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Show 8 Signpost Friday, May 16, 1986 Signpost Friday, May 16, 19S6 9 Teenagers view suicide as solution by Dana Hanson Staff Reporter Doug cleaned his room, straightened his desk and organized his school locker. He hugged his younger brother, told his father he loved him, then went to the basement and shot himself. Doug was born Aug 4, 1968 -- he died April 3, 1986. According to Dr. Craig Campbell, department chair of child development and family studies, approximately 6,000 teenagers take their lives each year. Another 600,000 make unsuccessful attempts. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among adolescents, preceded only by accidents and homicide. "Reality is different for teenagers than for adults," said Campbell. "What a parent perceives as a minor incident may become a life threatening situation for a child. Youth are trying to take away pain and unfortunately, some choose suicide as a way out." Dr. L. Kay Gillespie, professor of sociology deviant behavior and criminology, said for many young people, adolescence is miserable. They perceive themselves as ugly, beautiful or popular. Youth's values are being tested by influences outside the immediate family most significantly by their peers. Availability of drugs and pressures associated with sexual experimentation can cause stress. "Teenagers are experiencing a time of defining their lives. Students are eiven formal tests such as college entrance exams and asked to determine in a short period of time what their futures will be," he added. According to Gillespie, "cluster suicides" have been known to occur. This is a situation in which several adolescents in a school or geographical area will attempt suicide. Cluster suicide may reflect a teenager's need to belong. Gillespie said there are signs that indicate an adolescent is contemplating suicide. They include talking and reading about death and suicide; quitting work; changes in habits; withdrawal from family and friends; prolonged depression or expressions of hopelessness and organizing personal belongings. Campbell emphasizes the need to listen to young people. "You especially need to be concerned if they are expressing suicidal thoughts. You don't want to miss it. "If teenagers show signs of emotional problems and then suddenly shift back to normal, it might indicate they have decided to take their life," he added. Gillespie stresses that all threats of suicide be taken seriously. "Parents and friends should deal with the subject honestly-talk about what is going on. The problem rather than the behavior should be the focus of discussion." Campbell said, "Youth need to feel worthwhile to themselves and to others. Suicide is the ultimate way to say, 'Please notice me.' " Students train for emergency medical care (Conl. from page 3) type trouble, and each deserves the highest quality of care possible." Their objective is: "To provide a background which prepares the student not only for employment in the field of emergency care, but to also provide a basis for understanding human needs and responses." Students are taught everything that is normal and abnormal in emergency situations. They must know the signs and symptoms of disease and trauma to all of the body systems. The skills introduced are taught with hands-on experience such as the use of instruments and tools, then actual assessment of their usage. Part of their clinical action is the practicing on a highrise platform, "they learn to put a patient in a liter and scaffold and bring the victim down an unusual terrain, mountain or difficult area." They also learn extrication, which is the procedure for removing entraped bodies from vehicles. "If they do not perform at a perfect level in a life saving manner the student cannot be considered a safe practicioner," said Belnap. There are approximately 25 drugs used in disease, cardiac, medical emergency or trauma that must be acquired in explicit detail. "They have to know it precisely. If they apply a drug that is not appropriate for a heart victim and it is inappropriate they cannot pass the course," she said. The Emergency Care and Rescue program is implementing a new teaching method. On an emergency scene where there is a multiple traumatized victim, if the paramedic gets through the steps of airway, breathing, circulation and stabilization of each of these areas before moving on to the next, the patient will prove to have a higher mortality rate. By using this system, "Multiple Trauma Patient," they could correct life-threatening problems, stabilize the patient and be ready to transport in a ten minute period. "The number one killer in ages one through 40 is trauma," said Belnap. She feels a curriculum that allows for visual self-study is a better system approach to "trauma code." It adds to the present instruction and will be used as a continuing education program with existing paramedics in Utah. Pick up your copy of the METAPHOR Wednesday Nay 14, 1986 at the: Union Building Collett Art Building Wattir. Building Lind Lecture Hall Social Science - Administration Building Browning Center Cosmetology Campus Update Deadlines for Campus Lpdate are H ednesdays at noon for Friday editions and Fridays at noon for Tuesday editions. Announcements should be typed and precise. All entries will be sub-led to editing. Wilderness Recreation Center Tour Follow the trails of Butch Cassidy and the Hole in the Wall gang. This excursion is sponsored by the Wilderness Recreation Center. The trip is limited to women. Dates for the trip are May 23-26. Signup deadline is Tuesday, May 20. The cost of the tour is $58, which includes transportation, food and group equipment costs. For further information, call 626-6373 or stop by the Wilderness Rec Center in Rm. 273 of the union building. Nontraditional Students The area council for nontraditional students will be meeting on Tuesday, May 20, at 10:30 a.m. in room 336 of the UB. For any questions contact Kevin Bell, senator for nontraditional students, at the ASWSC offices. Math Club Picnic The Math Club picnic will be held Thursday, May 22, at the South Ogden park on 44th and Adams. The picnic will be from 3-8 p.m. Dinner will be served at 4:45 p.m. Those interested can sign up in the math office, room 5 1 8 A in building 4, by Tuesday May 20. Everyone is invited to attend and are asked to bring sports equipment. Aerobic-Thon LaSal Hall is sponsoring an aerobic-thon. It will be held Friday, May 23, from 2:30-6 p.m. at SPA Fitness on 33rd St. and Harrison Blvd. All proceeds from the fund raiser will go to Cystic Fibrosis. Sponsor sheets are availiable at Promontory Towers, LaSal Hall, SPA Fitness Center and Swenson Gymnasium (dance studio.) For more information, contact LeAnn Parker at 626-7971 or Tammy Daniels at 626-7970. Events on Sale ill Ilr Browning Center Box Office Alabama (Obstructed Seating) May 17 Special Event Center U of U God's Favorite (Play) May 1 6, 1 7,21-24 Browning Center Betrayal (Play) May 9 to Jun 7 Brickyard Plaza Corps Encore Jul 22 Wildcat Stadium Crystal Crest Awards With Doc Seversen Jun 7 Browning Center Kodak Liberty Ride festival May 1 8 Special Events U of U KCGL Talent Search May 19 Zephyr Club King and I May 29 to Jun 21 Salt Palace Lords Of The New Church May 20 Palladium Neil Diamond May 28 Salt Palace Available at the Val A. Browning Center |
