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Thread ID: 56345	2005-04-02 12:32:00	TEENAGE SUICIDE	Princess (7275)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
340919	2005-04-12 09:45:00	Go Kame!!! That is such a misguided thing to say that teenage suicide is caused by headbanging music, too much tv and too much freedom. It's caused by depression. This can be caused by anything, and can even have no reason for occurring. Depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain. There's not a lot of people who commit suicide who aren't depressed. I left home when I finished school (just managing to hang on for the last year) and started couch hopping, before living on the streets for two months, and then a youth shelter. I was depressed for at least six months before I left school, because I was the victim of domestic violence at home, and was getting beat up every morning before school. School counsellors generally suck (from my own experiences and those I've talked to). I went and told the school counsellor that I was getting hurt at home, and she just asked me if I wanted to leave, and I said yes but I had to finish school (I only had a month left) and she said she would call me to make another appointment. I never heard from her again. At that point the beatings were at their worst, and I was very depressed and thinking about suicide alot. Apart from a duty to follow up on me the school counsellor had a duty of care to report my case to the government, but she just did nothing at all. So I left, and stayed at friends houses for a while (and couldn't tell them what was happening, as I was pretty traumatised from the DV) then started sleeping on the streets in Brisbane city (australia). If you're not depressed before you become a streetie you soon will be. Two months after I became a streetie I was sitting in a carpark (my squat) alone one night and I had a knife in my bag and I just couldn't take it anymore and I made two deep cuts in my wrist. After I had done it I was a bit shocked and pinched the skin together and walked to a food van. I passed when I was almost there, and woke up to ambos fixing me up. The next night I was sitting in front of another food van, and I just started crying. Two older male streeties I knew took pity on me and took me to a youth shelter (at like 12 at night) and they let me stay. I've been here a week. All streeties have scars on their wrists. I was only there for two months and I got them. That's typical crap from older people about how music, tv and rebellious behaviour make people a suicide risk. It's depression, and it doesn't need a reason to occur. I'm not rebellious, I don't watch much TV, I go to church twice a week, I eat well (when I can, you don't have much choice when you have no money), I finished school at a good private school I got a scholarship to, I slept well (before I was depressed), I get tons of exercise, I've managed to stay off drugs even ciggies (woohoo!), I do know my rights (but they aren't politically incorrect), I don't play PC games much (definitely not violent ones), I don't mind chores at all, so that just leaves not sitting around a table at night (which I'm pretty sure is not a major cause of depression). So that shows that you can't just label depressed teens with "playing violent games" or "listening to rap songs". So many older people pay out on eminem before stopping to listen to what his lyrics say. Suicide is caused by depression (almost always). I noticed that Steve didn't list domestic violence, or alcoholism, or divorce, or bullying, or mental health problems, or financial problems, or relationship breakups as triggers to youth suicide. I think these are much more the cause of depression in teens than the list Steve gave, and I can't believe he didn't even mention problems at home. I was just lucky that I didn't have the guts to take a full swipe with the knife. And it was domestic violence triggering depression, not "lack of sleep" (?!) that made me do it.	rat_chic (7785)
340920	2005-04-12 09:48:00	Strength and respect.	Metla (12)
340921	2005-04-12 13:44:00	Thanks Metla. :)	rat_chic (7785)
340922	2005-04-13 01:48:00	This is a very interesting topic. I think that anybody who can and has battled with depression deserves the utmost respect. I cant say Ive suffered from real depression. Ive had my bad days just like anybody else but never anything worth comparing to that which I know others have gone through. I did however have an ex-girlfriend (We were together at the time) who had moved out of home, and was in to drugs, sex, rock 'n roll, alcohol... Typical "living la vida loca" teen. Im quite the opposite though. No drugs, sex, and only the occasional beer. I'll listen to Rock, but its not my cup of tea. She began slitting her wrists after she slept with somebody else one night at a party I didnt go to, after getting incredibly sloshed. She hid the fact she was doing it for a while, but I was incredibly suspect.... After finding a letter written on her bathroom wall in blood, I figured I had to do something. We moved her out of her home, and into a different environment, and she ended up giving up drugs, drinking and sex. She's still a big rock n roll fan though ;) From what Ive seen with the many peers that have come to me over the years about suicidal tendancies, is that slitting wrists is an outward expression of an inward cry for help. Support is good, and needed. Some people just simply dont want to hear about Councellors, and as mentioned some simply have lost the heart for their job. There _are_ some INCREDIBLY good councellors out there who ARE good at what they do and genuinely care for those they help. Stories like rat_chic, personthingy and kame's always put a smile on my face :)	Chilling_Silence (9)
340923	2005-04-13 02:20:00	Thats definitely right about the counsellors (I didn't mean to dis counsellors in general or anything). There are some great ones out there, and I think the best thing anyone with depression can do is to see a counsellor, or even a doctor who can refer you (shame on australian government medicare for not covering mental health services!!!!!). Kids Helpline really helped me, and there are a few other really good free services out there offering counselling free face to face, by phone or email (I imagine the situation in NZ is similar to australia, if not better), all in the phone book. If I had used one of those services before I had gone on the streets I would have been more clued in about youth shelters and services and probably wouldn't have been a streetie at all. So yeah counselling = good.	rat_chic (7785)
340924	2005-04-13 09:01:00	Rat_Chic wrote: Suicide is caused by depression (almost always). I noticed that Steve didn't list domestic violence, or alcoholism, or divorce, or bullying, or mental health problems, or financial problems, or relationship breakups as triggers to youth suicide. I think these are much more the cause of depression in teens than the list Steve gave, and I can't believe he didn't even mention problems at home. I was just lucky that I didn't have the guts to take a full swipe with the knife. And it was domestic violence triggering depression, not "lack of sleep" (?!) that made me do it. You are correct: suicide and depression are linked, and there are other factors to consider. My list was not meant to be comprehensive; not the only things that lead to suicide. I should have qualified it so on that post. Domestic violence and the other things that you mention are powerful factors that lead to mental/emotional/social problems. You are to be commended for joining PF1 and sharing your views, which imho, are quite valid. However, the list that I posted should not be ignored: all can contribute to problems that can lead to suicide (or less severe problems), as much research has shown. But this does not, obviously, mean that everyone who has a poor diet, has a lack of exercise, and spends too much time in front of screens, will be suicidal. Nor do all victims of domestic violence wind up suicidal. BTW, I believe there was news last week that said our national suicide rate (for young people?) has declined. If true, I wonder if it was a significant declinde, and what caused it?	Strommer (42)
340925	2005-04-13 09:42:00	Steve.. i debate one thing... I believe that even "head banging music" can link in with a spiritual direction. There's no accounting for what squeals peoples wheels. I could be wrong, but it seems to work for me. :D (Sidenote: i actually like a lot of things including "head banging music" )	personthingy (1670)
340926	2005-04-13 10:45:00	Me too!!!!!!! Our church totally rocks on a sunday night (it's Assembly of God) with all the youth up the front jumping up and down and headbanging. Heard the new song "Jesus Walks" by Kane West? Tons of head banging is done in church! Definitely works for me too. :)	rat_chic (7785)
340927	2005-04-13 12:49:00	Indeed, some people find it a form of stress release. Our church isnt quite as 'bouncy', but I frequently go to CLCA, which is a lot more 'upbeat' you might say... Spirituality can play a part in living for something more than oneself, a greater purpose perhaps......	Chilling_Silence (9)
340928	2005-04-13 13:58:00	Spiritually is pretty broad - I'm thinking covering all religions. Does that make satanism spiritualistic? We're kind of off the topic now ..... I think that religions can indirectly encourage and discourage suicide at the same time. There are lots of church based charities doing a lot to try and stop teens taking their lives, but I've known people who have committed suicide because they believed that heaven is where they want to be, after being involved in church. No real point to this paragraph, just a random statement. NZ is doing pretty well in lowering its suicide rates. From here in oz your country looks pretty good on all social fronts - indigenous issues, women's issues, refugees, environmental issues, not going to war, etc. Why is australia so screwed i wonder! Do you guys have a liberal or labour or what government in power?	rat_chic (7785)
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