talking about suicide

If your teen talks about suicide, it is important to listen, take the talk seriously, and thank your son or daughter for sharing this information. You may be tempted to try to talk your teen out of feeling this way, but it is generally most helpful to let your teen know you are just trying to understand what they are experiencing, and that you love them and want to be there for them. Make sure that the teen’s therapist knows about this talk. If your teen is thinking of acting on those thoughts, monitor them closely, or take them immediately to an emergency room or urgent care mental health clinic.  

You should not be afraid that you will “plant the idea” if you ask your teen about their thoughts and feelings of suicide. You may provide an opportunity for your teen to talk about how they are feeling. When your teen talks about suicide, try to listen and let him or her know you are there for them and want to try to understand and support them. Don’t communicate to your teen that you don’t believe they are serious, or try to convince them that they shouldn’t have these thoughts, because a person cannot always control their thoughts. Your son or daughter is generally having thoughts of suicide because he or she is hurting and wishing he or she could escape this pain. If your teen talks about acting on suicidal thoughts and you are concerned about safety, you should call your therapist, the emergency department, or 911 as soon as possible. You may also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for guidance at 1-800-273-8255 (24/7).  

Click on the boxes below for info on a telephone crisis line, and general info for teens about suicide. There are also links to a video of adults’ experiences with suicide and one on teen suicide prevention. Additional guidance can be found on the website topic for Talking with your Teen.