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This book provides an extensive overview of the signs and behaviors that present as the warning signs of potential teenage suicide. It opens with a devastating, personal scenario in which the speaker reflects on their brother running away after being corrected by his father. From there, the book unfolds into a carefully documented examination of the mindsets of teenagers contemplating suicide. It also includes personal anecdotes about what it is like to work in an environment with troubled teens. The personal anecdotes make the book accessible for readers who are interested in or affected by this topic.
In one section, the author states, “I also believe that any teenager may commit suicide if mentally pained with intolerable internal and/or external circumstances…. They are frozen in the present. They believe the intolerable pain they are feeling at the moment will continue indefinitely.” These statements help readers begin to understand the emotional and mental turmoil teens endure. Then, the author points out that family dynamics—and teenager-parent conflicts—are frequently the root of teen suicide attempts. Thus, the book advocates for positive teenager-parent relationships that encourage open communication and empathy.
One of the book’s most interesting sections is its examination of suicide and race. The author states, “One of the most enlightening findings is that today the adolescent most likely to commit suicide is the European American male and the American Indian” because Native American youths “lack the future orientation of European Americans.” Another interesting fact presented by the book is that Asian American youths have a lower suicide rate, even though certain Asian ethnic groups “have a higher suicide rate than others.” These racial statistics are interesting in light of America’s continued struggle with race, equity, and equality.
The book also takes a close look at the juvenile justice system, which lurks “within the trials and tribulations of adolescence.” The negative interaction creates a harmful situation for those youths. However, the author suggests that in order to begin revamping the juvenile justice system to make it more restorative for those juveniles who encounter it, professionals must first look at the behaviors of crime-committing teenagers. One of the most frightening examples on which the text relies is the story of Deon Whitfield and Durrell Feaste. Specifically, the author critiques the system’s reliance on isolation: “They were put in isolation for 23 hours per day. Isolation is a major risk factor for teenagers.” The isolation resulted in the two teenagers hanging themselves.
For mental health professionals, this book provides a unique look into a worsening epidemic in the United States. It gives personal yet statistical information and scenarios that can be helpful to any counselor working with young people in today’s schools, churches, etc. The book is also a worthy read for parents, regardless of the situation with their child. For parents who have a child who struggles with mental health, the text gives parents a unique way to address the issue with their family, their child, and the mental health professionals on which they rely. This book is a positive step in the direction of providing restorative practices for teenagers at risk of suicide.