Youth suicide prevention in Corpus Christi, Texas

Suicide was the 10th leading cause of death overall in the U.S. in 2018, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It claimed the lives of more than 48,000 people.

Corpus Christi Medical Center Bayview is dedicated to helping prevent suicide among teens and youths in South Texas. As part of our youth suicide prevention program, Bayview has partnered with the Jason Foundation, Inc. (JFI), an educational organization dedicated to the awareness and prevention of youth suicide.

If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one or need emotional support, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-TALK (8255).

Recognition


The Joint Commission has accredited Corpus Christi Medical Center for meeting its guidelines on behavioral health care programs, including care, treatment, services and screening procedures.

Warning signs of suicidal behavior

The following signs may show that a person has thoughts of harming themselves and could need immediate help:

  • Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves
  • Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose
  • Talking about being a burden to others
  • Talking about feeling trapped or being in pain
  • Acting anxious, reckless or disturbed
  • Displaying extreme mood swings
  • Sleeping too little or too much
  • Using alcohol or drugs
  • Withdrawing or feeling isolated
  • Showing extreme anger or talking about revenge

Suicide risk factors

Many conditions and stressors can contribute to suicidal thoughts or increase the possibility of a suicide attempt. They include:

  • Depression, mental illness and substance abuse—Mental and addictive disorders are associated with most suicides. About 60 percent of those who commit suicide are depressed
  • Problems at home—High levels of violence and conflict in the home, a lack of parental support and alienation from the family increase suicide risk.
  • Community environment—Youth with high levels of exposure to community violence are at serious risk for self-destructive behavior.
  • School environment—Young people who are struggling with classes perceive their teachers as not understanding them or caring about them, or have poor relationships with their peers are at an increased risk.
  • Previous attempts—Teens who have attempted suicide are at risk of doing it again.
  • Family history—A history of mental illness and suicide among immediate family members places youth at greater risk for suicide.
  • Self-mutilation—Self-mutilation or self-harm behaviors include head banging, cutting, burning, biting, erasing and digging at wounds. Because most self-mutilation behaviors are not suicide attempts, be cautious when reaching out to the youth and do not make assumptions.
  • Situational crises—Almost half of youth suicides are associated with an identifiable precipitating event, such as the death of a loved one, a breakup, parental divorce or sexual abuse.
  • Aggression and fighting—Recent research has identified a connection between interpersonal violence and suicide. The link has been seen across all ethnic groups, genders and youth living in urban, suburban and rural areas.

How to help

Never be reluctant to get involved and always notice a person's desire or intent to harm themselves seriously. If you suspect that a young person is having suicidal thoughts, get them to professional help immediately.

Corpus Christi Medical Center Bayview offers an adolescent behavioral health program for patients 10 to 17 years old and treats teens with emotional conditions such as depression and anxiety.

For more information on the adolescent behavioral health program, contact us at (361) 986-8200.

Additional suicide prevention resources

If you want to know more about how you can prevent suicide, visit the following websites: