The Media

   

     The media is often to blame for many youth misconceptions and issues with their reflection. We often believe we must look a specific way, act in a certain manner, and think like the “typical teen”. Well these and other images to maintain a look can become overwhelming and, cause a teenager major stress.  "Society is more expecting of girls to be better than boys to compete for jobs, schools, and honors, especially with the media, the 'homecoming queen' image, and constant pressures to get into the top universities," This is a common worry of many adolescence. (Burrell) “All teens feel sad or depressed sometimes--especially when the pressures of exams, relationships, and friends become too much to handle.” This is an oblivious statement that many of us can agree upon; but what others seldom understand how things can go from bad to worse in a blink of an eye, these sudden changes can cause pressure on a teen. So when did it even become okay to ridicule such a grim occurrence. (Arbetter) "You don’t know what goes on in anyone’s life but your own. And when you mess with one part of a person’s life, you’re not messing with just that part. Unfortunately, you can’t be that precise and selective. When you mess with one part of a person’s life, you’re messing with their entire life. Everything. . . affects everything." This is true for the media as well. In “Th1rteen R3asons Why” Hannah shows how the media and everything around you affects not just one part of your life, but your whole life. She was so consumed in the way everyone saw—or didn’t see—her. She let herself fall into the crowd with people she never really liked just for the attention. Hannah wasn’t swayed by one thing; she was convinced 13 different times. (Th1rteen R3asons Why) Can you see anything funny about that, so why do the media have such cruel perception of those facing the decisions of their life?

Facts and Stats

Teens today do not take the time to really look at things for what they really are; we simply accept them to be what they will. Throughout the book, Hannah tells us the thirteen people who have influenced her life.  Her grounds were due to events such as rape, depression, a scene of invisibility, being picked on, and not having a stable relationship with anyone. Moreover, the most shocking detail was that Hannah was never certain what or why she was having these thoughts, or if she should go through with it. These types of thoughts can be piloted from a teen that longs for attention—the attention she may be lacking. She tried calling out to others for help, but was restrained by herself. No one saw the horror of what laid behind her eyes. Hannah may have been fabricated, but, she is the epitome of suicidal teens everywhere. (Th1rteen R3asons Why) To establish the circumstances that lead teen to suicide, I found that 16% of teen commit suicide due to parent or family problems, relationships accounted for 10% of suicides, 5% was shared between both runaways and abused teens, 3% was school related issues, pregnancy’s and matters on sexuality made up 8%, taking a whopping 30% depression stood as the event leading to most suicides, a less major 3% due to substance abuse, while all other proceedings take up 27%. (Lawrence) these statistics show that a good number of teens do not commit suicide for insignificant reasons such as, breakups or bad grade (this is not to say that it does not happen). To justify the data, a mass of these cases are associated with things outside the teens control such as family problems, bullies, sexuality and much more. The intellect of a suicidal teen is a maze of despair filled only by the dark mist of loneliness. In asking who is more likely to commit suicide, the white male ratio still surpasses that of any other group. Girls are three times likely to attempt suicide; as an effort to convey their scenes of loneliness. While boys take issues into their own hands and, go through with suicide. As for assumptions such as: suicidal teens sit beneath the stair case, wear long black trench coats, and listen to heavy metal music; this is not the case. Signs of suicide are rarely this blunt and extreme.  (Jessica Portner).  We must look beyond what we see to find the truth behind suicide—a seven letter synonym for plague.

An unstable household can lead to a suicidal child; children need stability.
   check out meagan's blog for more information

Suicide can be a result from bullying 
    check out Riley's blog for more information

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).

100 things to do besides suicide

1. Take a walk
2. Sing
3. Listen to music
4. Draw a picture
5. Jump around your house
6. Act like a bunny
7. Bark at a dog
8. Read a book
9. Let the bog bark at you
10. Read this list
11. Do yoga
12. Pretend to do your homework
13. Call your friend
14. Yell out the window
15. Take a bath/shower
16. Paint your nails
17. Eat some chicken
18. Touch your toes
19. Spin around in circles
20. So a cartwheel
21. Dance crazy
22. Paint a picture
23. Clean your room
24. Pretend your a cowboy
25. Learn all the state capitals
26. Read my blog
27. Draw faces on your fingers
28. Draw twenty different smiley faces
29. Watch a movie
30. See how long you can be quiet
31. Try to say the letter 'n' without touching the roof of your mouth (no holding your tongue)
32. Think of a positive (and you cannot skip this one)
33. Blink forty eight times
34. Rub your tummy and pat your head
35. Try to smile at one person for no reason
36. Think of things to rhyme with orange and purple
37. Find twelve things around you that start with 'L'
38. Play an instrument
39. Make a list of things you have to do tomorrow
40. Look up at the sky
41. Make a goal
42. Write a letter to yourself
43. Answer a riddle
    -Davids dad has three kids: snap, pop and________
    -I grow shorter the older I get, what am I?
    -A man came into town on Friday stayed three days and left on Wednesday, how is this?
    - Out of 10 fish, 6 drown. how many fish do you have left
    -A man is driving in a black car down a black road with no headlights nor street lights. In the middle of the road is a black dog. The man stops and goes around the dog, how did he see it. (It is not that he had good eye sight)
44. Eat some ice cream
45. Go to sleep
46. Do your hair
47. Ride a dirt bike
48. Play with Lego's
49. Make a sand castle
50. Ride a four wheeler
51. Skate
52. Skateboard
53. Ride a half pipe
54. Go to the beach
55. Go to a pool
56. Bead a necklace
57. Write a poem
58. Make a hand turkey
59. Try to blow a bubble inside of a bubble (with gum)
60. Color a picture
61. Read a child's book
62. Snuggle with a blanket
63. Make some Kool-Aid
64. Make cookies
65. Bake brownies
66. Make some macaroni and cheese
67. Pajama party
68. Sit with your family and have a popcorn movie night
69. Think of fourteen types of flowers
70. get a manicure and/or a pedicure
71. Throw water balloons at your mom
72. Tell yourself your awesome
73. Read 5 novels
74. Re-read this list
75. Make your own list
76. Watch every T.V. show starting from channel 1
77. Buy a pet
78. Brush your teeth
79. Find 5 different types of coins
80. Look at your uvula
81. Tell your someone you love them
82. Text your favorite relative
83. Write a letter to Charlie Sheen
84. Get a fake tattoo
85. Impersonate forest Gump
86. Walk on all fours
87. Balance 10 books on your head
88. Do a back-flip
89. Go around the world with a friend
90. Touch your elbow with your tongue
91. Do a handstand with your legs
92. Play hide and go seek in Walmart
93. JUST DO KILL YOURSELF!!
94. Jump rope
95. watch the underdog
96. Buy a red cape
97.Whip your hair back and forth
98. Go to school
99. Make yourself smile
100. Laugh 

Remember that someone loves you 

Answers to the riddle: 1. David, because DAVID'S dad has three kids 2. A candle, because the more you burn a candle the smaller it gets 3. The horse the man was riding was named Friday 4. All of them because fish do not drown 5. It was day time

(Things to do # 71-100 were done by Deantre R. Campbell)

"What Should I Do"

Have you ever heard someone say that people who talk about suicide won't actually go through with it? That's a myth--people who talk about it may be likely to try it. If you have a friend who is talking about suicide, don't wait to see if he'll start to feel better. Warning signs such as talking about suicide should be taken very seriously. Other warning signs include:

     • Self-destructive behavior, such as taking drugs
     • Talking about death
     • Withdrawal from family and friends
     • Changes in appearance or eating or sleeping habits
     • A lack of interest in favorite activities
     • Giving away favorite possessions
     • Talking about feeling helpless, hopeless, or worthless

     The important thing is that you notify a responsible adult. Although it may be tempting to try to help your friend on your own, that may not be possible, and the delay in getting an adult's help could be risky to your friend's well-being.
                                          

KNIGHT-RIDDER NEWSPAPERS. My Friend Is Talking About Suicide. What Should I Do? 28 February 2002. 8 march 2011 <http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com.wf2dnvr6.webfeat.org/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000151428>.

    Most of use do not know how to deal with a suicidal friend. We may not see the warning signs or take them seriously, and this is why the epidemic is raising at dangerous rate. We all want to help someone we care about but, often times we just cannot do it on our own. You can help them by getting an adult rather than taking it upon yourself.