Parental Guide to Avoiding Teenage Suicide

Signs for Possible Suicide Attempt

Verbal Threats: Never ignore verbal threats of your child, especially when he/she say things like, “I will kill myself if you…”, “No one loves me. Why should I live?”, “No one will bother if I am gone.”

Death Themes: Be on guard if you see death themes like bones, skulls or coffins in his drawings and notebooks.

Changed Interests: Keep an eye on interests of your teenager. A sudden interest in guns, blades and other form of weapons may be a hint.

What Can Parents Do

Talk about Your Fear to Your Teenager: Get the word “suicide” out in the open and talk to your child about how scared you are about losing him/her. Confessing your feeling to him/her will make them more comfortable and there is a very fair chance that they may talk about how they have been feeling all this time.

Reassure Him/Her about Your Love: You must tell your teenager how much he/she means to you. If you have not been able to do that recently, make an apology to your child.

Never Leave the At-risk Teenager Alone: Never leave your teenager alone, especially at home. Make sure they are always in a safe company.

Always Use Positive Words: Teenagers are emotionally sensitive. You must never use any harsh words for them. Negative motivation does not work with teenagers.