Counseling_ Suicide Awareness and Prevention

** Please be aware that this topic may be sensitive. **

The adolescent years are marked by a roller-coaster of emotions that can be difficult for students and their parents. It is easy to misread depression as normal adolescent turmoil; however, depression (among the most common mental illnesses) appears to occur at a much earlier age. Depression is treatable but is a leading risk factor for suicide.

Facts and Statistics
Ages 12-18:  Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among middle and high school-aged students.

Ages 18-22:  Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among college-age students. 

More teenagers & young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease COMBINED.

Each day in our nation, there are an average of over 3,703 attempts by young people in grades 9-12. The numbers would be higher if these percentages were additionally applied to grades 7 and 8.

This information was taken from The Jason Foundation.

What Can I Do At Home?

• Get Support for Yourself
  • Recovery could be lengthy and possibly a lifelong struggle. To better understand how to help your child, you may need professional help or even join a support group. 
• React Calmly and Be Accepting
  • Acknowledge them.
  • Ask open-ended questions.
  • It is difficult not to become defensive or think that their suicidal ideation is a failure on your part as a parent.
  • Negative reactions can increase a child's feelings of being overwhelmed and can increase a sense of guilt or burden.
• Offer Hope
  • Offer hope and reassurance.
  • Reinforce that there are solutions to what they are dealing with.
  • Don't try to "FIX" it for them. Help them with problem-solving.
    • Ask them what they need and support them in getting help.
    • Sometimes we want to fix it or have them fix it the way we think is best. Not everyone needs the same thing.
• Model Sharing of Feelings
  • Help them identify their emotions and what they are feeling.
  • Lead by example. Label and discuss your emotions.
  • Model how to cope in healthy ways.
• Seek Professional Help
  • Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 988 >> Review information about 988
  • Tri-County 24-Hour Crisis Hotline 1-800-659-6994
  • National Runaway Safeline 1-800-RUNAWAY (786-2929)
  • Call 911 if it is an emergency.
  • Contact your physician for a referral
  • Contact your child's school counselor
    • Make them aware

Help is available. Please reach out.