Suicide Prevention
- Candace
- Sep 22, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 25, 2020
September is suicide prevention month. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S., but is the 2nd leading cause of death amongst youth ages 10-24. As parents/guardians, it's terrifying to think your child may be thinking that their life doesn't matter and is not worth living.
There is good news...it is preventable!
Parents/guardians are crucial parts in prevention. Parents/guardians will likely be one of the first to notice any changes in behavior or mood. It's important to be mindful of the warning signs of suicidal thinking so action can be taken when necessary. Please open the PDF below to learn more about warning signs.
If you notice any of the warning signs in your child and suspect they might be thinking about suicide, the next step is to have a conversation with them about it. Talking about suicide is never comfortable, but it is necessary to prevention. Below are some tips for conversations regarding suicide.
MYTH: Talking about suicide or asking someone if they feel suicidal will encourage them or "put the idea in their head".
FACT: Talking about suicide actually opens up communication and decreases feelings of isolation and hopelessness.
MYTH: Once someone is intent on suicide, there is no way of stopping them.
FACT: Suicides can be prevented; children, teens, and adults can be helped. Suicidal crises can be relatively short-lived but getting professional support is encouraged.
MYTH: People who threaten suicide are attention seeking.
FACT: All suicide attempts, threats should be taken seriously. It is likely a cry for help and the attention they do get might save their life.
MYTH: Young people who are thinking about suicide never seek or ask for help with their problems.
FACT: Evidence shows that most individuals thinking about suicide "ask" for help through behavior, non-verbal gestures, or tell their peers.
If your child has thoughts of suicide and has a plan to carry it out, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
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