Do You Know a Child at Risk for Suicide?

According to the the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), suicide is the third leading cause of death among youth aged 10 to 19 years old. These tragic deaths are often preventable, however, if parents, teachers and friends are aware of the risk factors and warning signs.

The following increase the risk of children committing suicide:

• Mental illness
• Drug or alcohol abuse
• A stressful or dysfunctional home life
• The presence of a firearm in the home
• The traumatic death of a loved one
• Physical or sexual abuse

Children who are considering suicide will exhibit certain tell-tale behaviors such as:

• Saying that they wish they were dead or want to kill themselves.
• Writing suicide notes and or making suicide plans
• Prior suicidal behavior
• Making final arrangements (e.g., making funeral arrangements, writing a will, giving away prized possessions)
• Preoccupation with death
• Changes in behavior, appearance, thoughts and/or feelings

If you observe any of these signs, the NASP recommends that you:

• Remain calm
• Ask if they are considering suicide
• Emphasize that you are concerned about their well-being rather than being accusatory
• Listen
• Reassure them that there is hope for them to get well
• Do not judge
• Do not leave them alone
• Remove anything they can use to hurt themselves
• Seek help as soon as possible
• Do not agree to keep secrets

You can learn more about suicide prevention by visiting NASP's website.