been associated with 50% of suicides [5]. Gay & bisexual adolescents exhibit 3 times higher suicide than others. Monozygotic twins show significantly higher concordance for suicide than dizygotic twins [6]. Increasing homosexual behaviour, alcohol abuse& increasing twin births secondary to rise in assisted reproductive techniques nowadays could be the reason behind the rise in adolescent suicides. Overdose using over-the-counter; prescription & non- prescription medicine is also a very common method for suicide. Media coverage of a teenage suicide may lead to cluster suicides within a 1-to 2-week period afterward [7]. Copy-cat suicides & publicized suicides also occur frequently. Some experts believe that one- child norm may be the cause behind the rise because those adolescents are not used to dealing with difficult interpersonal problems as they grew up with no siblings. About 80% of all suicide attempts & completions are preceded by warning signs [2] like change in eating & sleeping habits; withdrawal from friends, family & regular activities; violent actions, rebellious behavior, running away; drug & alcohol use, neglect of personal appearance, marked personality change, persistent boredom, difficulty concentrating, frequent complaints about physical symptoms, loss of interest in pleasurable activities, not tolerating praise or rewards, talking about dying, threats of suicide- either direct or indirect, overwhelming sense of guilt, shame or rejection, putting affairs in order, sudden cheerfulness after a