Today, the problem of teenage suicide is very acute in our society. There are many reasons, for example, the increasing load on the unformed psyche of the child by society and the media. On the one hand, they are under constant pressure in the form of high expectations of parents and school teachers. On the other hand, adolescents form their own world of relationships and feelings.
One gets the feeling that every child should be a genius in the field of mathematics and computer science, be able to sing and dance beautifully, draw, speak several languages and much more. But what about a happy and carefree childhood? That is, the diagnosis of suicidal behavior of a teenager is actually secondary - you need to provide him with normal conditions for life, and then the risk will significantly decrease.
Growing up
This is the second factor that cannot be discounted. Yesterday, the child obediently complied with all your requirements, and today he suddenly realized that his life is completely controlled by adults, and there is almost no place left for his “want”. A riot breaks out, and the level of anxiety and depression again depends on how you deal with this, and, therefore, the risk of suicidal thoughts.
These are the basics for parents who need to be aware of how much depends on our understanding, tolerance and sensitivity. Diagnosing suicidal behavior of adolescents is a task not so much of school psychologists, as ours is with you. After all, the child spends a lot of time at home. Careful observation of it is already a guarantee that you will not miss alarming calls and will be able to react in time.
Symptoms that should not be ignored
In fact, they are visible to the naked eye, only because of our employment, we usually ignore them. Peers, teachers and parents - they all need to notice a change with the child. Diagnosis of suicidal behavior of a teenager begins precisely with noticed oddities. It:
- General depression, lack of interest in anything. A teenager hardly gets up in the mornings, with visible effort gathers for school and in sections, is ready to spend all his free time in his room.
- Emotional remarks on the topic “I wish I had never been born”.
- Strong preoccupation with death, watching films with a given theme.
- Pronounced inferiority complex. "I am good for nothing," "It would be better without me."
- The state of depression, the expression “Leave me all alone” is also an alarming bell that cannot be ignored.
Thus, the diagnosis of suicidal behavior of adolescents begins in the family. If parents have suspicions, he may come to a consultation with a school psychologist to agree together on a deeper diagnosis and solution to the problem.
Step One: Testing
Of course, a psychologist cannot in most cases call a student and ask a direct question, for example, "do you want to commit suicide?" Therefore, even seeing obvious signs of a change in behavior, it is necessary to get the ground for a careful conversation. For this, prevention of suicidal behavior of adolescents at school is introduced. These are special classes during which art therapy techniques are used. Children are offered to draw death, and then the data obtained is sorted in small groups. In this case, the psychologist is primarily interested in what feelings each of the participants puts into his drawing. In most cases, dark colors, sharp lines, elaborate drawing of details can say a lot.
Prevention of the suicidal behavior of adolescents at school also implies a debate in which children are invited to break into several groups and discuss the pros and cons of this option to die. Let one group try to prove that everyone has the right to personal choice, and the second to find arguments against this (responsibility, religiosity, and much more). Of course, the general conclusion of the lesson should be that depriving oneself of life is a rash act, childishness, that solving problems lies in a completely different plane. Such lessons will provide excellent material for observation by a school psychologist.
Individual approach
After the thematic open lessons were held, it is possible to confirm the conclusions made about the degree of risk of suicide by one or another schoolchildren using special techniques. Offering them is veiled, in the form of general testing. At the same time, invite the children, each individually, to come up with the results. And be sure to set the time, indicating it on the leaves. So you can carry out a personal conversation with each of them.
Choosing a technique
How is suicidal behavior diagnosed in adolescents? Testing may involve the use of a variety of techniques, each of which directly or indirectly indicates that it is necessary to work individually with the child. The first large group is projective techniques:
- drawing tests;
- Luscher color tests;
- pictograms;
- Rorschach spots.
Each of them is quite difficult to process, but provides tremendous material for the researcher. The only drawback is that after testing you will definitely need an individual conversation with each subject to confirm your guesses. Indeed, the choice of color or shape can be influenced by well-being or a momentary mood, an experience about an event.
Structured techniques
They are easier to process and understand, but unfortunately, you can get socially desirable answers. When diagnosing suicidal behavior of adolescents, it is advisable to use the methods without direct reference to what they are researching. For example, a suicide risk questionnaire can be called the Razuvaeva test, named after the author. It allows you to identify the degree of formation of suicidal intentions. In addition, a number of tests are used:
- To determine the level of self-esteem.
- Kettel's 18-factor questionnaire.
- Questionnaire of accentuation and psychopathy of Schmiszek.
- Bass-Darki Aggression Questionnaire.
- Anxiety scale.
- The scale for determining the level of depression.
The psychological diagnosis of suicidal behavior in adolescents should be individual. If a specialist sees that there are prerequisites for the commission of violent acts against himself, then it must be translated into an individual form. The teenager needs help and will be happy with his outstretched hand.
Correction
This is an important and large block, for the sake of which the suicidal behavior of adolescents is investigated. Diagnosis, prevention, correction - these are three consecutive steps that a school psychologist should not forget about. So, corrective measures should be carried out both individually and in group mode. Moreover, the specialist will need to work with parents as well. They need to convey simple truths that a prickly and stubborn teenager needs love no less, but even more. Therefore, hugs and kisses, joint trips to the cinema and the theater, in the cafe and the stadium - this is the best way to restore the sparkle of the eyes and the joy of life. The more often he hears such phrases from his parents as “what would we do without you”, “you are the best”, “I’m close”, “I will help”, the easier this difficult age will pass.