WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: What do I need to know about suicide prevention for my child? Your child may see suicide as the only way to escape emotional or physical pain and suffering. You can help provide emotional support for him and get the help he needs. Learn to recognize warning signs that your child may be considering suicide. Find resources to help prevent him from attempting to take his life. What should I do if I think my child is considering suicide? Call 911 if you feel your child is at immediate risk of suicide, or if he talks about an active suicide plan. Assume that he intends to carry out his plan. Resources are available to help you and your child. The following are some things you can do: - Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
- Call the Suicide Hotline at 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433).
- Contact your child's therapist. Your child's healthcare provider can give you a list of therapists if he does not have one.
- Keep medicines, weapons, and alcohol out of your child's reach. Do not leave your child alone. Stay with him if he says he wants to commit suicide or you think he may try it. Make sure you do not put yourself at risk if your child has a weapon.
- Do not be afraid to ask if he is thinking of ending his life. Ask if he has a plan for hurting or killing himself.
What warning signs should I watch for? Your child may injure himself in an attempt to feel better. These actions are often a sign that he needs help. Do not ignore injuries or any of the following warning signs: - Talking about a plan for committing suicide
- Poor school performance, not turning in homework, or a struggle with subjects that were not difficult before
- Doing dangerous actions that could kill him
- Cuts or burns on your child's skin, or reckless driving
- Joking, reading, or writing about suicide, killing, or death
- Statements that he will not see you again or that soon he will not be a problem for you
- Sudden withdrawal from others or not doing things he usually enjoys
- Feeling sad every day, then suddenly being very happy and cheerful after a time of depression and sadness
- Changes in how he eats, sleeps, or dresses
- Weight gain or loss, less energy than usual, or trouble sleeping or spend a lot of time sleeping
What may increase my child's risk for suicide? - Depression
- Alcohol or drug use in adolescents
- Death of an important person, or the anniversary of that person's death
- A past suicide attempt, or someone close to him attempted or committed suicide
- Mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Chronic pain, or a serious illness, such as heart disease or cancer
- Being physically dependent on others
- Mental, physical, or sexual abuse
- A history of violence or aggression toward others, or feeling guilty for hurting someone else
- Stress from a breakup or loss of a friendship, or loneliness
- Struggling with being gay, lesbian, or bisexual
How will healthcare providers help my child? - A healthcare provider will talk to your child. He will talk to him without you so your child can be honest about how he feels. He will ask about suicide plans and how often he thinks about suicide. He will ask your child if he has tried it before and if he has begun to hurt himself. He may also ask if your child has weapons or drugs.
- A healthcare provider will work with your child to create a safety plan. The plan will include a list of people or groups for your child to contact if he has suicidal feelings again. Your child may be asked to make a verbal agreement or sign a contract with you that he will not try to harm himself.
What treatment may my child need? - Therapy or counseling can help your child work through problems. Your child may receive therapy from school counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, or others. Ask your healthcare provider for a list of mental health professionals or support groups that can help your child. He may recommend that your child be admitted to the hospital for his own safety.
- Medicines can help your child feel well enough to continue with all of the treatment he needs. Tell your child that it make take several weeks before the medicine starts to help him feel better. Rarely, antidepressants can make a child more likely to act on his suicidal thoughts. This can happen during the first few months after he starts taking an antidepressant or changes the amount he takes. You will need to watch your child very closely for any such changes during the first 4 weeks he is taking it. Do not let your child stop taking this medicine unless directed. A sudden stop can be harmful.
What can I do to help my child? Connections, support, and safety are all important in suicide prevention for children and adolescents. Do not make your child feel you are judging him or tell him that his suicide would be hard on you or others. Tell him you are here to support and help him. The following are ways you and others can help your child: - Listen when your child wants to talk. Let him know that you take his feelings and thoughts very seriously. Help your child understand that he can talk to you, another parent, or a close friend about his feelings. He can also talk to a therapist, religious or youth leader, or school counselor. Give him time to respond. It may help to tell him about something similar that happened to you, and what you did. Stay positive and supportive.
- Help your child think of solutions to problems. Children and adolescents often think problems are permanent and may think suicide is a solution. You can help your child realize the problem has a better solution. For example, if your child is being bullied, work with officials to find a solution. Help your child understand what you are doing to help him be safe. Another example is that after a breakup, your adolescent may be afraid he will never feel better. He may worry that he will never have another relationship. Do not minimize his feelings or tell him it was just a crush. Assure him that he can feel better. One of the best skills you can teach your child is how to recover after something bad happens.
- Help your child make a list of things he hopes to do. Encourage him to make plans for what he is going to do for the next day, month, and year. Help him make goals for his life. Encourage him to start doing things to make his goals happen.
- Give your child the contact information for services that can help him. Talk to him about therapy and medicines available to help him. He may follow through with treatment if he feels he was included in the planning.
- Help your child spend time with family and friends. Get him involved with school events, a local community center, or activity groups. Connections can help him feel valued and loved.
- Help your child create healthy routines. Help your child make a bedtime schedule so he does not get too little or too much sleep. Encourage him to be active. It may help to start a routine such as a walk with the whole family after dinner. Healthy routines can help relieve depression. A walk may also be a good time for you to talk with your child about his feelings.
Where can I find support and more information? - National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
NA
New York , NY10004
Phone: 1- 800 - 273-TALK (8255)
Web Address: http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
- Suicide Awareness Voices of Education
8120 Penn Ave. S., Ste. 470
Bloomington , Minnesota55431
Phone: 1- 952 - 946-7998
Web Address: http://www.save.org
Call 911 for any of the following: - Your child does something on purpose to hurt himself, such as cutting his wrists.
- Your child swallows medicines or other harmful substances, such as antifreeze.
When should I seek immediate care? - Your child says he wants to commit suicide.
- Your child feels that he cannot stop himself from hurting himself or others.
- Your child has sudden mood changes, such as angry outbursts or despair.
When should I contact my child's therapist or healthcare provider? - You begin to see warning signs that your child may be considering suicide.
- Your child has changes in behavior when he starts on depression medicine or his dose is changed.
- Your child acts out in anger or has reckless behavior.
- Your child withdraws from friends or loved ones.
- You have questions or concerns about your child's condition or care.
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