returning to the hospital

It is not uncommon for youth to continue to experience thoughts of wanting to hurt or kill themselves even after their discharge from hospitalization.  Youth are at increased risk for engaging in suicidal behavior again following discharge from hospitalization, and this increased risk may last for up to 6 months or longer.  While a goal of treatment is to reduce risk, sometimes youth need to be re-hospitalized because it is the best way to keep them safe in the short term and to stabilize crisis situations.  Guidance from your teen’s therapist, and the safety plan developed for your adolescent and family, may provide helpful ways to deal with crisis situations before rehospitalization is required.  

If your teen does need to return to the hospital, this can be a useful opportunity to address continuing issues that could be putting your teen at risk. Returning to the hospital will also allow you to re-evaluate the services that your teen is receiving and to determine if additional help might be needed.