Asking teens about suicide thoughts
By Ron Wilson
San Antonio Express-News
Web Posted : 10/05/2002 12:00 AM
If parents think their children are contemplating suicide, they should do the
unthinkable, a counselor advises.
Come right out and ask, "Are you thinking about killing yourself?"
Lisa Black, CEO of the Mental Health Association in San Antonio, said she's
found that in her talks with high school kids, "teens are willing to talk about
suicide, it’s that adults are scared to hear it.
The attempted suicide Friday of a 13-year-old girl at Page Middle School will
become an even greater tragedy if it fails to force the community to see things
differently, she said. About 80 percent of the time, Black said, teens have told
someone what they're thinking about doing. "This is an invitation for us all to
intervene," Black said. She added, "Those 20 percent aren't people we can help.
But 80 percent, we can help.
"Children today are under tremendous stress, said Dr. Fernando Guerra, director
of health services at the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District. "With the
complexity of daily life, they feel pressures, peer pressures, and some have
difficulty coping with painful experiences at home, in their personal lives, at
school. Some are not able to ask for help, or even recognize they need it."
Adults need to watch for the "subtle signs" that a child may be at risk, Guerra
said. These include losing interest in activities and friends, problems with
schoolwork, depression, crying spells, difficulty sleeping and loss of appetite.
"Parents can't let (children with these signs) out of their sight. Secure any
medications that could be potentially harmful; secure all weapons. Parents must
be vigilant," he said. Guerra said teen suicide, which is on the rise in Bexar
County, is a community problem, and "the community has tremendous resources
available to help. "These include telephone help lines, mental health
organizations, pastors, church groups, teachers and counselors. Black said
suicide is a bigger cause of teen deaths than all illnesses combined.
She said parents shouldn't assume they can fix their teens' problems. All adults
need training on how to intervene, she said.
The Mental Health Association is offering a class Nov. 13-14 to teach adults how
to apply "mental CPR" - emergency mental aid provided until professional help
can be obtained. For more information on the class, call (210) 614-7566.
When teens see media reports about a teen suicide, some may identify with the
victim's problems and yield to an impulse to do the same, or try to hurt
themselves to call attention to their pain, Guerra said.At this time, he said,
parents should speak with their children and let them know that parents are
available if they want to talk.
Last Updated on
02/20/2005
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