Resources

Talking about:

• Wanting to die
• Great guilt or shame
• Being a burden to others

Feeling:

• Empty, hopeless, trapped, or having no reason to live
• Extremely sad, more anxious, agitated or full of rage
• Unbearable emotional or physical pain
• Stigma and shame from a previous attempt

Changing behavior, such as:

• Making a plan or researching ways to die
• Withdrawing from friends, saying goodbye, giving away important items, or making a will
• Taking dangerous risks such as driving extremely fast
• Displaying extreme mood swings
• Eating or sleeping more or less
• Using drugs or alcohol more often

Previous suicide attempts:

• Risks remain high for at least a year after a suicide attempt, so follow-up care is crucial

Family experiences:

• Research shows that when one family member dies by suicide, others in the same family are more likely to take their own lives
• Abuse, violence and other forms of trauma
• Separation from loved ones due to death, divorce, deployment, deportation and incarceration 
• Unstable housing

Social pressures relating to sexual orientation or gender identity:

• People who experience discrimination, hostility and rejection can lead to suicidal thoughts and actions 

Racism:

• A history of systemic racism limits children's ability to access developmentally and culturally responsive mental health treatment

Knowledge of other suicides:

• Young people are more likely to consider or attempt suicide if they learn about the suicide of someone they know

Easy access to guns:

• Firearms are the top cause of death for teens 15-19 years old who die by suicide 

Bullying:

• Children who are bullied and who bully others face higher risks of suicidal thoughts and actions

If these warning signs apply to you or someone you know, get help as soon as possible, particularly if the behavior is new or has increased recently.

[ref National Institute of Mental Health]

Happens when people hurt themselves on purpose without intending to kill themselves. Medical experts often refer to cutting and other forms of self-harm as non-suicidal self-injury, or NSSI.

[ref. Healthychildren.org]

• Cuts or scars on your child's hands, wrists, stomach, legs or other areas of their body (cutting is most common form of NSSI)
• Depression
• Wearing lots of jewelry or long sleeves (even in hot weather)

[ref. Healthy children.org]

• Head-banging
• Burns
• Hair-pulling
• Excessive scratching
• Punching themselves
• Inserting objects into body openings
• Drinking harmful substances
• Breaking bones

[ref. Healthychildren.org]

Self-harm doesn't always mean your child or teen wants to die -- and it does not make you a bad parent.

• As with any health issue, you can help your child recover by expressing hope, embracing treatment, and making sure they feel your loving, unconditional support
• Don't be afraid to ask kids if they're engaging in NSSI or know others who are
• Be prepared for strong reactions
• Trust your pediatrician
• Make your home environment safer
• Change the way you think about social media
• Prioritize family mental health and relationships

[ref. Healthychildren.org]

There is no single clear cause however some often feel:

• Overwhelmed with emotional pain
• Lonely, worthless or empty inside
• Overstimulated, misunderstood or fearful of close relationships
• Overwhelmed with school and family responsibilities
• Like they have done something bad and want to punish themselves
• Like they lack control

[ref. Healthychildren.org]