Tips to Help Prevent Suicide

It is all too easy to think of suicide as something that happens to other people’s families. We want to believe that youth who experience suicidal thoughts or behaviors come from dysfunctional families or they have been exposed to violence, neglect, or abuse. While these factors may increase the risk of suicide, it’s important to understand that suicidal thinking and behaviors cross all racial, economic, social and ethnic lines. No one is immune.

When individuals are overwhelmed, whether by life stresses, mental health problems or mental illness, suicidal behavior may seem like a way of coping. People can have suicidal thoughts or feelings when they feel disconnected from other people, helpless to deal with issues, and/or hopeless about their situation ever improving.

All youth are different; however, if you are concerned that your youth may have a problem, look for changes in how he or she is thinking, feeling or acting.

Here are some warning signs to look for from the Partners for Mental Health’s parent guide:

Does your youth:

• seem very unhappy, worried, guilty, fearful, irritable, sad, or angry?

• feel helpless, hopeless, lonely, or rejected?

• complain about being a bad person or have a negative self-image?

• blame him or herself for things beyond their control?

• want to be alone often or have trouble getting along with friends?

• have trouble concentrating?

• have trouble relaxing or sleeping?

• exhibit aggressive, impulsive, rebellious, and/or violent behavior?

• overreact to fairly small incidents?

• seem preoccupied with death?

Additional information is available within the free parent guide from the national charity, Partners for Mental Health at www.rightbyyou.ca.

By Jeff Moat

www.newscanada.com