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Suicide

Photo of a girl with her hand on her face and her other hand holding a tissue as she looks down with someone else's hand on her shoulder
Beech Acres, Suicide

When Suicide Hits Close to Home: A Guide for Parents to Speak to Their Kids When Tragedy Strikes Close to Home

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When Suicide Hits Close to Home A teen suicide happens in your community. It’s the tragic news you hope you never have to hear. The news spreads quickly throughout the school district, neighborhoods, churches, and online. The immediate reaction that most parents/caregivers experience is fear. Fear that their child knew the teen and may experience tremendous heartbreak. Fear that your child may have some underlying needs/issues that you haven’t seen. Fear that you aren’t sure if your child is really okay. Fear that your child may try to hurt themselves. There are a host of fears that may surface for parents when this tragic situation happens within their community. These fears and worries are an expected and normal response. Even if you did not know the teen or his/her family well, the situation can still shake you to the core. This is so close to home! This teen rode the same school buses, attended the same classes, had the same teachers, sat in the cafeteria at the same time as your child(ren), mowed your neighbor’s grass, or sold you candy bars a few years ago for a school fundraiser. You or your child may have never even seen, met, or heard of the teen. The feelings are still very real.     Just because you didn’t know the teen or family well, there is no exclusive list of who gets to feel and grieve when a teen takes his/her own life. Simply learning about this tragedy can be traumatic and cause strong feelings of sadness and worry not only for you but your kids too.   Give yourself permission to feel and grieve. Reach out and connect with your kids and give them that same permission.  If your kids are not ready to talk or discuss the situation immediately, that is okay. It’s okay to give them space and revisit with them at another time. Just make sure they know you are there for them. Invitations to engage are really important to show that you care and that you are there for them when they need you. Important Facts Related to Teen Suicide  1 in 5 individuals has a mental health diagnosis during their lifetime Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for teens age 15-19 These facts are really scary for all parents, especially parents of tweens (ages 10-12) and teens (ages 13-19) Parents may avoid talking about sadness or irritability they see because they don’t know what to say. Parents may just chalk up moodiness to unstable hormones that happen during teen years. This summer the national suicide hotline will be updated with an easier to remember and access number, 9-8-8.  What should parents do to support themselves and their kids/families? Be Mindful Take time to practice self-care. Take a few breaths.  Take a short walk.  Call a friend or family member.  Take a bath or read a good book.  Show emotions when you feel them. Your kids learn so many expressions of emotion for you.  It’s okay to be sad in front of them.  Help your kids practice self-care. Give them activities to choose from and do them with your child.  Be Intentional Manage the message. Talk to your kids about what happened.  No details are needed to do this. They will hear about it from others, and it may be shared in bits and pieces which can be very scary for kids.   Reach out to your child about how they are feeling.  It’s okay if they don’t want to talk or share. Keep inviting them to do so. If your child is really struggling with this news, reach out to get them some additional support. Parents often reach out to school counselors, teachers, pediatricians, other professionals.  Your child may benefit from talking with someone outside of the family.  Adults around your child are part of your tribe and will likely be happy to provide support. Rely On Your Family’s Strengths Take some time to think about your own strengths.  What gets you through tough times/tough days/tough news?  How do you promote help within yourself?  What makes you who you are? Talk with your kids about the strengths you see in them.  Do this often and remind them about the great things you see in their character, their success, their attitudes.  Taking time to do this will help you appreciate their uniqueness so much!  Engage in a family activity and review your family’s strengths. Pick and choose the top strengths you see in each other as a family. Parents, we are here for you! If you learn of a tragic event in your community and don’t know where to turn, call us. 

Beech Acres, Suicide, Suicide Prevention

World Suicide Prevention Day

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If you are currently in crisis please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). According to the National Institute of Mental Health, suicide is among one of the leading causes of death in the United States. And it is on the rise. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death resulting in around 40,000 deaths per year. Suicide is the 3rd learning cause of death among people ages 10-14 and second among those 15-34 years old. Fortunately, you are not alone. There are resources to help those in crisis. Suicide risk can be reduced if you know what signs to look for. Early intervention can be the key to prevent someone from dying by suicide. It may not always be obvious when someone is in pain. Watch for sudden or unexplained mood changes. Reckless behavior, anger, and withdrawal from social circles are other warning signs. More obvious signs to watch for include talking about suicide or expressing a desire to die, severe anxiety, and giving away important possessions. If you suspect someone is hurting, offer to help or if you cannot help yourself, connect them with appropriate resources. There is evidence that simple interventions can sometimes be effective in preventing suicide. Knowing the right words to say, and knowing when to say them can make a huge difference. Offer reassurance and kindness. “I understand how you are feeling. Can you recall a moment when you were happy? Maybe you can feel that way again.” While it is critical to never put yourself in harm’s way, removing dangerous items including weapons, drugs, and alcohol is important. If you know a loved one has a plan to harm themselves it is important to intervene and let them know there is hope. If your child is suffering, let them know they are not alone. Understanding and building your child’s strengths can develop resilience in them that reduces the chance of them considering suicide. Focus on perspective to help them understand the issues they are facing. Use hope to redirect their feelings to more positive thoughts. Be aware and watch for warning signs. Have resources available in case of a crisis. At Beech Acres Parenting Center we believe the best way to help children is through their parents. You have the strengths you need to raise capable, caring, contributing children and we’re here to help. To learn more about addressing mental health issues or other parenting concerns schedule a parent coaching session today Additional Resources: https://save.org https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org https://afsp.org Ohio Crisis Text Line Text “4hope” to 741741

13 reasons why television series graphic
Mental Health, Screen Time, Social Media, Suicide

13 Things To Know About 13 Reasons Why Season 2

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Netflix recently released season 2 of the popular and controversial series, ’13 Reasons Why’. The show is based on a 2007 young adult novel by Jay Asher. Here are 13 things you need to know about ’13 Reasons Why’. The Show Deals With A Wide Range Of Issues Teens Face Today Bullying, depression, sexual assault, drug and alcohol abuse, academic pressure, self-harm, and other contemporary issues facing teens today are addressed in the show, often with graphic detail. These are real issues that kids are facing every day. While ’13 Reasons Why’ is a work of fiction that dramatizes these situations, it is based on the reality that exists in today’s rapidly changing world. Netflix Provides Resources To Help Watch This Show Netflix has created this site with resources to help viewers unpack the difficult issues addressed in the show. They even include a discussion guide and provide a video if you choose to watch the show with your kids. Many mental health professionals including those at Beech Acres Parenting Center caution parents against letting their children watch this show. There is an excellent online toolkit created by various professional available online to help navigate the issues addressed in the show. After Season 1 There Was a Rise in Google Searches Related To ‘Suicide’ In the 19 days following the release of the first season of the show, Google inquiries for “suicide” increased by nearly 20%. Mature Audiences Only ’13 Reasons Why’ is rated TV-MA. TV-MA is defined as “This program is specifically designed to be viewed by adults and therefore may be unsuitable for children under 17. This program may contain one or more of the following: crude indecent language (L), explicit sexual activity (S), or graphic violence (V).” It’s Trending On Twitter The show received over 11 million tweets after its 2017 debut, making it the most tweeted about show ever. The level of attention and coverage of the show has created curiosity about the show for younger viewers. 1 in 5 Youth Between 13 and 18 Years Old Have or Will Have a Serious Mental Illness. Mental illness is a serious epidemic. Talk to your children. Know the warning signs of depression. These signs can include fatigue, loss of appetite, irritability, persistent sad thoughts, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Seek help if you have concerns about yourself or a loved one. Suicide is the 10th Leading Cause of Death in the United States It’s even higher for teens. According to the CDC, suicide is the #3 cause of death for ages 10-24. There Is Stigma Associated With Mental Health Issues Despite recent strides in removing this stigma, there is still much to be done. Organizations like Bring Change To Mind are working to eliminate this stigma. 16% Of Youth Consider Suicide A survey of high school students in the United States yielded some sobering results. 16% of the students surveyed seriously considered suicide and 13% had created a plan. 8% had attempted to take their own life in the previous 12 months. Many Teens Don’t Receive Help Suicide is mostly associated with depression but can be related to a diverse range of other mental health problems. Unfortunately, most teens in the United States with suicidal ideation did not receive any specialized mental health treatment. Reasons for this include a lack of awareness and understanding of the signs and symptoms, the stigma associated with mental illness, and lack of access to treatment resources. There Are Concerns The Show Romanticizes Suicide and Other Serious Issues Since the show deals with very real issues adolescents face, there is concern that vulnerable teens may identify with the characters, powerful storytelling, and sensationalized portrayal of these topics leading them to romanticize the decisions and actions made by characters on the show. Hannah’s Suicide Is Graphic To bring authenticity and elevate the drama portrayed in the show, many of the topics are presented in very graphic scenes. This includes the portrayal of the main character’s (Hannah Baker) suicide in season 1. The scene is detailed and lasts for nearly 4 minutes. Despite the warnings, this scene may come as a shock to young and old alike. Help Is Always Available Talk to someone. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255. Educators can find guidance on addressing the show in school here. Additional information can be found here.

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