Is Your Teenager Safe? Rising Depression and Suicidal Behaviours in Teens 

Noticing a shift in your teen’s mood and behaviors? It might be a sign that they’re going through something emotionally. Understanding the signs and symptoms of depression in teens is key for parents to know how to support their child!

Some symptoms of depression in teens include:

• Changes in sleep and appetite,

• Feeling more sad than usual,

• A sense of sadness and nervousness,

• Losing interest in things you used to enjoy,

• Having trouble focusing or noticing changes in school performance,

• feeling like there's no way out/hopelessness,

• pulling away or keeping to oneself,

• feeling irritable or restless,

• neglecting personal care,

• having thoughts of hurting oneself or ending one's life

When teens are experiencing severe depression, warning signs of suicidality may include the following:

• Previous attempts at self-harm,

• Discussions regarding death or making light of it,

• reducing social interactions,

• using drugs more frequently,

• engaging in dangerous behaviors,

• bidding farewell,

• giving up their belongings,

• seeking access to fatal means  

Parents often feel anxious that talking about depression or serious issues like self-injury or suicidal thoughts might somehow encourage those behaviors instead of helping. You know, when we have a caring and understanding chat about someone's mental health, it can really help lower the chances of self-harm or even suicidal thoughts or actions.

There are some things you can do to help your conversation with your teen be successful:

1. Set aside time. Begin a discussion when you have ample time available for conversation. This discussion would be most effective in a setting where you have privacy and are not constrained by time commitments. Additionally, prompt action is crucial when addressing concerns related to suicidality. It is essential to allocate time for discussion if you have concerns regarding your child's potential suicidal thoughts or urges.

2. Remain calm. If your feelings get in the way of the talk, your teen might shut down and not tell you everything they're going through. Stay calm and in control of your feelings so that your child feels like they can talk about their feelings and worries with you.

3. Offer understanding without judgment. Your primary goal is to get your child to talk honestly. Don’t try to fix. Don’t minimize their stressors or concerns. Simply provide a neutral space where you child can share openly.

4. Ask directly. You can encourage an honest answer from your teen by asking directly, “Are you having thoughts of ending your life or harming yourself in some way?” You could also ask “Are you thinking of suicide?”

5. Ask about plans and access. If your teen answers ‘yes’ to the above questions, a follow up question should be, “How are you considering you’ll end your life or harm yourself?” As a follow up to that, you should ask, “Do you have access to that plan?”

6. Discuss how to be safe. Share your concern about their safety, your love for them and the need to protect them from harming themselves. Explain that whatever access they have to a lethal means will be eliminated and that you’re going to get professional support for them.

7. Seek help. If your teen is experiencing suicidal thoughts and has a plan, especially with access to their plan, you should take them to a hospital, as they will likely need to be hospitalized until they are stabilized and their safety can be guaranteed. A psychotherapist can determine their needs and connect you with appropriate services at the hospital.

Here at Hummingminds.life, we offer therapy for clients who are safe to participate in the outpatient/virtual therapy setting. We can help clients and families manage severe symptoms of depression and would be honoured to help you.

This can be a challenging conversation but can lead to a strong connection between you and your child. It’s most important to approach the topic in a calm, open and loving manner to encourage honesty from your teen.