Is Your Child Suicidal? What to Look for + What to Do
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Is your child at risk for suicide?
Here’s what you should be looking for, what you should do, and where you can get more help, based upon information provided by and collected from local mental health advocates and organizations. – GoLocalProv News Team
What to look for
1. Talking about wanting to die, or talking about wanting to hurt or kill one’s self.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST2. Looking for ways to kill themselves by seeking firearms, collecting from the medicine cabinet or elsewhere pills, or other means.
3. Talking or writing about death, dying, or suicide, expressing hopelessness.
4. Exhibiting rage or uncontrolled anger, particularly at home.
5. Acting reckless or engaging in risky activities.
6. Using alcohol and illicit drugs.
7. Withdrawing from friends, family, and school and self-isolating.
8. Complaining about being unable to sleep, or sleeping all the time.
9. Experiencing and exhibiting dramatic mood changes. (Suddenly going from being depressed to happy).
10. Seeing no reason for living or having no sense of purpose in life.
11. Changes in appearance from being neat and well groomed to looking unkempt, disheveled and sloppy.
12. Giving away prized possessions to friends or siblings.
Source: Rhode Island Youth Suicide Prevent Project of the Rhode Island Department of Health and RI Student Assistance Services. For more information, visit their Web site here.
What to do
Listen: The most important thing you can do is talk to your teenager and listen to what they are going through say The Samaritans of Rhode Island. Rather than tell your children you know what they are feeling or giving advice, just simply listen to them, the group says. One way to start the conversation is through open-ended questions such as. Some suggested questions from the Samaritans:
■ “How do you feel about that?”
■ “How did that make you feel?”
■ “Did that hurt your feelings?”
For more on how to talk (and listen) to your teenager, see the Samaritans tips page here.
Limit Hazards: Parents who are concerned that a child may be at risk for suicide are encouraged to limit their children’s access to hazards and other means of taking their lives. For example, the Rhode Island Department of Health says parents should consider locked their medicine cabinets and urges against keeping potentially lethal doses of medication in their homes. If you have firearms at home, make sure ammunition is locked and consider temporarily removing the gun from by having a friend or relative keep it. For more tips and facts on common suicide hazards, the visit the Department of Health’s Web site, suicideproof.org.
Where to get help
Below is a list of Web sites and phone numbers for both students and parents. (In emergencies, always call 911 first.)
www.riyouthsuicidepreventionproject.org
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1800-273-2855 (TALK)
The Samaritans of Rhode Island’s 24 Hour Crisis Hotline/Listening Line: 401-272-4044
For parents: Parents can call Kids’ Link, 1-855-543-5465, a 24-hour hotline at Bradley Hospital that will help them find the best treatment for their children. For more information about the program visit: http://www.bradleyhospital.org/Kids_Link_RI/