Suicide is devastating to those close to the person who died. They may feel guilt, anger or resentment.
Researchers have found that helping young people imagine a hope-filled future and detaching them from their current distress can reduce suicide risk. However, this is not an easy task. Many youths resist help.
Risk Factors
The risk factors associated with youth suicide are numerous and complex. These include mental disorders, previous suicide attempts, specific personality characteristics, genetic loading and triggering psychosocial stressors. A person may also be at risk for suicidal behavior if they have access to lethal means.
Adolescence is a time of movement and changes in many areas of life at once: school, living situation, peer group and relationships. This can be a stressful period of life and is associated with high levels of conflict and loss. Losses can be related to a breakdown of intimate relationships or conflicts with parents.
People with good problem-solving abilities and who are connected to supportive friends and family members are less likely to hurt themselves or kill themselves. The ability to see things in an alternative way and to solve problems in non-violent ways is especially important in youth. Warning signs that someone is at risk of harming themselves or killing themselves include being sad and withdrawn, acting anxious or irritable, giving away personal items for no apparent reason, sleeping more or less than usual and expressing suicidal thoughts or desires.
Prevention
If a youth is at risk for suicide, the first thing that should be done is to remove any lethal substance or weapon from their environment. Then a psychiatrist should be called to assess the situation. This may mean an inpatient hospital stay if the youth is at greater risk of suicide than his or her family can manage safely at home.
Parents should talk to their teens about their emotions and feelings openly and honestly. Teenagers want to be understood, and showing empathy is often all they need.
Parents should also be alert to any sudden changes in the mood or behavior of a depressed youth. For instance, if a youth suddenly seems to be enjoying life more and giving away precious possessions, this can be a sign that they are at risk of suicidal intent and need immediate help. School staff should also have clear procedures in place to detect and respond to students who are at risk for suicidal behaviors.
Treatment
A troubled teenager who is thinking of suicide should be encouraged to seek help as soon as possible. They may need medication or talk therapy, or a combination of both. Depending on their age and the severity of their symptoms, they may need to be hospitalized for psychiatric evaluation and treatment.
During this time, the family must be involved in treatment to support the teen and provide a safe emotional and physical home environment. Poncin’s team studies attachment based family therapy (ABFT) as an effective treatment for reducing suicidal behavior in teens and their parents.
Other researchers are exploring the role of family members in supporting teens who are struggling. For example, Cha and her team have been experimenting with helping teens imagine their future in a way that is both realistic and emotionally tangible to them, which may be a helpful technique for fostering hope. Moreover, a safety plan should be developed early on for high-risk adolescents in outpatient treatment to convey that the underlying psychiatric disorder is serious and that their thoughts and behaviors are treatable.
Support
For most adolescents who are thinking about suicide, constructive assistance from someone they trust can help them see that their situation isn’t hopeless. They may need support to stay safe (like removing weapons) and to navigate other issues that might be complicating their thoughts and feelings, such as trouble at school or the breakdown of a relationship.
Youth who are particularly vulnerable to suicide include those whose mental health needs go unaddressed, such as youth in foster care and juvenile justice systems or those who identify as L.G.B.T.Q. They also can have increased risk due to alcohol or drug misuse.
If you have concerns that a teen might be in immediate danger, trust your intuition. Look for shifts in sleeping or eating habits, a drop in grades and emotional outbursts or erratic behavior. If they say something like “I want to die,” take it seriously and consider taking them to a hospital or crisis line right away.