Many psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, first appear in adolescents. And while they are treatable, they can still put kids at risk for suicide.
If you think a child or teen may be suicidal, it is important to take any threat seriously. That means removing access to weapons and medications that could be used to kill themselves.
Depression
Depression is one of the most important risk factors for youth suicide. It can be caused by many things, including poor mental health, drugs and alcohol, and family problems. It can also be a result of specific stressful events, such as bullying, school problems and relationship conflict.
If you notice any of these warning signs in your child, make an appointment with a mental health professional. It is important to keep the appointment even if your child says they are feeling better or won’t go. This way, you will still have access to the help they need and can continue to support them. Research has shown that helping teens to imagine their future in a positive and hopeful way can help reduce suicide attempts.
Anxiety
Suicide is often associated with a feeling of helplessness, fear and hopelessness. It can also be triggered by major life events, such as relationship break-ups or the death of someone close to them.
A semi-structured diagnostic interview, the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for Children (ADIS-IV-C/P), is used to diagnose DSM-IV anxiety disorders in youth, including GAD, SS, SAD, PD, SocP, SPD, OCD and AN-NOS. Using hierarchical multiple regression, this study examined the independent relationships between anxiety symptomatology and self-reported suicidal thoughts and behavior, controlling for depressive symptomatology. In addition, the predictive power of the ADIS-IV-C/P interviews’ questions on emotion dysregulation and distress tolerance were explored. These were also found to be significant predictors of suicidal ideation. These data endorse the recommendation that interviews for anxiety-disordered youth should include a question on suicidal ideas, regardless of whether they endorse other symptoms of depression.
Relationships
Suicides often occur in the context of relationship conflict – arguments with parents or a boyfriend/girlfriend. When this occurs, youths may feel helpless and trapped. They may also interpret the dispute as a sign of their worthlessness.
Research has shown that positive relationships with adults can significantly reduce suicide risk for teens. In addition to relationships at home, it is important for teens to have positive relationships with professionals – particularly in schools and communities.
For example, it is important to make sure that students who live in boarding schools have access to appropriate care. It is important that kids know that if they are struggling, they can always go to school counselors and residence life staff for help. It is also important that these people be able to talk with the parents and other caregivers.
Mental health issues
Adolescence can be a difficult time for many teens. They may struggle with changes to their body, relationship issues or feeling misunderstood by their parents. They might also be dealing with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder. These factors can cause them to feel overwhelmed and unable to cope.
They might not know where to get help or they might not be able to access it. This can lead to feelings of isolation and despair. Teens may try to escape these feelings by using alcohol or drugs. They may also become involved in risky activities or make threats to themselves or others.
Youth suicide rates have risen across the country, with girls and LGBTQ teens particularly affected. This has led to an increase in school-, telehealth- and community-based programs that target prevention in a holistic way.
Self-harm
The reasons people self harm can be varied. People may do it to show others they can tolerate pain, to control feelings of anger or sadness or to direct emotions inward. People might cut themselves, burn themselves or hit themselves. Some might use substances like alcohol, drugs and household chemicals to harm themselves.
Those who self harm often have high rates of PTSD and other mental health problems. It is also linked to childhood sexual abuse.
Those who are self harming should be helped as soon as possible. They might need help from a GP or a psychiatrist. It can be helpful for someone close to them to talk about the problem and offer support. This could be a parent, teacher or counsellor. If the person is not ready to talk in person they can contact a crisis line.