Myth or fact?

Myths about teenage suicide get in the way of effective prevention programs, according to University of Utah researchers.

"Suicide, by its nature, is a complex problem," they wrote. "Many myths have developed about individuals who complete suicide, suicide risk factors, current prevention programs and the treatment of at-risk youth."

Misconceptions are found among parents, health professionals, school administrators, government officials and the media.

Researchers Michelle Moskos, Intermountain Injury Control Research Center; Jennifer Achilles, U. School of Medicine; and Doug Gray, U. Department of Psychiatry, conducted the study to separate fact from fiction and to offer recommendations for future prevention programs.

Their conclusions include the following:

Myth: Suicide is caused by family and social stress such as loss, rejection or discipline.

Fact: Those events are common in a teenager's life, and suicide is a rare outcome.

People often attribute suicide to breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, arguments with parents or disciplinary action.

Teenagers who kill themselves do have more stress and family dysfunction, but at least 90 percent have a mental illness. Furthermore, mental illness runs in families.

Suicide "is caused" by an interplay of biological, psychological, environmental and social factors, according to the study.

Myth: Suicide attempters and completers are the same.

Fact: Males are four times as likely to die from suicide, but females are more likely to attempt it.

Current suicide prevention efforts do not focus on high-risk groups, the study shows. School programs that consist of a brief, one-time lecture are not effective. Females use crisis hotlines more than males, thus having little effect on those most at risk.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reduced access to guns may be one of the "most promising underused strategies" in suicide prevention.

"Unfortunately, a recent study demonstrated that only 25 percent of gun owners remove firearms from their home when repeatedly asked to do so by their teenager's mental health provider."

Myth: Current prevention programs work.

Fact: School education programs, teen suicide hotlines and efforts to limit firearms access have not significantly lowered teen suicide rates.