The Social Aspect of Teen Suicides and Its Effect on American High Schools.
Introduction
Suicide is an important issue to face across the United States, with it being the second leading cause of death in young people between the ages of ten and twenty-four (“Suicide Prevention”). Because mental illnesses are a stigma difficult to discuss, it especially challenging to efficiently talk about suicidal thoughts with teenagers. Along with the stigmatism of mental illnesses, the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) community is stigmatized as well. Many youth who are committing suicide have a mental illness, or are LGBT. According to The Trevor Project, a non-profit, national suicide prevention organization, LGBT youth are four times more likely …show more content…
Schools have also implemented anti-bullying programs in order to create a positive learning environment. They teach students to be more than a bystander, when to speak up, and educate them on what is and is not bullying. By educating students to speak up, they allow the students to make the safe and positive environment for one another, and create a supportive school. This relates to social stigma because if a school has a fairly successful anti-bullying program then they are more likely to be providing a comfortable environment for their students, so a student is more likely to seek help from friends or teachers if they have a mental health concern, …show more content…
Gay Straight Alliances (GSAs) are forming in schools to help provide a safe environment for LGBT youth. Students that attend schools with GSAs report fewer homophobic remarks, more intervention from teachers, and an overall better atmosphere (“Bullying and LGBT Youth”). Making friendships and talking about the hardships LGBT students face may help lighten the burden they may feel, and thus improve mental health. Research has shown that in schools with GSAs, LGBT students were less likely to face peer-inflicted violence, skip school because they felt unsafe, or attempt suicide than students in schools without LGBT support groups (“Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health: LGBT Youth”). Schools are also identifying “safe places” in designated classrooms and counselor offices for LGBT youth to go to for support from certain staff. Academically, health classes help their students by addressing mental illnesses in their curriculum and informing students on where to go if they need help. Teachers can report any concerns for the mental health of their students to a counselor if they see fit. By providing education on mental health and access to school counselors, and having anti-bullying programs, schools hope to eliminate many factors that could contribute to suicidal
Introduction
Suicide is an important issue to face across the United States, with it being the second leading cause of death in young people between the ages of ten and twenty-four (“Suicide Prevention”). Because mental illnesses are a stigma difficult to discuss, it especially challenging to efficiently talk about suicidal thoughts with teenagers. Along with the stigmatism of mental illnesses, the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) community is stigmatized as well. Many youth who are committing suicide have a mental illness, or are LGBT. According to The Trevor Project, a non-profit, national suicide prevention organization, LGBT youth are four times more likely …show more content…
Schools have also implemented anti-bullying programs in order to create a positive learning environment. They teach students to be more than a bystander, when to speak up, and educate them on what is and is not bullying. By educating students to speak up, they allow the students to make the safe and positive environment for one another, and create a supportive school. This relates to social stigma because if a school has a fairly successful anti-bullying program then they are more likely to be providing a comfortable environment for their students, so a student is more likely to seek help from friends or teachers if they have a mental health concern, …show more content…
Gay Straight Alliances (GSAs) are forming in schools to help provide a safe environment for LGBT youth. Students that attend schools with GSAs report fewer homophobic remarks, more intervention from teachers, and an overall better atmosphere (“Bullying and LGBT Youth”). Making friendships and talking about the hardships LGBT students face may help lighten the burden they may feel, and thus improve mental health. Research has shown that in schools with GSAs, LGBT students were less likely to face peer-inflicted violence, skip school because they felt unsafe, or attempt suicide than students in schools without LGBT support groups (“Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health: LGBT Youth”). Schools are also identifying “safe places” in designated classrooms and counselor offices for LGBT youth to go to for support from certain staff. Academically, health classes help their students by addressing mental illnesses in their curriculum and informing students on where to go if they need help. Teachers can report any concerns for the mental health of their students to a counselor if they see fit. By providing education on mental health and access to school counselors, and having anti-bullying programs, schools hope to eliminate many factors that could contribute to suicidal