Running head: ADOLESCENT SUICIDE
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ADOLESCENT SUICIDE
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Child and Adolescent Suicide
Curtis Pierce
Liberty University
Abstract
The following paper will provide an overview of child and adolescent suicide (CAS) by detailing the etiology, risk, social-cultural factors, and red flags. The author will show that the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is well supported and established to treat this segment of the population for depression and suicide. The article will also explore the legal and ethical issues that may arise when working with parents, teachers, and other healthcare professionals while counseling a child or adolescent. The next section will examine the legal and ethical issues and the mental health laws to be aware of when working with children and adolescents in the state of Michigan. The final segment will summarize the author’s overall findings and propose recommendations for future studies to support the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy for treating child and adolescent suicide.
Child and Adolescent Suicide
Overview
Child and adolescent suicide is a grave and multifaceted national and international mental health crisis that requires vast amounts of research in addition to what has already been accomplished. Self-report studies have shown that within the last year nearly one-fifth of adolescents had thoughts of ending their lives, slightly fewer constructed a strategy, and one-tenth had a failed suicide attempt (SA) (McWhirter, McWhirter, McWhirter, & McWhirter, 2017). Due to the nature of self-report questionnaires and the shame and guilt attached to suicide ideation (SI), SA, and suicide, the genuine percentages are likely considerably higher (McWhirter et al., 2017). When this information is combined with numerous reports revealing that suicide is the third foremost cause of death in adolescents after accidents and homicide the enormity of this psychological issue becomes apparent (McWhirter et al., 2017; Brent, 2016). While there are many treatment modalities to consider, the author theorizes that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective therapy technique to utilize with children and adolescents presenting with depression, SI, SA, and bereavement for suicide.
The following are well recognized risk factors for SI, SA, and suicide: gender, family environment, physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, change in surroundings and housing, and social and economic status (Amitai & Apter, 2012; Black, 2014). In more modern and westernized nations, studies indicate that young males are seventeen percent more likely to commit suicide than young females, however, females are twenty-five percent more likely to experience SI and SA (Amitai & Apter, 2012). The elevated percentages for suicide in young males may be the result of the more brutal approaches they utilize to complete the act (Amitai & Apter, 2012). Young males are also more likely to suffer with alcohol and substance abuse, antisocial personality...
