It’s the ultimate tragedy. When any child, teen or adult commits suicide, the reverberations can devastate friends, destroy families and spread fear and sorrow throughout communities.
Suicide knows no race, gender or economic status—and teens or even younger children are at risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is the third leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 14, and the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 15 and 34. It is far more rare—though not unheard of—for children younger than 10 to commit suicide, but it does happen. About four out of every 500,000 children below the age of 12 commit suicide annually, reports the CDC.
First, parents must be open to believing the risk is real and not assume that their child or teen’s behavior is just a normal part of adolescence, says Elissa Smilowitz, LCSW-R, Coordinator of Triage and Emergency Services at North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center. “Parents say, ‘Teenagers are supposed to be moody, aren’t they?’ Yes, but it is the severity of the mood that parents need to look at.”
Smilowitz points out some of the warning signs: “Look for changes in their behavior that aren’t typical for them.”
She cites:
- Withdrawing from friends and family
- Sleeping all day
- Being depressed and crying often
- Posting suicidal thoughts on the Internet
- Talking about death and not being around anymore
- Cutting themselves
- Increasing aggressiveness or irritability
Other things to consider: Is there a family history of mental illness, suicide or substance abuse? A study by Johns Hopkins Children’s Center reports that those who lost a parent to suicide as children or teens were three times more likely to commit suicide than children and teenagers with living parents.
So, what do you do if you suspect your child or teen may be suicidal? The first step is to consult a mental health professional. The Guidance Center has a Triage & Emergency Services program that offers a rapid response to psychiatric emergencies. Our team will assess if the situation appears urgent and will make an appointment to see the child within 24 to 48 hours (if it’s deemed extremely urgent, we do advise you go to the Emergency Room).
It’s very important that you communicate your concern to your child in a loving, non-judgmental way, says Smilowitz. “Talking about suicide will not make your child more likely to act upon it,” she says. “The opposite is true. Also, let them know that you believe that getting help is not a weakness, but rather shows their strength.”
If you or a member of your family are in crisis, call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Sources:
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/recycled/2010/04/do_children_commit_suicide.html
