Adults surrounding adolescents, including parents and teachers, play a crucial role in preventing teen suicide by recognizing warning signs and addressing stressful situations. Understanding the causes of suicide and seeking help from mental health professionals is important. Warning signs include mood swings, withdrawal, and self-mutilation, and should not be ignored. If uncomfortable, seek out someone who can develop a strong relationship with the student.
Teen suicide prevention does not start with the adolescent, but with the adults surrounding the adolescent. This includes parents, teachers, role models, or anyone else who has a close relationship with the teen. Recognizing the warning signs of suicide can dramatically improve the likelihood of suicide prevention among adolescents, and knowing what to do when those warning signs occur is important for everyone in a teenager’s life. Parents should also be aware of situations and habits that can increase the likelihood of teen suicide to help eliminate such stressful situations and relationships. Teachers should be ready and willing to exploit school support staff if the teacher suspects that a teenager may be suicidal.
To better understand the steps required for adolescent suicide prevention, adults should learn more about what causes an adolescent to consider suicide. In many cases, the desire to commit suicide stems from domestic issues, self-identity issues, or undiagnosed mental conditions. Divorce, abuse at home, loss of a loved one, or other stressful situations at home can cause a teen to start thinking about suicide, and teen suicide prevention begins with identifying students who are at high risk due to these problems. In some cases, a teen may not show any warning signs of suicide, so knowing what teens are experiencing at home or in their personal lives can become a crucial step in teen suicide prevention.
Adolescents who are considering suicide will very often show some warning signs. Violent mood swings, withdrawal, lack of interest in hobbies, a decline in performance at school or work, or even talking openly about suicide can all be considered warning signs that a teenager might be considering suicide. As parents and teachers, adults have a responsibility to take these warning signs seriously and not dismiss them as melodrama. In many cases, teens will exhibit these signs as a “cry for help” or to indicate to an adult that something is wrong. Self-mutilation is another obvious sign that a teenager might be considering suicide; while this is certainly an alarming warning sign, it is also a health hazard in itself and should be addressed immediately by a mental health professional.
Many adults are uncomfortable talking directly to a teenager who may be considering suicide. If this is the case, that adult should actively seek out someone who is comfortable with the student and who can develop a strong relationship with that student. Ignoring warning signs is a crucial mistake many adults make and is easily avoidable; if there are warning signs, look for someone who is ready and willing to help you.
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