If you think your child may have a mental health disorder or mental disability, take them to the doctor so they can get a diagnosis and appropriate care.
Factors that increase stress at home include the death of a family member (especially by suicide), a divorce, or abuse. If your child’s grades are slipping, they talk about not wanting to go to school, or they no longer spend time with their friends, it could signal that they are having problems at school.
Victims of bullying may act anxious about going to school, have unexplained injuries, or seem to lose or break their possessions frequently. Aggressive, quick-tempered children are more likely to be bullies.
Take note of your child’s media usage and TV/film preferences to look for hints that they aren’t sure about their sexual orientation. You might also start a dialogue with your child about LGBT+ topics by using a scene from a television show or movie. Ask, “They seem to genuinely care for one another. How do you feel about people of the same gender being in love? Is that something that comes up at school?”
Even very young children may express suicidal thoughts, but they might express themselves in a less obvious way, such as by saying something like, “I just want to float away. ”
Start a dialogue by saying, “Jessie, you gave your lucky baseball glove away to Rob. What made you do that?”
Goodbye letters are another major warning sign that your child may be suicidal.
You might say, “Joey, you don’t seem to have much of an appetite lately. Want to talk to me about that?” You can also ask them how they have been feeling lately. Ask them about their energy levels, sleep, appetite, feelings, etc.
While many of the kids and teens who talk about suicide never attempt it, the risk is too great to ignore. Even if your child doesn’t intend to take their life, the fact that they brought it up still indicates that they are in pain and need professional help. Say, “You said that you want to die. It sounds like you are dealing with some really big stuff. Could you tell me more about how you are feeling?” If they aren’t open to talking, you might add, “As your parent, I have to take comments like that seriously. If you don’t want to talk to me, I think I will set up an appointment for you to see a counselor. How does that sound?”
For instance, you could open the conversation by saying, “I’ve noticed that you seem really sad and withdrawn lately, and I’m worried about you. Do you want to talk about anything?” Let your child know that they don’t have to be ashamed of seeking help. Say something like, “I know it’s hard to believe now, but you don’t have to keep feeling like this. Talking to a therapist will help you feel a lot better. ” Make sure that your child has a therapist that they trust and feel comfortable talking with. If they are not comfortable with their therapist, then look for a new one.
Avoid making your child feel judged or criticized. This will make them clam up, and it could worsen any feelings of guilt they’re having. It is a good idea to normalize what your child is feeling. Try saying something like, “Lots of people experience depressed moods from time to time. It is important to talk to someone about it, so let’s find a therapist who can help. ”
Gain further info that can determine how severe your child’s suicidal thoughts are. This may include asking “Have you thought about how you would do that?” to see if they have an actual plan. If the child says yes, then you need to seek immediate medical attention for them.
Listen and validate their feelings to help them know that you care and take their problems seriously.
Do not leave your child alone if you think they are planning to die by suicide.
