Teen suicide: Social network, bullying, mental health contributing to rise in deaths – CBS News

Parents of teenagers who passed away by suicide hope speaking up will prevent more deaths

As teen suicides increase across the country, professionals and moms and dads state bullying and social networks have both contributed to the increase. In many cases, individuals who die by suicide also had psychological health issues. Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among teens in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A recent CDC study discovered that teenager suicide jumped 56% from 2007 to 2017.

Parents whose teens died by suicide talked with CBS News correspondent Jericka Duncan about the difficulties their children faced and what the caution indications were. Each of them hope speaking up about their children will assist prevent other teenager suicides.Ian Russell thinks social networks is partly accountable for the death of his 14-year-old child, Molly, who he described as “among the most caring individuals. “He said he and his household” had no idea” Molly was suffering.” The only thing that we did

discover was on social media … which welcomed individuals who were depressed into a club, “he stated.”It welcomed people who may have been self-harming into a club. It stabilized those behaviors. … It simply stated time and time again, I’m a lost cause, you’re a lost cause. Join our club. And I do think she had a sense of total insignificance at the end of her life.”Russell has been really outspoken about the duty of social networks companies to cops suicide-related material on their platforms. Instagram enhanced its policy this week.Camika Shelby, whose 15-year-old son, Nigel, died previously this year after coming out as gay, understood Nigel was

considering suicide, but thought he was doing much better after seeing a therapist.” He had actually begun … doing typical things again, desiring to play with his pals,”she said.

“And at that minute when I lastly started to let up and I thought he was okay, that’s when he actually wasn’t.”In his suicide letter, Nigel wrote,”I attempted to be regular. I could not. “” It broke me,”

Shelby said.”You’re going to go through a lot in this world, being a black man. You’re going to go through two times as much being a gay black guy.”Russell stated the caution indications are tough to identify. A few of the signs to try to find are isolation, stress and anxiety, substance use, mood swings, and irregular sleep patterns.”The cautioning signs were a teen investing a bit more time in her bed room, “he stated. “Separating that somewhat normal awkward habits that a teen has as they grow up … from the indication that can notify a parent to the dangers of anxiety, depression or suicide, I think is so hard for any moms and dad to do.”But speaking up more about the issue can make a difference, Shelby hopes.”I desire to be able to speak about Nigel’s story in hopes that it helps the next kid or the next parent … because I know he would have desired me to,”she said. The national suicide avoidance lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. It’s available 24/7. © 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.