Several communities in Delaware are crying out for help after a rash of teen suicides have horrified community leaders and school officials. Eleven young people killed themselves in the first four months of this year and 116 others attempted to take their lives.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (cdc) was called upon to investigate the cause of this dramatic rise in suicides in Kent and Sussex counties in southern Delaware.

One of the disturbing aspects of the suicides is the fact that three teenagers from Polytech High School located in Woodside killed themselves within two months of each other. Two of the students who were friends committed suicide within the same week. As part of its investigation, the cdc was asked to search out if there was a link among the deaths of the three students.

Delaware Online said that a 28-page report on the deaths released August 9 stated that “those dead youths, all between the ages of 13 and 21, had at least two significant risk factors, such as trouble in school, or troubled relationships. Most had five or more, with mental health problems the most frequently cited.”

Investigators did not find a “contagion” link in the deaths. This means that investigators could not prove that the suicide of one person led to an increase in suicidal behavior among others.

Seven of the 11 fatal cases were males. Eight of the 11 were in the 16-to-18 age group. Most of the 11 died by hanging. The others died by gunshot wounds. Dr. Alex Crosby, medical epidemiologist with the cdc, said that statistically, he’d expect to see seven suicides in this age group throughout the entire state in a year. So, 11 suicides in four months is shocking.

Considering there were an additional 116 attempted suicides during this same period, Delaware health officials are concerned. Community action plans are being prepared to short-circuit the rise in teen suicides. Jim Lafferty, director of the Mental Health Association in Delaware, is one of the state’s officials who sought the assistance of the cdc. He stated to Delaware Online, “Having a better understanding of the pieces of the puzzle is helpful. Certainly these deaths affect not just individual families but the entire community, and I think the idea of suicide prevention has to become a community effort. Parents should be aware of things like depression and things to look for.”

Of course teen suicide should be a concern for every community. However, the last part of Mr. Lafferty’s quote should carry more weight. Parents must shoulder the majority of the responsibility to prevent teen suicide.

One risk factor listed as a cause for teen suicide is “recent conflict with parent.” When the truth is told, parental conflict is the most important factor in teen suicide. The majority of teens today suffer horribly from parental neglect, which creates great conflict between parents and teens.

Many teens are unloved and unwanted. Often teens receive little parental advice and have to fend for themselves. Other suicide risk factors such as depression, legal problems, problems with boyfriends or girlfriends, substance abuse or academic problems all contribute to teen suicide, but are not as problematic as parental-teen relationships.

There is a way to save our troubled teens. Be sure to read our article “Taking Time to Save Our Teens.” It offers concrete, successful solutions to help our endangered youth.