As a parent or educational provider, learning how to recognize early suicide warning signs is critical for the safety of an adolescent in your care.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people aged 15 to 24 in the United States. You never think it could happen to your child, family, or classroom, but staying informed could save a life.
At Timber Ridge School (TRS), we have the privilege of helping boys and young men, ages 10-21, overcome a variety of challenges, equipping them with skills and coping mechanisms so that they can be as successful and adjusted as possible.
This September, “Suicide Prevention Awareness Month,” we thought it appropriate to share the signs of depression and suicidal tendencies in young people so that you can intervene; whether you are a caregiver, parent, teacher, or just a concerned individual.
Mental Health at Timber Ridge School
Mental health is a critical component of the care we provide as a boys residential treatment center with a full staff of counselors trained in trauma-informed care. Many of the students who come to us are from under-resourced or underserved backgrounds or difficult family pasts, which can contribute to mental health crises. We put consistent effort into caring for our students’ mental improvement as much as we do their life skill development and intellectual education.
What does this look like in action? Youth at Timber Ridge School learn to recognize triggers and are equipped with an awareness and skill in identifying, understanding, tolerating, and managing their internal experience. We provide licensed therapy and counseling to our students as needed on a range of issues: from depression and anxiety to substance use and abuse and developmental challenges.
Risk Factors of Suicide in Adolescents
The American Psychological Association identifies several risk factors that can coincide with increased levels of depression and possibility of suicide attempts, including:
- Mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and mood disorders
- Alcohol and substance use
- Impulsive behaviors
- History of trauma or abuse
- Family history of suicide
- Previous suicide attempts
Read on to learn more about how to recognize these behaviors at home, in your counseling sessions, or while fostering a relationship with an adolescent in your life. Just because someone exhibits one of the above risk factors does not necessarily mean that they’re suicidal or more likely to attempt it, but it is good for caregivers and those in authority to keep these factors in mind when interacting with those in their care.
If you or someone you know is suffering from a mental health crisis or suicidal ideation, please immediately call 911 in case of an emergency or 988 to speak with a professional.
Know the Warning Signs of a Suicidal Adolescent
The APA goes on in the same article to list warning signs for suicidal individuals. While risk factors may be preexisting conditions that require attention and awareness, warning signs are behavioral indications that someone’s mental health may be at risk and require immediate attention.
- Physical changes in appearance or hygiene: Self care is important, and sudden changes can be an indication of a downturn in mental health or caring about the world or the person’s place in it.
- Increase in alcohol or drug use: Many of our students come to us from backgrounds of substance use or disorders, so we pay close attention to lifestyle habits and help students obtain counseling if necessary. Habits and addiction that change or spring up suddenly are one of the major indicators of mood and mental health, so it is critical to pay attention to those around you.
- Sudden drop in grades: The young men at Timber Ridge are hard workers committed to bettering themselves academically, and consistency of performance over time can be an indication of how they are doing holistically. Oftentimes they just need a bit of additional assistance or training.
- Social withdrawal: Fostering social connections and relationships is an important part of the work we do at Timber Ridge to prepare students for the real world, and living in close quarters to their fellow students can be great for relationship building but also comes with its own challenges. Constructive social engagement and empathy is one of the best indications of maturity and preparedness to enter the world both professionally and personally.
- Talking about suicide or preoccupation with death: This one should go without saying. If someone in your life that you love is exhibiting this behavior, please get them help immediately.
- Risky or reckless behaviors: Caring about personal safety is an important metric for healthy societal engagement. Individuals that abandon this instinct for self-preservation could be enduring mental challenges and require attention and care from a mental health professional.
- Self-harm behaviors such as cutting: Self harm is a delicate topic, but the behavior requires immediate medical and mental health treatment. Desperation to feel a tangible physical sensation is often associated with depression and withdrawal.
- Talking about feeling hopeless or having nothing to live for: Hope is one of the main things we strive for with our students: skill building to give them hope for career transition and financial security, social skills to give them hope for healthy adult interactions in society, and mental care to give them hope for peace of mind and a life that minimizes anxiety.
- Researching suicide methods and/or acquiring weapons: Paying attention to behavior patterns is one of the best things you can do for those in your care. Sudden changes in these behaviors like violent tendencies and researching self-harm require immediate attention.
Despite the heavy content, we hope you found the information in this article useful. If you feel called to support our mission at TRS, please visit www.timberridgeschool.org for more information. If you or someone you know is suffering from a mental health crisis or suicidal ideation, please immediately call 911 in case of an emergency or 988 to speak with a professional.