Epidemic of the Ages

Teenage suicide is a prevalent and catastrophic incident throughout the world. It is a completely preventable occurrence that should be educated to perpetuate our teens. To most—as long as suicide does not occur in a public place with witnesses they can quarrel it was an accident. This, as Jay Asher states in his book Th1rteen R3asons Why, is because no parent wishes for everyone to believe— or to believe themselves— that they raised a child who took their own life. We are often oblivious as to what the people around us everyday are going through. It is becoming harder and harder to tell a suicidal teen from one acting out of rage, rebellion, or going through a “phase”. “At the end of class Mrs. Bradley passed out a flyer called The Warning Signs of a Suicidal Individual. Guess what was right up there in the top five? “A sudden change in appearance.” I tugged at the ends of my newly chopped hair. Huh. Who knew I was so predictable?” (Th1rteen R3asons Why) This statement shows how “time and time again” we do not notice the signs right in front of us. "Where it used to be your grandfather, now it's your son," said Tom Simon (Jessica Portner). The numbers and the rates for suicide are increasing dramatically. This shows that there is amplification in the figures and, if we do not stop this plague as soon as possible it can lead to a defunct future.  Depression is beyond felling sad; it is an everyday feeling that consumes you in loneliness. It hurts you physically and mentally; and, it feels like your being swallowed by a dark cloud only you cannot scream out to anyone because all your energy, life, your emotions have been drained like vapors in a cloud. Sooner or later you just do not care anymore, you try to reach out for help but, your just so tired—and not physically tired—just tired of everything. This feeling of being dilapidated is the one that pilots most sufferers to suicide. You soon become weary of eating, shattered of talking, drained of smiling, and soon done with living. Depression is something the majority of us cannot comprehend, unless we feel it for first-hand. (Sandra Arbetter).