Suicide Prevention

Five Warning Signs for Depression in Teens

 

• Feelings of sadness or hopelessness, often accompanied by anxiety.

• Declining school performance.

• Loss of pleasure/interest in social and sports activities.

• Sleeping too little or too much.

• Changes in weight or appetite.

 

Four Steps Teens Can Take

 

• Take your friend's actions seriously.

• Encourage your friend to seek professional help, accompany if necessary.

• Talk to an adult you trust. Don't be alone in helping your friend. 

• Tell a trusted adult — right away.

 

Three Steps Parents Can Take

 

• Get your child help (medical or mental health professional).

• Support your child (listen, avoid undue criticism, remain connected).

• Become informed (library, local support group, Internet). 

 

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We need to get help for them ASAP

 

Seeking Professional Help

 

You can make a difference by helping those in need find a knowledgeable mental health professional.

 

For clinical referrals, contact the American Psychological Association at https://locator.apa.org.

 

For a psychiatric referral, contact the American Psychiatric Association at (202) 682-6325 or go to the website at https://www.psychiatry.org.

 

For a crisis hotline CALL or Txt 988 or go to https://988lifeline.org 

 

In An Acute Crisis...

 

Call 911 or take the person to an emergency room or walk-in clinic at a psychiatric hospital. Do not leave the person alone until help is available.

 

For More Information:

 

Call the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention at 1-888-333-AFSP, or visit www.afsp.org.

 

 

How to help a suicidal friend

 

Take it seriously

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Myth: “The people who talk about it don't do it.” Studies have found that most people who died by suicide did things in the few weeks or months prior to their deaths to indicate to others that they were in deep despair. Anyone expressing suicidal feelings needs immediate attention.

 

Myth: “Anyone who tries to kill themself has got to be crazy.” Perhaps 10% of all suicidal people are psychotic or have delusional beliefs about reality. Most suicidal people suffer from the recognized mental illness of depression; but many depressed people adequately manage their daily affairs. The absence of “craziness” does not mean the absence of suicide risk.

 

“Those problems weren't enough to die by suicide,” is often said by people who knew a person who died by suicide. You cannot assume that because you feel something is not worth being suicidal about, that  person you are with should feel the same way. It is not how bad the problem is, but how badly it's hurting the person who has it.

 

Remember, suicidal behavior is a cry for help

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Myth: “If someone is going to kill themself, nothing can stop them.” The fact that a person is still alive is sufficient proof that part of them wants to remain alive. The suicidal person is ambivalent - part of them wants to live and part of them wants not so much death as they want the pain to end. It is the part that wants to live that tells another “I feel suicidal.” If a suicidal person turns to you it is likely that they believe that you are more caring, more informed about coping with misfortune, and more willing to protect their confidentiality. No matter how negative the manner and content of their talk, they are doing a positive thing and have a positive view of you.

 

Be willing to give and get help sooner rather than later

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Suicide prevention is not a last minute activity. All textbooks on depression say it should be reached as soon as possible. Unfortunately, suicidal people are afraid that trying to get help may bring them more pain: being told they are stupid, foolish, sinful, or manipulative; rejection; punishment; suspension from school or job; written records of their condition; or involuntary commitment. You need to do everything you can to reduce pain, rather than increase or prolong it. Constructively involving yourself on the side of life as early as possible will reduce the risk of suicide.

 

Listen

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Give the person every opportunity to unburden their troubles and ventilate their feelings. You don't need to say much and there are no magic words. If you are concerned, your voice and manner will show it. Give them relief from being alone with their pain; let them know you are glad they turned to you. Patience, sympathy, acceptance. Avoid arguments and advice giving.

 

ASK: “Are you having thoughts of suicide?”

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Myth: “Talking about it may give someone the idea.” People already have the idea; suicide is constantly in the news media. If you ask a despairing person this question you are doing a good thing for them: you are showing them that you care about them, that you take them seriously, and that you are willing to let them share their pain with you. You are giving them further opportunity to discharge pent up and painful feelings. If the person is having thoughts of suicide, find out how far along their ideation has progressed.

 

If the person is acutely suicidal, do not leave them alone.

If the means are present, try to get rid of them. Detoxify the home.

 

Urge professional help

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Persistence and patience may be needed to seek, engage and continue with as many options as possible. In any referral situation, let the person know you care and want to maintain contact.

 

No secrets

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When someone tells you they're thinking about suicide, recognize what's actually happening: the part of them that's afraid of pain may say "don't tell anyone" — but the part that wants to live is why they told you at all. Honor that. Respond to the part that wants to live.

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Don't try to handle this on your own. Find a trusted adult — a counselor, parent, or school staff member — who can help carry this with you. Getting outside support doesn't mean betraying the person's trust; it means taking their life seriously. The more people who can share the weight of this responsibly, the better the outcome for everyone involved.

 

From crisis to recovery

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Most people have suicidal thoughts or feelings at some point in their lives. Nearly all suicidal people suffer from conditions that will pass with time or with the assistance of a recovery program. There are hundreds of modest steps we can take to improve our response to the suicidal and to make it easier for them to seek help. Taking these modest steps can save many lives and reduce a great deal of human suffering.

 

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