Adolescent Grief

Teens normally follow typical human grief patterns following death of family or friends. Those stages may include denial, anger, hurt, guilt, fear and blame. These emotions vary, overlap and recur as humans move through the grief process.

Adolescents need time and support in times of difficulty. Death of a close friend or family member by suicide compounds the grief issues since individuals must work through not only the loss but the tenuous notion of human self-destruction. Suicide continues to be second only to automobile accidents as the leading cause of teen deaths in the United States.

Isolation, withdrawal from friends, lack of communication, boredom, acts of aggression and inactivity in school events are serious warning signs of serious depression or potential suicide. Giving away prized possessions and talk of death or self-mutilation are very serious indicators.

• Warning Signs of Adolescent Suicide
• Abrupt changes in personality
• Inability to tolerate frustration
• Withdrawal and rebelliousness
• Inability or unwillingness to communicate
• Signs of Depression
• Inactivity or boredom
• Sadness or discouragement
• Hostile behavior, e.g. bitter arguments with teachers, siblings, friends
• Neglects academic work
• Has difficulty concentrating
• Family disruption

Observations of Adolescent Suicide

• In almost every instance of adolescent suicide, the adolescents had multiple, unexpected separations from their parents during the first three years of their lives.
• Many felt there is no real communication or there are few emotional ties in their families.
• Only ten percent felt they could talk to their parents.
• In 25 percent of the families involved, one of the parents had attempted suicide.
• In 88 percent of families, one or both natural parents were absent through working late, not home at mealtimes, divorced, separated or dead.

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