TEEN SUICIDE IS UP. MORE HELP IS AVAILABLE. 988 is the hotline number. Here is info.
Suicide is up, and it is occurring at younger ages, even as young as 10. Here are the top reasons:
Mental health disorders. (This includes Depression, but there are many more.)
Physical or sexual abuse
Drug use
Bullying
Access to the means to do it: guns or drugs
Realizing they are LGBTQ+
isolation and excessive internet use.
Issues and Ideas:
1. Young people may see suicide as an immediate escape from a problem. They may kill themselves on the spur of the moment. Make sure they do not have access to narcotics or guns! CHECK YOUR HOUSE!!!
2. We know that persons or fake persons on the internet can tear down self esteem and will even suggest to teens that they should kill themselves! You MUST communicate often with your teen about their time and contacts on the internet. You may save their life.
3. Pre-teen and teenage behavior can be hard to figure out. We all know that young people go through hormone changes, mood swings, etc., on a daily basis. Trust your instincts. If you feel that your child is not "acting right", they probably aren't. Seek help right away! Start with your school counselor or pediatrician, or the 988 Hotline.
4, Ten percent of human beings are “gay”, or fall into some other category of LGBTQ+. If this is the case with your child, they will likely realize it during the middle school or high school years. That realization is difficult at first. Home should not make it worse! LOVE YOUR CHILD. Their sexual orientation is not a “choice”. Educate yourself, and love your child!
5. New help is available, as of July 14, 2022. There is a new nationwide Suicide and Mental Health Hotline! Call 988.
6. Money has become available for school counseling. If your school has an "opt-in" feature (a form you must sign), go ahead and sign it!! You might not agree with everything the school might do, but if your child reaches out for help, they need to receive help! It's too late if they are already dead, or if they are the one who shot up a bunch of other kids.
7. A good site for more info is www.mayoclinic.org . Go to that site, type “teen suicide” in the search box. Choose “Teen Suicide, What Parents Need to Know.”