Discovering that your teenager is experiencing suicidal thoughts is one of the most frightening moments a parent can face. The fear, confusion, and desperation can feel overwhelming. You may not know where to turn or what steps to take next. Fortunately, treatment for suicidal teen exists specifically to help adolescents who are struggling with these dangerous thoughts. These specialized programs provide the intensive therapeutic support your child needs to heal and develop healthier ways of coping with emotional pain.
A 2019 report found that the suicide death rate among adolescents had been increasing over the past two decades, with nearly 20 percent of high school students seriously considering suicide, while 16 percent made a suicide plan. These statistics are alarming, but they also highlight the importance of seeking professional help when warning signs appear.
Understanding the difference between suicidal thoughts and suicidal ideation is important for parents. Suicidal thoughts refer to an individual thinking about the act of ending their life. This occurs on a spectrum, ranging from general abstractions to specific details or even talk of suicide. Suicidal ideation refers to thinking about and even formulating a suicide plan. It is a stronger early warning sign for suicidal acts.
Suicidal ideation is often broken down into two types. Passive suicidal ideation refers to having loose thoughts and plans for suicide. While this is something to be aware of, the problem becomes more severe if it moves to active suicidal ideation. Active suicidal ideation refers to creating a detailed plan and a determination to act on these plans. It can include determining a time and date or a method of suicide. Active suicidal ideation is the more severe and dangerous form of the problem.
Warning signs of suicidal thoughts include talking about dying, feelings of guilt or shame, social withdrawal, extreme mood swings, changes to appetite, changes to sleep schedules, and drug or alcohol use. Overall, there will likely be an abrupt change in your son or daughter’s overall mood and behaviors.
Risk factors that can help parents identify a lingering problem include previous suicide attempts, depression, and poor coping skills. Previous suicide attempts are one of the most common risk factors associated with suicidal ideation. Teen depression, along with other mental health conditions like anxiety and PTSD, can be strong signals that your teen may be struggling. Poor and negative coping skills, such as drug or alcohol abuse, are clear signs that your teen is struggling mentally and does not know how to deal with these emotions.
If your son or daughter is struggling with suicidal thoughts or ideation, there is likely an underlying mental health problem causing these issues. Problems like depression, trauma, and anxiety may be having a serious impact on your child, leading them down this dangerous path. Treatment will involve not only reconstructing these unhealthy thoughts with something more productive but also addressing the underlying mental health conditions that are causing these problems.
Your teen will go through many different treatment modalities, which may include cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and dialectical behavior therapy. Along with these, some treatment centers offer help through holistic and experiential means as well. These can include meditation, mindfulness exercises, equine therapy, and art and music therapy.
The overall goal of suicidal thought treatment is to immediately address these dangerous thoughts and work with your teen to heal the underlying mental health conditions causing them. If your son or daughter is struggling with suicidal ideation, residential treatment programs provide the intensive support and 24-hour supervision needed to ensure safety while addressing the root causes of these dangerous thoughts.
