by RICHARD CONARD 09/18/2022

There are a number of ways you can help a suicidal teen and you can refer to different resources for help including a behavioral health toolkit. Here is a closer look at suicide in teens, recognizing signs and what to do to help.

Helping a teen

1. Get them professional help – If you have someone who is suicidal you need to take it seriously and get them professional help. You can look at online websites, charities, and helplines, use a mental health crisis toolkit, or just take them to a family doctor and go from there.
2. Make sure you follow through on treatment – Whatever treatment or routine or medication the professional gives, make sure they follow it. Make sure they take their pills and look for side effects. It can take time and trying different options before the right fit is found so you have to be patient with it.
3. Be more proactive as you offer help – You might need to be specific and proactive with your support. Rather than something vague like call me if you need something, you come over, you call them, you keep them a priority.
4. Help them adopt more positive lifestyle adjustments – Do not just tell them they need to eat healthily, or get out and exercise more, do it with them! Pick them up and take them for a run, a swim, to play ball or whatever it is they can do or once enjoyed. Keep doing it with them every day or set up a few people to rotate with them to help.
5. Have a safety plan ready – Have steps you and they talk about so that if they see their triggers they know what to do to ensure they do not do anything bad. Things like a breakup, exams, parents divorcing, these can trigger a reaction you want them to avoid. Look at a behavioral health toolkit.
6. Take away means of killing themselves – Keep guns out of the house, remove access to sharp knives, make sure medications are locked away somewhere and so on.
7. Stick with them for the long term – Even after the initial crisis is over you need to be with them long term helping them. Drop by, phone them, support them.

Signs and risk factors in teens

Risk factors – mental disorders, drug and alcohol abuse, depression, previous suicide efforts, a family history, abuse, trauma, chronic pain, terminal illness, a recent death or loss, a lot of stress, loneliness, bullying, self-esteem issues, feeling alienated, no parental or familial support, hostile home or school place, being exposed to other teen suicides.

Warning signs – A change in sleeping and eating habits, being withdrawn from activities, friends and family, becoming violent or angry, mood swings, bullying, running away, neglecting their appearance, consistent complaints of not feeling well, not being able to focus or concentrate, always being bored, not being able to accept praise. You can learn more and get support from a mental health crisis toolkit.

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