THE PROBLEM OF SUICIDE BEHAVIOUR AMONG TEENAGERS 

Abstract. Currently, the problem of suicide in the teenage environment is quite acute. This problem is argencycal nowadays,but many scientists are trying to make researches of the various aspects of this phenomenon. After all,suicide behaviour is a complex action that has a social psychological and psychyatric component. Behind every suicide attempt there is a personal tragedy and hopelessness, when the fear of life becomes stronger,than the fear of death. However,often children just want to draw attention to their daily problems, which are not fatal. 

AIM

Purpose: to consider the problem of suicide and its social significance, in order to identify possible ways to solve it: 

1. To study and analyze the legal, psychological and scientific literature on the topic of the study. 

2. To identify the causes and identify the motivating factors of adolescent suicide. To give a justification for the problem of teenage suicide. 

3. To analyze statistical data from Rosstat, the World Health Organization, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. Conduct a survey among minors between the ages of 14 and 18 and analyze; 

4. Draw conclusions, develop proposals for the legislative settlement of this problem, and identify methods of preventive and correctional work to eliminate suicide among minors.  

INTRODUCTION

In Russia, approximately 4000 suicide attempts and 1500 completed suicides are registered every year, with the lion's share of the latter committed by teenagers. More than a third of children lost their lives because of poor grades and unwillingness to study, a fifth – because of a quarrel with their parents, 13.4% — because of bullying at school. Other reasons include loneliness, unrequited love, and parental divorce. 

OVERVIEW

When analyzing adolescent suicidality, it turned out that many teenagers committed suicide after the Unified State Exam/OGE. Exam stress increases the risk of so—called abnormal suicide – associated with social maladaptation, loss of value orientations. 

Cyberbullying on the Internet makes a significant contribution to adolescent suicidality. 

Another online threat to children is «death groups» that encourage minors to commit suicide. In 2016, it became known about the existence of such groups in Russian social networks. The children who joined them cut their veins, threw themselves under trains, jumped from roofs, swallowed pills and hung themselves.  

A dysfunctional family is the main provocateur of adolescent suicide risk. Domestic violence, authoritarian and neglectful parenting form a teenager's negative attitude towards himself, his future and others. 

Pseudo—poor families are the most suicidal. In adolescents raised in them, suicidal behavior can occur already at the beginning of puberty. 

Families of alcoholics belong to completely dysfunctional families. We have not been able to find studies on the relationship between parental alcoholism and childhood suicidality, but there are scientific papers on its correlation with suicidal risk in young people. 

Final exams are a suicide detonator. All over the world, final exams serve as a detonator of suicidal adolescent behavior. In our country, 20-30 teenagers from many Russian regions commit suicide every year in connection with GIA. For many students, final exams become a real torture, and teachers and parents are often to blame for this. 

Psychologists agree that no suicide, even if performed very quickly, happens suddenly – a person comes to it gradually: from pre-suicide (the emergence of thoughts) to the direct embodiment of the plan, a certain time passes. 

Pre-suicidal syndrome: A psychological symptom complex indicating an impending suicidal act, i.e. a stage of suicidal dynamics, the duration of which ranges from several minutes to several weeks and months3. 

Suicidal behavior is a manifestation of suicidal activity – thoughts, intentions, statements, threats, attempts, attempts. 

When studying suicidal behavior, the following types should be distinguished: demonstrative behavior, affective suicidal behavior, and true suicidal behavior. 

Signs of suicidal behavior: 

- constant focus on problems, lack of a way to solve them, new losses, seeing only the negative sides of life, focusing on death; 

- change in emotional state, tearfulness, for no apparent reason, increased irritability, intolerance, decreased attention to oneself, isolation, violent behavior or fights; 

- verbal expressions preceding suicidal attempts; 

- distribution of personal belongings, ordering of life, making a will; 

- sudden improvement, enlightenment after a period of prolonged depression. 

MATERIALS AND RESULTS

A study among 64 teenagers at the RUDN university was conducted by questioning this sample: 

1. Age: 

Gender: male or female 

Figure 1. Results

2. Are there any people you know who have tried to commit suicide? 

• Not  
• Yes 

 Figure 2. Results

3. How do you feel about the problems and feelings of your peers? 

• indifferently 
• with restraint 
• I participate-I support 

Figure 3. Results

4. Do you think your peers understand you? 

• Never  
• Rarely  
• Sometimes  
• Often  
• Always 

Figure 4. Results

5. Do you think your parents understand you? 

• Never  
• Rarely  
• Sometimes  
• Often  
• Always 

6. Are your parents involved in your life? 

• Not 
• Yes 

Figure 5. Results

7. Are there insurmountable difficulties in your life? 

• Not  
• Yes 

 Figure 6. Results

8. Do you experience feelings of despair, hopelessness, doom, and mental suffering? 

• Never  
• Rarely  
• Sometimes  
• Often  
• Always 

Figure 7. Results

9. Can you change your life and deal with problems? 

• Not  
• Yes 

 Figure 8. Results

10. Have you put yourself in mortal danger? 

• Never  
• Rarely  
• Sometimes  
• Often  
• Always 

Figure 9. Results

11. Do people have the right to kill themselves? 

• Not  
• Yes 

Figure 10. Results

12.1 Why? 

12. Have you ever thought about suicide? 

• Never  
• Rarely  
• Sometimes  
• Often  
• Always 

Figure 11. Results

According to the results of the study, 7 students were found to have a tendency to suicidal behavior.

It was provided, only 10% of teenagers who commit suicide actually have the intention to die, and in other cases it is a «cry for help». It turns out that 90% of teenage suicides can be prevented if children are supported in time. 

CONCLUSION

Based on the data I received, I was able to find recommendations and methods of preventive work to eliminate suicide among adolescents: 

1. To form an adequate attitude to life and death. To explain that there are no situations without days off. 
2. Reduce the presentation of traumatic and negative information in the media. To tighten control over the identification of so-called «death groups» and suicide propaganda on social networks and Internet resources. 
3. Oblige the staff of educational institutions to respond and immediately inform social services about identified cases of discrimination, physical or mental violence, and ill-treatment. 
4. Constant information – social advertising (media, banner, social networks, lectures, flash mobs, promotions) for children, teenagers and parents about where and when they can get help, protection and support. 
5. Increase the number of youth assistance centers. To make such assistance available to remote towns and villages. Increase the number of psychologists in all educational institutions. 
6. Criminalize the actions of an «assistant» and an instigator in suicide, as well as a guardian and parents, and toughen the punishment for driving to suicide. To single out in a separate article the crime of driving a person under the age of 18 to suicide. The article identifies three parts, in relation to a person under the age of 18 and under the age of 14.