Despite more going into suicide prevention charity nationally and in each state the statistics for teen suicide remain grim. The rates continue to rise and what is being done is still not enough. Here is a look at the signs and what we can do to prevent it.
Some of the most common signs your teen is at risk
By knowing what to look for you have more chance of preventing it. Things to look for include;
Being extremely impacted by the death of someone close whether a family member or close friend, especially if that death was a suicide.
Making statements and generalizations about how bad life is.
Giving away belongings that are important to them.
Changes in their sleeping, it could be that they now sleep a lot, or that they are not sleeping as much as they need.
Changes in their appetite, again it could be that they eat more than they used to or that they are eating less than they used to.
Becoming isolated and not seeing their friends and not having any desire to participate in any social activity, or in any of their sports or hobbies.
Not caring about their appearance, the way they dress or taking care of their personal hygiene.
Talking about and even threatening to kill themselves.
Things to do
For suicide prevention to be successful you should;
Always take threats seriously even if they happen frequently. It is not a case of ignoring them and they will not do it because you did not give them the attention they wanted. Regardless of frequency, age and so on, you need to listen.
Talk to a professional about getting them help, you are more likely going to have success with someone trained in dealing with this.
If you think they might be suicidal but they are not expressing it then ask them, being quiet or ignoring it does not make it go away. Talking about it or asking does not make them do it.
Become a better listener. Communication during these times is crucial. You could seek help from a suicide prevention charity for tips on what to do and for learning opportunities.
