Delaware County Medical Society Winter 2017 - 24

RESIDENT'S CORNER

Resident's Corner
Suicide in our
Pediatric Population
Are we doing enough to help?
By Francesca Darquea, MD

t's a typical day in clinic with a completely booked
afternoon of well checks, each with an allotted 20minute time slot. The day is spent rushing around
making sure hemoglobin and leads are ordered,
referrals are printed out, and vaccines are up to date. The
last patient of the day is a 12- year-old female who is sitting
quietly on the table. Immediately after her mother leaves
the room, she breaks down and begins to cry. Tearfully,
and with pain, she discloses that she has been bullied
over the last year and has been having thoughts about
not wanting to live anymore. Sadly, visits like this have
become all too common, and I often finish these days
wondering if I've done all I can to help these children.
Mental Health is an ever-growing issue in our adolescent
population, and unfortunately, it is impacting more and more
young children every day. A recent national retrospective
survey estimated that about 4% of adolescents have
attempted suicide. As of 2015, suicide is the #2 leading
cause of death in 15-24 year olds, and the #3 cause of
death in 10-14 year olds. As a Pediatric Resident, we learn
how to care for our patients, not only physically, but on
an emotional level as well. As I approach my graduation,
I can reflect on the adolescents I have encountered and

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winter 2017

treated, who have disclosed feelings of sadness and
worthlessness, in addition to the causes, which span from
family problems, fights with boyfriends/girlfriends, and
of course, bullying, amongst countless other issues.
As pediatricians we take on the overwhelming task of
recognizing signs and symptoms in a patient at risk for
committing harmful acts, all within a 20-minute well check.
These risk factors include, but are not limited to, previous
suicide attempts, personal/family history of child abuse,
history of mental disorders and/or alcohol and substance
abuse, feelings of hopelessness, aggressive tendencies, and
loss, including breakup, death of family members, and losing
a job. Our goal is to make sure that our patients are in no
imminent danger before leaving the office; however, we must
understand that this is just the beginning of their struggles.
The importance of working together is paramount in helping
these patients. This includes parents, friends, siblings, and
even teachers, who all have a part in bettering our patients'
lives. As advocates for our youth, it is our responsibility to
go out into our communities and become familiar with the
plethora of organizations dedicated specifically towards
adolescent mental health. Having a close relationship

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Delaware County Medical Society Winter 2017