Suicide and Children - Managing Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Children and Adolescents

Written by HealthyPlace.com Staff Writer

Managing Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior

When a person has thoughts about killing themselves or actually makes an attempt, there are a number of things that need to be done:

1. Take it seriously

If a child is saying he or she wants to die, it is worthy of attention. Maybe it is really nothing. At the very least, it requires a heart to heart talk. Many adults believe that children and teenagers do not really mean it when they talk about suicide. Data collected in the last two decades clearly suggests that sometimes children do mean it.

2. Take away the taboo from talking about suicide

If you have a depressed child, they certainly may be thinking about suicide. Not talking about it will not make this possibility go away. At the very least, openly ask the child if they are thinking about suicide. If some stressor has occurred (for example, girl friend and boyfriend troubles) ask again.

3. Get some help

Suicidal thinking or attempts almost always means that some sort of professional help is indicated. Most children and adolescents who have suicidal thoughts or have made suicidal attempts have at least one, and sometimes more than one, psychiatric disorder. These disorders obviously need to be identified and treated. For medically serious attempts, it usually means going directly to a hospital, and then seeing a psychiatrist once the medical emergency has passed. Sometimes it means psychiatric hospitalization. For less serious attempts, it means getting seen in the next week or so.

4. Supervision

If your child makes a suicide attempt or has a plan, you need to make sure they are not alone. They need to be watched until they can be carefully assessed. This may just be a matter of a day or so, or it could be longer. No one likes being watched all the time, and it is exhausting to all concerned.

5. Avoid manipulation

Some people will use suicidal thoughts or attempts to get what they want or to get out of things they do not want to do. People try suicide to hurt others, to try to get back at boy or girl friends, and to get out of work or school. By keeping this possibility in mind, most parents (with a little help) can prevent suicidal behavior from becoming a habit.

6. Preventing suicide by restricting access to guns, pills, etc.

Sometimes people forget that the most important thing to do about suicidal children is to make sure they don't have access to the common methods people use. That means putting away all medications in a locked cabinet. It means guns should not be in the home, even if they are locked up. It means that razors for shaving are kept in the same place medications are. These simple suggestions can make a great deal of difference.

The National Hopeline Network 1-800-SUICIDE provides access to trained telephone counselors, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Or for a crisis center in your area, go here.

next: A Suicide: No Warning Of Her Decision To End Her Life
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