Childhood Suicide and Myths Surrounding It

摘要: Sometimes, when I'm really upset, I say I'll shoot myself. When my brother gets on me, feel like dying. An eight-year-old boy think about dying a lot. thought of hurting myself, cutting wrists. how it's going to be die. It keeps coming back. A 10-year-old The above excerpts are from an article in the New York Times (Brody, 1992). Cases such as these not rare or unusual. Suicide among children ages five 14 years occurs more frequently than one would suspect. In 1989 National Center for Health Statistics placed suicide sixth leading cause death that age group (National Statistics--Child Abuse and Suicide, 1979-1989); however, psychiatrists health officials believe ranking is closer third at present. Accurate mortality ratings difficult ascertain because many suicides can, do, pass accidents. There has always been stigma attached relatives friends person who commits suicide. These suffer deep sense guilt death, anger deceased, feelings shame suicidal signals were ignored tendencies exacerbated by attitudes behavior those around person. Some recent literature focuses relieving survivors (Bolton, 1983; Dunne, McIntosh, & Dunne-Maxim, 1987). profusion dynamics causes adult However, less information available concerning adolescents (15- 22-year-olds), paucity exists pertaining 10-to 14-year-olds. Periodically over last 100 years, childhood sparked some small interest researchers. 1885 Durand Farland published suicide, 1910 Vienna Psychoanalytic Society devoted entire meeting publication entitled Childhood (cited Pfeffer, 1986). About decade ago society began view adolescent realistic perspective. At time increase had cut across all demographic boundaries. United States risen seventh second (Dismuke, 1988). was slowly beginning accept idea young people actually killing themselves. Medical doctors, psychiatrists, social workers, nurses, teachers, even parents stopped hiding their heads sand effort preserve own fantasies youth happiest one's life. Even prevalent society's denial possibility preadolescents. Why it so fact child could resort destruction there clear evidence other violent behaviors filtering down eight- nine-year-olds? Preadolescent glossed this least two reasons: desire families avoid low number group. Another contributing factor inattention existence myths misconceptions surrounding children. This seeks dispel myths. 1. Children under six do commit myth successfully disputed physicians psychiatrists. Examples have given five-, four-, three-year-olds described clearly suicidal. case 10-month-old revealed symptoms wanting live presented. often regard themselves with same hostility criticism thereby forming nucleus bad self-image (Rosenn, 1982). 2. latency extremely rare. can disproved rates alone. risk increases until reaches peak adolescence; steady eight age. …