Suicides in Adolescents—An Evolutionary Approach Based on Epigenetic Thinking

June 12, 2025

Suicide in adolescents has been known since ancient times. This vulnerable period of life is characterized by a bundle of psychological and existential experiences, mental health problems, and behavioral peculiarities that foster suicidal inclinations. However, accumulating data show that in the last 30–40 years (which is a very short period from the point of view of human history), suicidal tendencies among youngsters are growing fast in different parts of the world. It became especially obvious in the last decade, which ignited a discussion about to what extent young generations can adapt to the allure of digital technologies. We consider that information and social media overload is only a part (though important) of the general perceived stress experienced by the younger population in this unequal and modernistic world. Such perceived stress utilizes the same conservative biological mechanisms that are inherent to all vertebrates, which are known to trigger multiple structural and functional processes in the brain and can be imprinted in the transcriptional patterns of different organs and tissues via epigenetic mechanisms. There is accumulating evidence that epigenetics plays a role as an interface between the dynamic social environment and the stable genome. An evolutionary approach based on epigenetic thinking, especially taking into account the possibility of transgenerational transmission of stress vulnerability, provides a logical and consistent explanation of differentiation in the adolescent population, with possible growth of the proportion of those who falter in adaptation versus those who will benefit and thrive in such turbulent environment.

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https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-96-1403-5_10