User:One Almond/sandbox

Intro

 * Note: Italics denotes portions from the current Youth Suicide page.**

Youth suicide is when a young person, generally categorized as someone below age 21, deliberately ends their own life. Suicide attempts are generally higher among females than males. However, males are more successful in ending their lives. In 2015 alone, 1,537 males and 524 females aged 15 through 19 in the United States took their own lives. Suicide rates in youths have nearly tripled between the 1960s and 1980s with suicide being the second leading cause of death among 15 to 24 year-olds in the United States and third worldwide.

Epidemiology
Two possible determinants to suicide attempts are lifetime sexual abuse and adult physical violence. Among participants aged 18-25, the odds ratios for lifetime sexual abuse and adult physical violence are 4.27 and 3.85, respectively. In other words, those who committed suicide are 327% more likely to have experienced lifetime sexual assault. Similarly, a suicide victim is 285% more likely to have suffered physical violence as and adult. ''Based on a survey done on American high school students, 16% reported considering suicide and 8% reported attempting suicide sometime within the 12 months before taking the survey. Between 1980 and 1994, the suicide rates of young black males doubled. American Indians and Alaska Natives commit suicide at a higher rate than any other ethnic group in the United States. In India, one-third of suicides are young people 15–29. In 2002, 154,000 suicides were recorded in India.''

Table of Youth Suicide Rates
Information taken from World Psychiatry, the official journal of the World Psychiatry Association.

An asterisk denotes partial data for the region.

Sexual Minority Youth and Suicide
Youth that fall under the category of sexual minorities are at an elevated risk of depression and succumbing to suicide. Among the population of sexual minority youth, on average, 28% explain having past experiences with suicidal actions and/or thoughts. Lesbian and gay youths are the group most likely to face negative experiences in youth, leading to a higher likelihood of the development of suicidal thoughts according to mental care professionals. Bisexuality also carries a higher likelihood of suicidality with bisexuals being 5 times more likely to report suicidal thoughts and actions. Sexual minority youth also report a higher incidence of substance abuse when compared to heterosexuals. Overall, studies suggest that sexual minority youth carry a higher incidence of suicide and depression.

Warning Signs
According to the Mayo Clinic, the following list contains possible teen suicide warning signs.
 * Talking or writing about suicide.
 * Withdrawing from social contact.
 * Mood swings.
 * Increased use of alcohol or drugs.
 * Feeling trapped or hopeless.
 * Changing normal routine, including eating and sleeping patterns.
 * Participating in risky or self-destructive activities.
 * Giving away treasured belongings.
 * Personality changes.