Prevent Teen Suicide
Learn How to PREVENT Teen Suicide
Today I want to share some warning signs that a teen is seriously considering a suicide attempt and some tools and techniques you can use to prevent teen suicides.
An important first step in prevention is to become aware of what to look for.
Recognizing Teen Suicidal Behavior
While any of the following behaviors alone may not mean a suicide attempt is imminent, each is an important indicator that you need to address, rather than ignore, hoping it will go away.
Teen suicide attempts are a cry for help, so these behaviors are also indicators that something is wrong and the teen needs your active assistance.
- Any change in normal habits
- Change in amount of time spent with friends or family
- Change in eating behaviors
- Change in sleeping patterns - more, less, interrupted
- Dramatic weight change - up or down
- Loss of interest in schoolwork with declining grades
- Loss of interest in extracurricular activities
- DRAMATIC MOOD SWINGS, impulsive or aggressive behavior or frequent expressions of rage
- Evidence of SUBSTANCE ABUSE (alcohol or drugs, both legal or illegal)
- Frequent running away or being incarcerated
- Unplanned pregancy
- ANY EXPRESSION OF THOUGHTS OF DEATH (dying, boredom with living, or a desire to leave life)
Always pay attention if your teen ever says anything like:
“I wish I could die” or “I want to kill myself” or “I won’t trouble you anymore” or “Just in case something happens to me, I want you to know something”.
Preventing Teen Suicide
It may seem like I’m spending more time on telling you what to look for than how to prevent suicide, but looking for signs and symptoms is the FIRST STEP in preventing teen suicide. Too often, teens go ahead and attempt suicide and SUCCEED, because parents did not recognize the warning signs, or were too intimidated by the bad behaviors to understand that they were cries for help, or understand the seriousness of their teen’s cries for help.
Be aware if your teen:
- Suddenly seems very cheerful after a long period of being depressed. He/she may feel that they’ve found a solution to their problems (suicide).
- Starts giving away, or promising, favorite belongings to friends or family members.
- Creates suicide notes, or notes about ‘getting away from it all’.
- Expresses bizarre thoughts or unsettling ideas about life.
Teenagers often use desperate attempts to be acknowledged. Often they don’t know how to deal with their thoughts and feelings and are really looking for someone to help them deal with their feelings and problems.
The important thing to remember is, whether their behavior is pleasant, unpleasant, or even frightening, teens are seeking help and looking for support.
Remove Weapons of Self-Destruction
It is important, in addition to talking to your teen about issues and making them feel supported, that you remove or secure any tools that might enable them to attempt suicide.
Of course, we know to look for illegal drugs and paraphenalia, but are you locking-up any prescription drugs you may have in the home? Check your medicine cabinet. Any sleeping pills, pain pills, or mood-altering substances? What about razor blades? hobby knives? box cutters? Are they handy for a teen that wants to ‘end it all’ when you aren’t home?
What about any weapons you may have in your home? My husband and I both have Concealed Carry Permits, because of our circumstances. But we must always be aware that our weapons should never be accessible to others without total supervision. Far too often we hear of the tragedy of a child finding and playing with a gun and killing themselves, a sibling or playmate. Teens, especially males, must NOT have access to weapons without your supervision. Keep any weapons locked away securely, or on your person. Never leave weapons available, to a teen or an intruder.
What about poisonous substances around the house? Any responsible parent knows to lock away potentially harmful substances when they have toddlers. That vigilance needs to continue as your child reaches pre-teen and teen years. YOU have to be the responsible person who prevents poisoning, whether accidental or intentional. Teens don’t understand how painful death by poisoning is. You must!
There is so much more to discuss about teen suicide that I will have to continue in the next post. I’ll share some techniques for knowing how to talk with your teens about this very explosive and dangerous subject.
NEXT POST: Talking To Your Teens, Troubled or Otherwise
Brennan
Filed under: Education News
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