Hawaii teens are highest in the U.S. in suicide thoughts, attempts :-(

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BY CAROLYN LUCAS-ZENK | WEST HAWAII TODAY

Hawaii teens are not just thinking about suicide frequently, but also attempting it or jeopardizing their lives with reckless behavior, local experts say.

According to the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data, Hawaii high school students had the highest self-reported prevalence of seriously considering suicide, making a plan and attempting suicide in the nation. They also had the third highest rate of being sad or hopeless.

From 2006 to 2010, there were 51 suicides among Hawaii children ages 10 to 19, making suicide the second leading cause of death for that age group after motor vehicle crashes, said Dan Galanis, state Department of Health Injury Prevention and Control Program epidemiologist.

Oahu had the most suicides of that age group with 27, followed by 10 on Hawaii Island, eight on Kauai and six on Maui. Statewide, the suicides accounted for 21 percent of all deaths and 32 percent of injury-related deaths among children. Nearly 80 percent of the victims were 17 years old and most hung or suffocated themselves, Galanis said.

For every child who dies from suicide in Hawaii, there are an estimated five who are hospitalized, and an additional 12 who are treated in emergency departments for nonfatal self-inflicted injuries annually, Galanis said.

"There's an epidemic not just in teen suicide, but also in self-destructive behaviors," said Dr. Michael Colson, MCA Services clinical director. "We have the potential to lose a generation of kids."

Though no one can explain with certainty the reason for suicides, experts point to teens having more pressures at home and school, financial worries for families, relationship losses, domestic violence and an increase of alcohol and drug use. Some psychologists say there are more young people battling severe depression and other mental health issues.

"Although effective treatments are available, most teens with depression have limited access to specialty mental health care," Colson said. "Most who receive care are treated in primary care and may go years without seeing a doctor unless they have an annual physical to play sports. This makes primary care and other settings with youth promising places to improve access to care and outcomes for depressed teens."

Kona resident Betty Burlile, 50, knows hopelessness. At age 11, Burlile felt as if she didn't belong anywhere and no one in her small town understood her.

Her parents were verbally abusive, consistently absent because of their jobs, and left her to raise her siblings, she said. Despite being a track star and having many friends, she felt rejected all the time and "dead."

To deal with her emotions, Burlile began cutting herself in the bathroom. Eight months later, she attempted suicide by overdosing on stolen pills. Her parents later put her in a juvenile detention center, where she felt "punished." She added, "There, I learned to lock my feelings inside, be emotionally numb and just exist."

Three years later, Burlile shot herself in the head with a gun. "I had accepted that I was born only to be punished and tormented," she said.

Burlile went through extensive rehabilitation and counseling, but it was a neighbor who gave her hope.

"She just got involved, read my writings, called my words beautiful and reassured me daily that I would get through this," said Burlile, who now runs a West Hawaii survivor of suicide support group. "Teens need to hear there's hope, resources, people who care and other options. They need to be able to talk. Others need to ask and listen."

Male suicides outnumber female suicides three to one because of the lethal means used and cognitive differences. People touched by suicide are at greater risk for suicide themselves. Most suicides are completed by those who have thought about it for a while, said Dr. Nancy Sallee, of Orchid Isle Psychotherapy.

Knowing the signs is critical. They include talking or writing about dying, disappearing or self-harm; personality, appearance, eating, sleeping and routine changes; overwhelming guilt, self-hatred, shame, hopelessness and helplessness; and giving away favorite things, extravagant spending and arranging care for pets, Sallee said.

Colson believes suicide is preventable. He said collaboration, intervention and education are key to bringing prevention and more awareness to what is still considered a taboo or difficult subject.

DOH Suicide Prevention Coordinator Nancy Kern said resources exist statewide for those who need crisis intervention, as well as those left behind after suicide and want to prevent it. State and county task forces are providing leadership, setting goals and developing prevention strategies. DOH offers several prevention programs including Signs of Suicide for schools; SafeTALK with police officers; and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training for the public. Those contemplating suicide can call DOH's 24-hour ACCESS line at (800) 753-6879.

clucas-zenk@westhawaiitoday.com

 

Muppets parody: “The Pig With The Froggy Tattoo” [video], nicely done

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Looks like the makers of the upcoming Muppet movie are having as much fun making trailers as they did making the film. Here they take on “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” with that special Muppet twist. Or you could say, as one clever commenter put it: “Based on the Swedish novel Bork, Bork, Bork.”

Full story at YouTube via Buzzfeed.

More Muppets.

The same page has the trailer for the Americanized version of "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo."