Therapists: Greater parental involvement key to preventing teen suicides

WESTERN BUREAU:

Following recent suicides committed by teenagers in western Jamaica, two reputable therapists are contending that while the factors behind the irreversible act are varied, parents and other adults should avoid putting pressure on their children, especially when they are stressed by hormonal changes and societal expectations.

Clinical psychologist Dr Georgia Rose and family therapist Dr Beverly Scott, in separate interviews with The Gleaner, conducted in the wake of the September 11 death of 13-year-old Twain Skyers, in Lilliput, St James, and the September 21 death of 16-year-old Jhamar Surgeon, of Stettin, Trelawny, were of the view that the suicide route was taken because both boys felt that they were not able to cope.

At the time of their deaths, Skyers was a grade-eight student of Hopewell High School in Hanover, and Surgeon was a grade-11 student of Holmwood Technical High School in Christiana, Manchester. Both had complained about being bullied by their peers.

According to Rose, children may decide to commit suicide because they feel unable to cope with the pressure they experience both at home and at school and that bullying is only one possible factor and may be perpetrated by adults as well as other children.

“Suicide is multifaceted because it can stem from a serious mental-health issue. It can also be as a result of the side effects of medications that individuals might experience,” she said. “As it relates to our children, we have to recognise that the period of childhood and adolescence can be very stressful due to unrealistic demands, rigid disciplinary practices, and a lack of overt tangible expressions of love. When our children make mistakes, which they often do, because that is the reality of childhood, we are very quick to punish.

“A child goes into a place that should be considered a safe space, like school, but school is fraught with a lot of stressors, like intimidation and bullying from older, presumably more powerful or stronger children, and there is also intimidation from adults who pick on children and won’t give them a break.

“Our children come from other spaces that should be protective spaces, like their homes and communities, and those spaces are sometimes not safe because there may be physical, sexual, or emotional abuse and neglect.”

For Scott, part of the problem is that the more mature children’s bodies and minds become in adolescence, the more difficult it is to identify their place in the world, including how they should relate to their parents.

BIO-PSYCHO-SOCIAL CRISIS

“At that age, children go through what is called bio-psycho-social crisis. They do not feel like they used to feel before because of the hormone changes they are experiencing, and many times, parents do not understand what they are going through, and they are pushing the children to do things that the children do not really feel like doing,” said Scott.

“The children do not want to talk to their parents as they prefer their peers, and the parents do not know how to handle them, or how to show them validation and to show that they trust them. The children have pressure at school, with some of them just going to high school, and with the pressure of high school, the hormone changes, and the pressure from peers, they are confused,” added Scott.

There have been several cases of suspected suicide among children since 2010, including a number of cases in western Jamaica. Many of the cases reportedly stemmed from family conflicts.

In June 2010, fourteen-year-old Norris Smith, of Montego Bay, St James, reportedly killed himself in protest of his mother’s decision to go off to work in the United States. Less than a year later, in April 2011, three child suicides rocked western Jamaica when 14-year-old Shaquillla ‘Angel’ Calame and 14-year-old Annalise Arthurs, both students of St James High School, and 15-year-old Tia Murray, of Godfrey Stewart High School, in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, took their lives within the same week.

In June 2011, eleven-year-old Dujon Robinson, of Belmont, Westmoreland, was found dead after he stated beforehand at school that he wanted to kill himself. In October 2022, twelve-year-old Laron Jurik, of Broughton, Westmoreland, was found dead following an incident where he reportedly got into a dispute with a cousin and was ordered by his mother to apologise.

However, not all suicides by children are because of alleged conflicts. In June 2020, seventeen-year-old Chrisey-Ann Davis, of Mona Commons in St Andrew, committed suicide, reportedly due to psychological trauma from an earlier back injury and a subsequent limp.

According to the UNICEF 2023 Jamaica Violence Against Children and Youth Survey, among young people ages 13 to 24, more females (26.1 per cent) than males (9.5 per cent) have given thought to committing suicide. Prior to that report, a 2014 UNICEF report indicated that 60 per cent of Jamaicans admitted to hospital after attempting suicide were below the age of 25.

Rose suggested that parents should make more time for their children and be more interested and proactive in their children’s lives. She said that this applies whether the families are single-parent units or have both parents or other relatives present.

“Children need stable parents, whether it is one or two, because two parents can be in the home and yet one parent alone is carrying the burden of the parenting. It is all about the home being a stable environment, where parents are able to share the demand of the responsibility of caring for children,” said Rose.

“Children must have space and opportunities to play and disengage from responsibilities, and children benefit from meaningful, healthy, supportive relationships. We should encourage our children to make good friends, and parents must spend time to know their friends and support these relationships,” continued Rose. “We should talk to our children, let them tell us about their day, and sometimes they just want you to listen.”

Scott said parents should also be willing to talk with their teenagers about any difficult issues the children are facing.

“When teens feel alienated with the emotional, social, and educational pressures they face, they will commit suicide if they do not have an understanding parent. If these adolescents have understanding parents, they will overcome anything in the world,” said Scott.

christopher.thomas@gleanerjm.com

If you or a child/adolescent you know feels suicidal, follow these tips to secure help:

- Seek a referral to your parish’s nearest child and adolescent mental-health clinic from your school guidance counsellor, your nearest health centre, or your minister of religion. These clinics are free of cost.

- Children and teenagers living in St Andrew can access the Teen Hub facility at the Half Way Tree Transportation Centre for health and wellness support.

- Contact the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Helpline at 888-NEW-LIFE (639-5433).

- If a child or adolescent expresses thoughts about suicide, seek help immediately. Do not leave the child unattended.

Warning signs that children or adolescents may be contemplating suicide:

- Neglecting personal hygiene

- Obsession with death or dying

- Becoming rebellious and violent or running away

- Start or increase in use of drugs or alcohol

If you are struggling today or need to talk to someone about your or someone else’s mental health, contact the Jamaica Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Helpline at (888) 639-5433.