Kids and mental health Suicide

THERE’S NO SINGLE CAUSE FOR SUICIDE. Suicide most often occurs when stressors and health issues converge to create an experience of hopelessness and despair. Depression is the most common condition associated with suicide, and it is often undiagnosed or untreated. Conditions like depression, anxiety, and substance problems, especially when unaddressed, increase the risk for suicide.

Experts have found through studying suicide ideation that there are three things that need to be present for a person to consider and plan for suicide. Of course, this is a behavioral model, so while it applies to most, it does not apply to all people.

Depression: Being sad is different from being depressed. Depression is chronic and for most, it leads to overwhelming feelings of dread and hopelessness.

Access to lethal means: This means the person has access to a method, weapon, pills, or another method they could use to die by suicide.

Believing they are a burden to others: On top of being deeply sad, people who consider death by suicide truly believe they are a burden on others in their lives and those others would be better off without them.

Something to look out for when concerned that a person may be suicidal is a change in behavior or the presence of entirely new behaviors. This is of sharpest concern if the new or changed behavior is related to a painful event, loss, or change.

Tips for Helping your Child Deal with Stress

HELPING OUR KIDS DEVELOP COPING SKILLS is twofold: Helping them manage themselves when stressful things happen and teaching them grit and resilience so everyday stress doesn’t overwhelm them. To combat the abilities to navigate the everyday stressors more easily, consider:

• Sleep well. Sleep is essential for physical and emotional well-being.

• Exercise. Physical activity is an essential stress reliever for people of all ages.

• Talk it out.

• Make time for fun—and quiet.

• Get outside.

• Write about it.

• Learn mindfulness.