Survey: 25% of Taiwanese Teens Have Thought About Suicide 調查:25%國高中生想自殺 1成曾嘗試自殺

According to a new survey, 10 percent of secondary school students struggle with loneliness and 25 percent have had serious thoughts about suicide.

Depression among teens is very common and can be sparked by physical changes, emotional changes, academic pressure, conflicts with parents, peer pressure, bullying, and internet addiction just to name a few.

Chung Ling-chen, Ren Ai Junior High School Guidance Director: “Their self-worth is often tied to how well they get along with their peers. They are part of a collective and their self-worth is tied to their place within the collective and how valued they feel. Apart from academics, interpersonal relations play a huge role.”

In a recent health survey of 10,000 secondary school students, 10 percent of respondents said they have feelings of isolation or loneliness and suffer from insomnia. In addition, 25 percent have had serious thoughts about suicide; with 10 percent of junior high school students and 9.4 percent of high school students having attempted suicide in the past.

Yeh Chi-bin, Tri-Service General Hospital Psychiatrist: “The top warning sign for teenage suicide is that something is wrong. Their grades suddenly fall, or they just don't seem to be themselves and lose interest in everything.”

Chou Wan-ling, Ren Ai Junior High School Principal: “All of our teachers have received suicide prevention training. Together, we form a prevention and protection network.”

Experts say parents need to replace blame and criticism with observation and conversation. In addition, it is very important for parents to listen to what their children have to say so they can develop a sense of self-identity and self-confidence. In the event that parents discover their child is having suicidal thoughts or engaging in self-harm, psychological help should be sought immediately.

青少年面臨青春期身體、心理重大變化，又有課業壓力，情緒波動大，因此在家中與父母的衝突也跟著增加，還可能有同儕人際關係、霸凌及網路成癮等問題，很容易產生憂鬱及負面情緒。

北市仁愛國中輔導主任鍾羚甄指出：「同儕的一個相處，就決定了他自我認同的價值，因為他在群體裡頭，他究竟是什麼樣的位置，他被重視的程度到底在哪裡，所以除了學習之外，人際很重要。」

少年維特的煩惱其實跟心理健康息息相關，衛福部國健署近期針對約一萬名國、高中生進行健康行為調查，結果發現有一成的國、高中生，經常或總是感到孤單或寂寞，也會因擔心某件事而失眠；值得注意的是，有兩成五的國、高中生，曾經認真考慮自殺，而且有一成的國中生，曾經嘗試過自殺，高中生則有9.4%。

三總精神醫學部醫師葉啟斌表示：「自殺，青少年的警訊，最常見的就是你可以看到他整個人不對了，什麼地方不對呢？第一個他功課上不對，比如說你發現他本來成績還可以維持在中等的，他突然間往後滑了。第二個你看他精神不對，整個人就很頹廢，好像覺得提振不了精神。」

北市仁愛國中校長周婉玲說道：「所有全校的老師們都能夠一起在自殺防治這個概念上是很清楚的，我們一起把它編織成完整的一個防護網。」

專家建議家長，儘量用觀察和提問替代責備與批評，多傾聽孩子的聲音，幫助孩子找到自我認同，有助於建立孩子自信心，若發現孩子有自殺念頭或自殘行為，應及早尋求精神科醫師協助，避免憾事發生。