What to Look for in a Teen Thinking About Suicide

 With the help of resources like a mental health toolkit, and more people being willing to talk about it, it is possible to observe the signs of suicide and take action to prevent it. It requires parents, schools and community members to be observant and good at listening. In a recent survey over half the teens questioned said they had thought about doing it. Here are some things to look for.

 

Warning signs of suicide

 

1)    Having a change in their usual personality - where once they might have been outgoing now they might be withdrawn. They might be skipping school when that was never something they had done before. They might be self-isolating and have no interest in activities they used to enjoy.

2)    Having a plan on how they would/will kill themselves - for boys this often is about having access to guns and for girls they are more likely to take pills. The more detailed their plan is the more at risk and immediate need for intervention there is.

3)    Not being able to focus - poor concentration, not thinking rationally, may present as acting out in class, not handing in homework, a drop in grades, not taking part in conversations and not doing chores.

4)    Seeing death appear as a theme in different places - it might be they are writing or reading more about it, they might be drawing it, it might be in homework or just at home.

5)    A change or lack of interest in their appearance - this could include losing or gaining weight, not showering or brushing their teeth, not sleeping or oversleeping and not caring about things like how their hair looks or what they are wearing.

6)    Sometimes there may also be a mental health issue - this includes anxiety and depression.

7)    Not getting with friends or a partner - if they are not getting along with the people they used to hang out with, or with their girlfriend or boyfriend this could be another of the warning signs of suicide.

8)    Being bored about everything - boredom could be from a lack of interest in what is going on in their lives.

9)    Acting out or acting recklessly - this could mean taking drugs or drinking, or doing risky things like driving too fast.

10) Complaining of being unwell - sometimes it is real and sometimes it is not but complaints could include headaches and stomach pain.

11) Giving away things they own - when a teen start giving away things they used to love that is another sign to look out for that they may be getting ready to end things.

12) Having already previously tried to kill themselves - a teen who has tried before is a much higher risk of trying again.

 

What to do

If you are worried about a teen in your life then staying quiet or expecting someone else to know and do something is not the right thing to do. Talking about these things does not push someone into doing it. It can though help prevent it. Ask them using direct language, reassure them, listen to them, try not to be dismissive, or to be angry. Find professional help and if necessary take them to the emergency room where some will use a mental health toolkit to better communicate with the teen and parents.