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Parents, please talk about suicide prevention
By Melissa Martin, PhD
Suicide is the second leading cause of death between children ages 10
to18 in the United States, according to the National Institute of
Mental Health.
A recent finding in a 2019 Pediatrics journal article found that
surveyed parents were clueless about the suicidal thoughts of their
kids. In interviews with more than 5,000 Philadelphia-area kids ages 11
to 17 and their parents, researchers found that among the teens who
reported suicidal thoughts, 50 percent of their moms and dads said they
were unaware. www.pediatrics.aappublications.org.
And the number of children and teens being hospitalized for suicide
attempts or suicidal thoughts doubled between 2007 and 2015, according
to data analysis and a 2019 study published in JAMA Pediatrics.
Let’s dispel a major myth. Discussing suicide prevention and education
with your kids will not plant the idea into their minds. On the
contrary, open conversation is imperative. And it’s not a one-time
conversation. How many parents reading this column have engaged in
direct conversations with their kids about suicidal thoughts/plans?
It’s called prevention.
Parents are communicating more about alcohol and drugs. Parents are
communicating more about birth control, sexually transmitted diseases,
and sexual assault. Why not about suicide prevention?
It’s time to communicate about suicide prevention and intervention with
your kids. In addition to knowing the warning signs of depression and
suicide, parents need to find local information about suicide
prevention. Parents can guide their kids on what to do if their friends
talk about death by suicide. Education, information and conversation
are vital. Any comment by a child or adolescent about wanting to kill
self should be taken seriously. If you learn that your child is
thinking about suicide, get help immediately.
Will Trautwein, a teen, is the inspiration behind the Will To Live
Foundation. He died by suicide. “John Trautwein and his family have
taken the most difficult tragedy a family can know, and turned it into
a message to help us all. Our kids are at risk and we need to make sure
they always have a will to live, and the Will To Live Foundation’s Life
Teammates message is helping to make this happen.” www.will-to-live.org.
According to the American Psychological Association several factors
increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors, including: mental
health disorders such as depression, anxiety and other mood disorders,
alcohol and substance use, impulsive behaviors, history of trauma or
abuse, family history of suicide, and previous suicide attempt(s).
www.apa.org.
The major warning signs for suicide include: threatening to hurt or kill oneself,
seeking a means to kill oneself, hopelessness, increasing alcohol or drug use,
and dramatic mood changes. To learn about warning signs that may not be
so obvious, visit American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
www.afsp.org.
What can parents do? “While death is an uncomfortable subject for many
people, it is important to be able to talk about it openly and
honestly…Talking about suicide can help youth see the other options
they have. There should be no fear in talking to young people about
suicide.” Look for The Jason Foundations Parent Resource Program on
their website. www.jasonfoundation.com.
According to the Kids Health website, the risk of suicide increases
dramatically when kids and teens have access to firearms at home, and
nearly 60 percent of all suicides in the United States are committed
with a gun. That’s why any gun in your home should be unloaded, locked,
and kept out of the reach of children and teens. www.kidshealth.org.
Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Ohio Resources
To view a list of county suicide prevention coalitions in Ohio visit
www.ohiospf.org/coalitions/.
The Center for Suicide Prevention and Research (CSPR) at Nationwide
Children’s Hospital was created in 2015 to address the growing problem
of suicide among youth in central Ohio. Signs of Suicide (SOS) is a
nationally recognized suicide prevention program offered by CSPR at
Nationwide Children's Hospital. As part of SOS and their overall
mission, CSPR also offers information on the warning signs of suicide,
how to communicate concern effectively, and support
resources.www.nationwidechildrens.org.
Melissa Martin, Ph.D., is an author, columnist, educator, and therapist. She lives in Southern Ohio.
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