Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory: The Third Leading Cause Of Suicide

The conversation that revolves around suicide can be a sensitive terrain to walk on, especially if it involves someone who has had a young life. Miranda and Shaffer express that suicide attempts are more common in adolescence than in any other time in life on top of this phenomenon being “the third leading cause of death for youth between ages 13 and 19 and the second leading cause of death among 10 to 24-year-olds” (2013). Such statistics should raise red flags in all spectrums of society because the youth deserve a chance of experiencing life to its fullest extent. Whether it may be from bullying, abuse, or chronic stress, suicide is a clear consequence that reveals how dark society really functions. This paper will examine the reasons behind

Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory is explained as an approach that “conceptualizes the ecological environment or the context in which a social phenomenon occurs, as a set of ‘nested structures’” (Hong et al., 2011). Essentially, this theory aims to break down an individual's social environment into smaller groups. Such a deconstructive approach is important because it reveals a more detailed context that can closely mirror what the majority of what undiagnosed teenagers experience while having suicidal ideations. The first and most influential system, pointed out by Hong et al., begins with the micro-system. Comprising of “individuals and groups of individuals whom the individual interacts,” these individuals may include the direct setting in which daily life usually crosses paths with. According to Hong et al., protective factors within the micro-system include parental support. “Attachment theory, which places importance on children’s emotional bond with their caregivers during early years, can explain why negative parent-child relations and parental rejection at the micro-systems level are associated with suicidal behavior…” (Hong et al., 2011). With this in mind, it is vital that parents create a positive relationship with their children at an early age so that it may prevent tragic complications that can occur in the future. On the whole, protective factors have been proven to be powerful forces in guiding an adolescent’s suicidal thoughts to a more positive mental