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In 2016, suicide was the second leading cause of death for youth aged 10-19 years in the United States. The nation's high school students make approximately 3,400 suicide attempts every day. Each year, approximately 1 in every 15 high school students will attempt suicide.
Younger children experience suicidality too; research shows that 12% of children between the ages 6 and 12 have suicidal thoughts.
Suicide is when a person causes his or her own death on purpose. Before attempting to take his or her own life, a person may have thoughts of wanting to die. This is called suicidal ideation. He or she may also have suicidal behavior. That is when a person is actively making plans to do or doing things that may cause his or her own death.
There are many risk factors for suicide. The list below covers many but not all of them. These factors may combine or build up to a crisis that increases the risk for suicidal behavior.
The primary symptom of suicide is talking about suicide or doing something to try to harm oneself. If your child expresses suicidal thoughts or exhibits self-harming behaviors, seek professional help.
The risk of suicide increases dramatically when children or teenagers have access to firearms at home. Nearly 60% of all suicides in the United States are committed with a gun. Any gun in your home should be unloaded, locked, and kept out of the reach of children and teens.
Medication overdose using over-the-counter, prescription, and non-prescription medicine is a very common method for suicide. It's important to carefully monitor all medications in your home.
Try to keep the lines of communication open and express your concern, support, and love. If your child confides in you, show that you take those concerns seriously. It is important not to minimize or discount what your child is going through, as this can increase his or her sense of hopelessness.
If your child doesn't feel comfortable talking with you, suggest a more neutral person, such as a relative, a clergy member, a coach, a school counselor, or your child's doctor.
If you learn that your child is thinking about suicide, get help immediately. Your doctor can refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist, or your local hospital's department of psychiatry can provide a list of doctors in your area. In an emergency, you can call 1.800.273.TALK (1.800.273.8255).
If your child is in a crisis situation, your local emergency room can conduct a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and refer you to the appropriate resources. If you are unsure about whether you should bring your child to the emergency room, contact your doctor or call 1.800.273.TALK (1.800.273.8255) for help.
If you have scheduled an appointment with a mental health professional, keep the appointment, even if your teen says he or she is feeling better or doesn't want to go. Suicidal thoughts tend to come and go; however, it is important that your teen get help developing the skills needed to decrease the likelihood that suicidal thoughts and behaviors will emerge again if a crisis arises.
Ongoing conflicts between a parent and child can worsen things for a teen who is feeling isolated, misunderstood, or suicidal. Get help to discuss family problems and resolve them in a constructive way.
Young people may be experiencing depression or stress but be at less risk for suicidal thoughts or behaviors when they also have:
Children and adolescents with suicidal thoughts or behaviors should have an evaluation with a health professional who can assess their level of risk and the appropriate type of treatment.
For children or adolescents who are at risk for immediate harm to themselves, the initial treatment is usually inpatient psychiatric care. Inpatient psychiatric treatment is focused on ensuring safety, intensive work on coping skills, and developing a plan for continuing care.
Outpatient treatment for children and adolescents with suicidal thoughts or behaviors may include psychotherapy that addresses any of the factors that contribute to the person’s distress, and to develop skills that can help them manage distress.
Outpatient treatment for children and adolescents with suicidal thoughts or behaviors may also include medication to treat underlying mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, or ADHD.
With the right help, a child who is suicidal can make a full recovery and live a fully productive life.
If you’d like to request an appointment with one of our specialists, call 1.800.543.7362 (1.800.KIDS DOC®). You can also request an appointment online.