Many parents ask one of the hardest questions imaginable:

“How do I know if my child or teenager may be thinking about suicide?”

There is not always an obvious sign, and every child is different. But mental-health professionals tell us there are warning signs we should never ignore.

Some things to watch for include:

💔 Talking about wanting to die, feeling hopeless, having no reason to live, or believing they are a burden.

💔 Suddenly withdrawing from friends, family, sports, school, or activities they normally enjoy.

💔 Major changes in mood, including unusual sadness, anxiety, anger, agitation, irritability, or extreme mood swings.

💔 Sleeping much more or much less than usual.

💔 Giving away possessions, saying unusual goodbyes, or acting as though they will not be around much longer.

💔 Increased alcohol or drug use.

💔 Reckless or dangerous behavior.

💔 Talking, writing, posting, searching, or joking repeatedly about death or suicide.

💔 Self-harm or other sudden and concerning changes in behavior.

Parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, friends and caregivers: do not be afraid to ASK.

“Are you thinking about suicide?”

“Have you thought about hurting yourself?”

“Do you feel safe right now?”

As uncomfortable as those words may feel, asking the question does not cause someone to become suicidal. It may actually give a struggling child the opportunity they have desperately been waiting for to tell someone what is happening.

And then, listen.

Don’t immediately lecture.

Don’t tell them they have nothing to be upset about.

Don’t compare their problems to someone else’s.

Don’t tell them to “toughen up.”

Listen to them. Believe that their pain feels real to them. Remind them that they do not have to carry it alone.

❤️ This week, let’s make an extra effort to tell our children and teenagers something they can never hear too often:

WE LOVE YOU.

YOU MATTER.

YOU ARE WANTED HERE.

THERE IS NOTHING YOU COULD EVER TELL US THAT WOULD MAKE YOUR LIFE LESS VALUABLE.

AND NO MATTER HOW impossible TODAY MAY FEEL, SUICIDE IS NEVER THE ONLY ANSWER.

Check on the quiet kid.

Check on the popular kid.

Check on the athlete.

Check on the straight-A student.

Check on the child who is always laughing.

Check on the teenager who says, “I’m fine.”

Mental-health struggles do not care how popular someone is, what family they come from, how many friends they have, or what their life looks like from the outside.

Sometimes the most important thing we can do is simply notice, ask, listen, stay and help them connect with someone who can help.

📞 If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

If someone is in immediate danger or has made an attempt, call 911 or seek emergency medical help immediately.

Please talk to your children tonight.

Even if everything appears perfectly fine.

Tell them you love them.

Tell them they can come to you.

And most importantly, make sure they know you mean it. ❤️

#SuicidePrevention #SuicideAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #YouthMentalHealth #TalkToYourKids #988Lifeline #YouMatter #YouAreNotAlone