Suicide is a serious public health concern, and data continues to show disparities between risk and prevention efforts. There has been an ongoing discussion about the mental health of youth and the need to address difficulties before they reach the level of a crisis. However, parents, teachers and other adults may overlook concerning signs when behaviors are falsely attributed to typical child development.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals ages 5 to 18. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention reports that in 2016 the suicide rate was highest among whites, at about 15 per 100,000 individuals, and second highest among American Indian and Alaska Natives.
Although the causes of suicide are complex, some risk factors are common across ethnic groups, like experiencing depression. Rates of suicide have been relatively stable for most ethnic groups. However, in the last five years studies have continued to document an increase in suicide rates among black boys. A recent study published in the journal Research on Social Work Practice in March indicated that black boys are six times more likely than black girls to attempt suicide. Unfortunately, it’s still not clear why these disparities exist, why rates continue to increase among this group, or what is the best approach for treating suicidal behavior among black youth.
[Read: Preventing Teen Suicide: Be Alert to the Warning Signs.]
New Depression Guidelines Aim to Prevent Youth Suicides
In February, the American Academy of Pediatrics released updated guidelines recommending screening all kids ages 10 and up for depression. The recommendations also call for “developing a safety plan to reduce access to lethal means of harm” and “establishing a strong collaboration between physicians and mental health providers to provide treatment.”
One of the most important considerations is the call to action for primary care physicians to pursue additional education regarding advances in screening, diagnosis and treatment of depression. Given that most youth will see medical providers, but not mental health professionals, it is necessary that the contact with physicians can serve as a gateway to mental health care. Although universal screening for depression is important, the AAP does caution against instituting this plan without having appropriate mental health referral sources available for families.
Tips for Parents
Given the need for early intervention, here are some suggestions for parents regarding suicide prevention:
Be aware of the warning signs. Suicide tends to be more likely among high-risk groups, such as those who are dealing with a mental health issue, individuals with a trauma history or those with a family history of suicide. To enhance prevention efforts, it is helpful to be familiar with some of the warning signs. If you notice your child expressing thoughts about wanting to die, feeling like they have no reason to live, talking about feeling trapped, or searching for information about suicide methods online, seek professional help immediately.
[See: 9 Things to Do or Say When a Loved One Talks About Taking Their Life.]
Get help for your child. Make sure your child sees a mental health professional if you have any concerns that he or she may be suicidal, or if the child has expressed suicidal thoughts. Seeking help is very important to understand what underlies those thoughts and to develop a treatment plan, since suicide risk is commonly associated with having a mental health condition like depression. It is important to consult with a mental health provider about the best treatment for your child, which may come in the form of therapy and medication.
If your child is expressing suicidal thoughts, please contact your local area mental health provider or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Increase monitoring. If your child seems depressed or closed off, or expresses suicidal thoughts, it’s important to increase your monitoring of the child’s behavior. For younger children this may be easier given that they’re less independent. However, it may require more effort for adolescents. Check in frequently when your child is alone. Also, create opportunities to engage with your child frequently, like during meals, and spend time together throughout the week while making sure your child stays connected with family and friends to prevent isolation.
Remove dangerous objects. In my work with families of children expressing suicidal thoughts, one of the most important recommendations is to ensure that weapons and medications aren’t easily accessible. This may require putting these things in a safe location behind a lock or completely removing them from the home.
[See: 10 Concerns Parents Have About Their Kids’ Health.]
Be an active listener. When your child makes comments about “not wanting to live” or threatens to kill himself or herself, it’s important to take that seriously. Take the time to listen to your child and be open to hearing the child’s concerns. Sometimes it can be easy to brush certain things under the rug and assume issues will go away. Unfortunately, children and teenagers have a hard time rationalizing that childhood problems are not the end of the world for them. Listen to their concerns and instill hope that the family can work together to help them.
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What to Do If Your Child Expresses Suicidal Thoughts originally appeared on usnews.com
