Suicide has also been viewed as a solution to getting rid of someone whose views or actions differed from an established system of a religion. Socrates, the Greek philosopher, was forced to drink poison hemlock for allegedly leading the youth down a path of wrong doing. Many believe that this action may have represented his acceptance of self-destruction. In other religions, suicide could be demanded by a person if he was in a reasonable amount of pain, or was stricken, with an incurable disease. Surprisingly, suicide has been going on for as long as we can remember (Dead End 13-15).
As young people grow into adults it is a time of extraordinary change and stress for them and their families. Teenagers tend to look for and find a loosening of childhood ties to their parents and search for independence and individuality. New experiences that teens face often cause emotional changeability which is frustrating for both them and those around them. Impulsive behavior may arise as a young person seeks to resolve conflicting demands.
Depression is a major cause of suicide. What exactly is depression? It can be defined as gloominess, sadness, or dejection. Every year, thousands of teenagers commit suicide because of depression that has not been treated. Many teens who become depressed are not sure if they will every find a way out of the hole they have dug themselves into. Many adolescents do not realize that depression will pass. Teens need to understand that experiencing depression is a normal part of life. It is an emotional state of illness. It is important for teens to understand that often times, depression will worsen and they will decide mistakenly that they are mentally ill and decide not to get the help that they may need. Many times, teens will choose not to tell anyone how they are feeling; therefore, their conditions will usually worsen (Dare To Live 29-30). .
Often teens turn to drugs and alcohol because they are suffering from depression.