Teen Suicide: Learning to Recognize the Warning Signs

Many teen suicides could have been prevented if someone had recognized the warning signs and sought professional help," says Alan L. Berman, Ph.D., executive director of the American Association of Suicidology in Washington, D.C.

The reasons

No two teenagers are alike, but there are some common reasons they consider suicide.

"More than 70 percent of teens who attempt or commit suicide do so in a state of crisis, responding to some acute conflict with peers, parents or other authorities," says Dr. Berman.

Such conflicts are common among teens, but those who attempt suicide are particularly reactive to them because they:

• Have a long-standing history of problems at home or school

• Suffer from low self-esteem

• Believe no one cares

• Are depressed

• Abuse alcohol or drugs

• Have experienced other acutely stressful events, such as an unwanted pregnancy, trouble with the law or not meeting high parental expectations

Signs of trouble

Research shows that eight of 10 teens who attempt suicide have given clear warnings of their intentions. "Yet two-thirds of those who know a teen who attempted suicide say they weren't aware of how upset the teenager was," says Dr. Berman. "If you can recognize the warning signs, you may be able to make a difference and prevent a tragedy."

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the warning signs include:

• Noticeable changes in eating or sleeping habits

• Unexplained or unusually severe, violent, or rebellious behavior

• Withdrawal from family or friends

• Sexual promiscuity, truancy, and vandalism

• Drastic personality change

• Agitation, restlessness, distress, or panicky behavior

• Talking or writing about committing suicide, even jokingly

• Giving away prized possessions

• Doing worse in school

How to help

If you notice any of these warning signs in your child, you should take these steps:

• Offer help and listen. Don't ignore the problem. What you've noticed may be the teen's way of crying out for help. Offer support, understanding and compassion. Talk about feelings and the behaviors you have seen that cause you to feel concerned. You don't need to solve the problem or give advice. Sometimes just caring and listening, and being nonjudgmental, gives all the understanding necessary.

• Take talk of suicide seriously, use the word “suicide.” Talking about suicide doesn't cause suicide—but avoiding what's on the teen's mind may make that teen feel truly alone and uncared for. Tell the youngster that together you can develop a strategy to make things better. Ask if your child has a plan for suicide. If he or she does, then seek professional help immediately.

• Remove lethal weapons from your home including guns, pills, kitchen utensils, and ropes.

• Get professional help. A teen at risk of suicide needs professional help. Even when the immediate crisis passes, the risk of suicidal behavior remains high until new ways of dealing and coping with problems are learned.

• Don’t be afraid to take your child to a hospital emergency room if it is clear that he/she is planning suicide.  You may not be able to handle the situation on your own.

"Perhaps the most important thing you can do is to seek counsel and guidance from a professional who knows about teens, especially suicidal ones," says Dr. Berman.