Suicide in Children & Teens

Child abuse and suicide among the young population is a serious and prevalent problem. Children who experience physical, sexual, and emotional abuse or neglect are at least two to three times more likely to attempt suicide in later life. Suicides by children could perhaps be one of the key indicators for the measurement of a nation’s emotional health.

Suicide is intentional self-harm that results in death. Among children between the ages of 10 and 19, suicide is the second leading cause of death,

Suicidal thoughts and behaviors are the greatest predictors of suicide. These include frequent thoughts about ending one’s life, making plans, rehearsing or preparing for a suicide attempt, and attempting suicide.

What causes Child suicide?

Childhood maltreatment linked to increased suicide behaviors among children, young adults.

There is no single factor that causes suicide or suicidal thoughts. Many Children & Teens who go through a stressful life event, such as the death of a loved one, may feel intense sadness or loss, anxiety, and anger. Some may even think they would be better off dead. But for most people, stressful life events do not lead to recurring thoughts of suicide.

Yet for someone with mental health concerns such as depression or anxiety, stressful life events or prolonged stress can cause deep feelings of distress and hopelessness and increase the risk of suicide.

Impulsivity and substance abuse can also increase a child’s risk of suicide. However, mental health issues can be treated and most often do not lead to suicide.

The successively increasing number of suicides among children reflects a systemic failure, It is a collective responsibility of parents, families, neighbourhoods, and government at large to provide a conducive ecosystem where children can look forward to realizing their potential and fulfilling their dreams for a bright future. Committing suicide, on the contrary, is an antithesis.

Suicide risk factors

mental illness

drug or alcohol abuse

access to guns, drugs, or other means of self-harm

prolonged stress or a stressful life event

suicide of a family member, friend, or classmate

childhood abuse, neglect, or trauma

What are the warning signs of suicide?

Children & Teens who attempt or die by suicide often exhibit a number of warning signs. A child or teenager who exhibits more warning signs is typically at higher risk of suicide.

Warning signs include:

sudden changes in behavior

cutting off contact with friends and family members

losing interest in activities they used to enjoy

extreme irritability

increased use of drugs or alcohol

change in sleep patterns (either not sleeping or sleeping more than usual)

change of appetite

giving away possessions or calling people to say goodbye

preoccupation with death (recurring themes of death or self-destruction in artwork or written assignments)

frequently talking about suicide

previous attempts to harm themselves

What should I do if I think my child is at risk of suicide?

One of the biggest aspects is the manifestation of power and intimidation when it comes to children, because culturally, we are not trained enough as parents to understand equality and equity when it comes to children.

You can start by talking with your child. Ask how they are doing and if they ever think of killing themselves. Be sure to use clear, straightforward language. Having regular conversations in which you show concern and give your child room to express their honest thoughts and feelings lets your child know that they can talk with you when they need to.

If your child expresses suicidal thoughts or exhibits self-harming behaviors, seek professional help through your pediatrician.

The mental health professional who assesses your child should work with you and your child to make sure your child receives appropriate care. Your child’s treatment may include inpatient psychiatric hospitalization, a partial hospitalization (day program), outpatient psychotherapy, home-based therapy, psychiatric medication, or some combination of the above.

It’s important to limit your child’s access to possible means of suicide:

Remove guns or other weapons from the house or keep them locked up where your child can’t access them.

Store prescription medications safely and dispose of unused or expired medications.

If my child is at risk of suicide, what happens next?

The mental health professional who assesses your child should work with you and your child to make sure your child receives appropriate care. Your child’s treatment may include inpatient psychiatric hospitalization, a partial hospitalization (day program), outpatient psychotherapy, home-based therapy, psychiatric medication, or some combination of the above.

Is it possible to prevent suicide?

Yes. Frequent open communication that gives your child room to explore their thoughts and feelings with you is one of the best ways to prevent suicide.

Your child may not tell you they are thinking about suicide out of concern over how you might react. By asking direct, non-judgmental questions, you can encourage your child to share their thoughts and feelings.

Don’t be afraid to talk ask your child if they have suicidal thoughts. Studies repeatedly show that people do not start thinking about suicide just because someone asks them about it.

Have an emergency plan in place. If you suspect your child is at risk, get them help immediately.

We should place more focus on mental health well-being of children. Mental health professionals should be made available for the family and children, be it at their place of stay, workplace and/or school.