Adolescents who have suicidal tendencies are likely to have emotional and behavioural problems that last through adulthood. Researchers from the Simmons College School of Social Work in Boston found that 15-year-olds who considered suicide were more likely to have emotional, social and behavioural difficulties at the age of 30 than others. They were twice as likely to have a psychiatric disorder such as anxiety or depression as compared to their peers, and were far more likely to have contemplated or attempted suicide in recent years. Beyond overt psychiatric disorders, suicidal teens were also more likely to develop emotional and behavioural problems that pervaded their everyday lives. Their families more often pointed to problem behaviours that persisted into adulthood - such as episodes of aggression or withdrawal from family and friends. Also, they generally had lower self-esteem and more relationship problems than their peers at the age of 30 years. Researchers interviewed 346 thirty-year-olds who had been taking part in a study of mental health and development since they were 5 years old. At the age of 15 years, 22 percent had admitted to sometimes contemplating suicide. The problem of teenage suicide has gathered much attention in recent years, with the finding that antidepressants may increase the risk. But little attention has gone towards the long-term consequences of teenagers' suicidal thoughts. The findings, underscore the need for identification and treatment of adolescent suicidal ideation in order to alleviate immediate distress and forestall future negative consequences. Therefore, suicidal thoughts need to be addressed not only because of the immediate danger, but also for their future well-being.
American Journal of Psychiatry,
July 2006