From SFGate.com: "Boys commit 86 percent of all adolescent suicides." That is a 6 to 1 ratio. The reporter points out that if this was reversed there would be a national uproar. If girls were killing themselves in greater numbers than boys, there would be investigations, front-page news, on and on.
Part of the article is a call for greater funding, but as Dr. Helen says, the call seems to be along the lines of why aren't boys more like girls.
This seems to tie in with some of the recent news about boys not doing well in public schools. (here, here, and here) Over the last couple decades as society has tried to build up young girls, there seems to have been a tendency for many to tell boys they are broken if they don't act like girls. Boys are getting more frustrated at public schools, and more are dropping out. It would be interesting to see the numbers of suicide by gender over the last fifty years.
(Hat tip: Dr. Helen)
3 comments:
I heard Dan Kindlon speak once, he is a psychologist and author, and he was great. I thought the talk was on his book "Raising Cain" which is about raising boys. However, it ended up bing a talk was a combination of his other two books, one on raising children in an indulgent age and on another book on raising children in tough times (upheaval, terrorism, etc.).
The lecture was great. He spoke specifically about teen suicide in boys.
The main solution to the suicide and the depression-avoidance and also teen pregnancy rate and use of drugs and alcohol is...
drum roll please...
a strong connection/bond with the parents.
A homeschooler in the audience commented to him that with homeschooling all the separation issues that are a natural byproduct of sending children to school are avoided with homeschooling.
He made a remark that HSing is not right for all families, or possible. I agree. I wasn't sure if he 'got it' or not.
He suggests thing such as reducing TV time, playing board games, talking with our kids.
I highly recommend Dan Kindlon's books to all parents.
Scewed statistic. Boys succeed at suicide in higher rates, because they're more likely to use a violent means (gun, hanging) . The rates of attempts are much closer between the sexes.
Christine, thank you for the book suggestion. “Raising Cain” has very positive reviews on Amazon. Currently it is ranked #62 in sales on Amazon.
My wife and I only have daughters, so I'm going to check "Raising Cain" out of the library, instead of buying it.
In is sad that the solution of "a strong connection/bond with the parents" is news.
Doc, as you point out, the news article did say that men were more successful in committing suicide. According to the CDC at:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/suifacts.htm
"Women report attempting suicide during their lifetime about three times as often as men."
This could mean that Women are more likely to try to commit suicide, or it could mean that women are more willing to report an attempt.
The CDC says that out of the 30,622 reported suicide deaths, 24,672 were among men. It still seems like a scary statistic.
At a more basic point it is sad that there were 30,622 people who killed themselves in one year.
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