Latin Teenagers Suicide Rates Spike

The world is full of such pain, suffering and despair that suicide is usually overlooked on the national and local news outlets level. However, it seems that perhaps it’s time to point the spotlight on the issue of taking one’s own life for pointless reasons. In a survey released in 2007 by the Centers for Disease Control revealed that one out of every seven Latina teens attempts suicide, which means since this data is nearly three years old, it has undoubtedly increased.

Many families around the globe especially those with Latin heritage may be asking why and the answer is somewhat out of the ordinary. Most would attribute taking one’s life to a dramatic event such as the loss of a parent, being overwhelmed with school and work or even a mental health issue. However, none of these are the case, instead the high rate of suicide attempts is attributed to a significant feeling of disconnect between the young Latina woman and her mother.

The average age in which the attempted suicide takes place is 14-15; the stages where a young woman enters high school and undergoes substantial physical changes to her body, which are completely new and unfamiliar. Another factor that contributes to this data is the culture crossing that plagues Latin girls between their strong upbringing in Latin culture and traditional values coupled with the American culture persona. These young women often find themselves in a bind when making decisions on how to react or judge certain situations and often feel completely separated or trapped.

Suicide is an issue that takes far too many lives far too early, when simply a listening ear would have most likely saved that individuals life. Clearly from what I have read and heard, it sounds as if these issues will likely need to be tackled within the junior high or high school realm. Perhaps, implementing a class where students can learn to deal with the issues that surround our day to day lives. I feel that by putting in place a safe haven such as this class it would drastically reduce the suicide rate and attempts in Latin teenagers as well as in general. Obviously since these suicide attempts are much more prevalent in Latin teenagers, these programs would need to be placed in heavily Latin populated cities and states around the United States.