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Raising Children > Content > Suicidal Prevention Tips Suicide Is Preventable. Talking About It Is The First Step Suicide is a leading cause of death for young children ages 10 to 24. Young males are particularly at risk. On average, about 80 percent of the suicide deaths of young people involve males. However, young females are also at risk
Parents are urged to talk to their children about suicide prevention, especially if their children appear to be depressed.
Knowing the warning signs
SUICIDE WARNING SIGNS
Some of the warning signs that a child might be suicidal include:
- Previous attempts. If your son or daughter has attempted suicide in the past, there is a greater likelihood that he or she will try again.
- Depression – feelings of helplessness or hopelessness. When symptoms of depression include strong thoughts of helplessness and hopelessness, your child might be at greater risk for suicide.
- "Masked" depression. Sometimes risk-taking behaviors can include acts of aggression, gunplay and alcohol/substance abuse. While your daughter or son may not act "depressed," their behavior suggests that they are not concerned about their own safety.
- Final arrangements. This behavior may take many forms. In adolescents, it might be giving away prized possessions such as jewelry, clothing, journals or pictures.
- Efforts to hurt oneself. Self-injury behaviors are warning signs for young children as well as teenagers. Common self-destructive behaviors include running into traffic, jumping from heights and scratching, cutting and marking the body.
- Inability to concentrate or think clearly. Such problems may be reflected in classroom behavior, homework habits, academic performance, household chores and even in conversation.
- Changes in physical habits and appearance. Changes include inability to sleep or sleeping all the time; sudden weight gain or loss; or disinterest in appearance or hygiene.
- Sudden changes in personality, friends and behaviors. Changes can include withdrawing from friends and family; skipping school or classes; loss of involvement in activities that were once important; and avoiding friends.
- Death and suicidal themes. These might appear in classroom drawings; work samples; journals; or homework.
- Plan/method/access. A suicidal child or adolescent may show an increased interest in guns and other weapons; may seem to have increased access to guns or pills; and/or may talk about or hint at a suicide plan.
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- Suicide notes. These are a very real sign of danger and should be taken seriously.
- Threats. Threats may be direct statements such as "I want to die" or "I am going to kill myself." Or, unfortunately, indirect comments such as "The world would be better without me" or "Nobody will miss me anyway" also may be strong indicators of suicidal feelings.
- Some situations could increase a child’s thoughts of suicide. These situations include breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend; failing in school; problems with parents; or rejection by friends.
- After a disaster, such as a school shooting or terrorist attack in our country, some students may display warning signs of suicidal behavior.”
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