How do you actually help a suicidal kid? According to a recent study from the Centers for Disease Control, most youth suicides happen to kids with no previously diagnosed mental health condition. Tragically, suicide is the second leading cause of death for kids ages 10 – 14 in the United States. The truth is, a kid does not have to have a mental illness to be at risk of attempting suicide. Many youth suicides are the result of impulsive decisions tied to a difficult situation a kid is going through.
“End of the World” Situations Can Lead to Youth Suicides
When it comes to dealing with the difficult parts of life, adults have the advantage of brain development and life experience that allows them to see the big picture. Most adults understand that bad moods and situations pass, but young people do not have this perspective. Some circumstance they experience feel like the “end of the world” to them, including friendship or romantic breakups. In addition, the death of a loved one, school pressure, bullying or cyberbullying or even simply having a cell phone taken away for punishment can be traumatizing. For these reasons, it’s vitally important for parents to keep lines of communication open and free of judgement with kids. This way, when they are going through a tough time, they can come to you to find out how to cope. Your goal is to understand how it feels to be them.
The Best Intervention is Prevention.
In the aforementioned study — conducted by medical doctors — it’s noted that something as common as having a cell phone taken away can cause a kid’s end-of-life thoughts. This puts a lot of parents in a bind because taking the phone away is a common consequence that seems to work with a kid. As soon as you give a kid a cell phone, put a policy in place with them. Even if your kid has had a phone for awhile, you can sit down to discuss a policy together.
Cell Phone Policies Help
• Tell your kids it’s your job as their parent to put a policy in place to assure their safety.
• Together, write down an electronic contract with your kids who have phones.
• Together, write down an electronic contract with your kids who have phones.
• Discuss things like social media usage / when phones are OK or not / charging phones in a central location at night, etc.
• Talk with your kids about the consequences of their actions before having to enforce them.
• Set boundaries around device use and be consistent.
• Set boundaries around device use and be consistent.
Next, when tempers flare, or when your kid gets in trouble, it’s important for you to take a deep breath and remember that kids are just kids. They need more support than many adults realize. In the middle of a conflict, it’s essential to remain calm to deescalate the heightened situation. Kids need to know that even when things are bleak, you love and care for them and you can face any difficult situation together. The truth is, life brings lots of troubles; the way to get through is in learning how to handle them and in realizing that it will pass.
Limiting Access to Youth Suicides
Astonishingly, 25 percent of kids act within five minutes or less of contemplating suicide. The impulsive nature of suicide attempts among young people highlights the importance of limiting access to guns and more in your home. Keep firearms locked up in a safe and check that they are locked up on a daily basis. If you have concerns about one of your kids, consider removing your firearms from your home altogether. In addition, lock up prescriptions and secure sharp objects.
Importantly, if you have a child in your life experiencing suicidal ideation, seek help. Youth Villages Specialized Crisis Services has specially trained, master’s level crisis counselors available 24/7 to respond to crisis calls. Crisis staff provide the assessment and evaluation of the child, connecting them with a mental health clinician to help determine the best course of action for the child. Youth Villages will follow up with parents and providers within 24 hours of the initial crisis call.
Support services for teens in Tennessee:
Youth Villages Specialized Crisis Hotline: 1-866-791-9222
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988
