Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

TEENAGE YEARS

In this job, nothing should surprise you, but it frequently does. My attention has been recently drawn to a website which advises young people how to commit suicide. Have you ever heard of anything so gross?

I dug deeper. To my horror I discovered that around 19,000 young people attempt suicide every year, 700 of them succeeding. Suicide is the second highest cause of death amongst 15-24 year olds. 14 young people a week end their own lives somewhere in our country.

But why? Aren’t these meant to be the best years of your life? A time when you are slowly turning into an adult without any of the burdens and pressures that adult life brings? Certainly that is how I remember my teenage years.

But life for a teenagers today – as every parent knows – is very different to even twenty years ago. From the very first day in primary school to the passing out parade for those who go on to university, the stress of constant examination and assessment stalks every day. Many teenagers, rightly or wrongly, feel that not doing themselves justice in a single examination, could impact the rest of their lives. This burden is often added to by pressure from home, government, schools and peers.

And the pressure to look good has never been greater. Image is probably more important to you as a teenager then at any other stage of your life. Youngsters are bombarded with images of what they should look like. But making friends and ‘fitting in’ is often determined by things over which a teenager has no control: such as acne or height or shape. Although the government is right to try and tackle the serious problem of child obesity it must be careful not to become yet another voice adding to the pressure. Another voice of disapproval.

And there is so much choice and opportunity, often bewildering in its complexity. And just around the corner lurk the new evils of binge drinking and drugs.

The teenage years are always going to be confusing. At this time you experience a wider range of emotions, form deeper relationships and start to think more independently. It would be surprising if this time wasn’t turbulent. But the shocking figures on suicide rates are utterly unacceptable.

I would be interested to hear from parents and young people alike what more can be done to smooth the path to adulthood and remove some of the life-threatening pitfalls.

posted by Nigel on Monday, June 21, 2004