RECOGNIZING PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS

Understanding teenage suicide

RECOGNIZING PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS

Understanding teenage suicide

An interview with Nathalie Parent, psychologist

Did you know that suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in the world among teenagers, according to the World Health Organization? But if you look beyond this statistic, you’ll find very different realities depending on geographic location. 

In Quebec, the rate of teen suicide has dropped steadily and the number of young people being treated for mental health disorders is on the rise. 

Read on for practical information and advice to help you better understand teenage suicide. 

What is suicide?

Contrary to what you might believe, someone who tries to commit suicide doesn’t necessarily want to end their life. What they’re trying to end is their unbearable suffering. The good news is that there are many ways to help a teen who’s struggling, including psychotherapy and medication. 

Treatments for depression
What makes a teen more likely to attempt suicide?

What makes a teen more likely to attempt suicide?

Personality traits

Teens who tend to be anxious, have low self-esteem, or are impulsive are more likely to attempt suicide than their counterparts. And if they have trouble expressing themselves or talking about their emotions, the likelihood could increase. 

Personal situations a young person may experience

Isolation, broken social relationships, grief, a lack of support, drug or alcohol abuse or gambling problems, and chronic physical illness are all risk factors that can increase the likelihood of a suicide attempt. 

A complex past

Likewise, past events can impact a young person’s behaviour, for example, if:

  • They were mistreated as a child
  • They attempted suicide in the past
  • Someone in their circle tried to end their life and the event was considered taboo

WHY DO SO MANY TEENS ATTEMPT OR CONTEMPLATE SUICIDE?

Imagine we all have a container inside us that holds all our stress and emotions. When you’re a child, the container is small, but it grows along with you.   

The teenage years come with a whole new set of challenges, like discovering your unique identity and managing social relationships. The container, which is already quite full, can sometimes have trouble making space for these new emotions. 

When something major happens—a break-up, relocation, divorce, conflict with friends or family, bullying, major illness in your family, academic struggles, or repeated failures in general—the container might overflow. 

If this happens, you are no longer able to manage your stress and emotions, which can trigger a crisis. 

How to know if your child is predisposed to suicide

How to know if your child is predisposed to suicide

All the events mentioned above can happen to anyone—and if they happen to your teen, they may go through a very rough patch. This is completely normal! But if you notice sudden or radical changes in their behaviour, you should take a closer look at the root cause. 

  • Negative changes: your child, who is usually happy, starts to withdraw, act depressed, aggressive and/or angry, becomes defensive, etc. 
  • Falsely positive changes: your child, who’s been sad for a while, suddenly acts cheerful, makes plans with friends, and resumes what appears to be a normal life. In reality, they may have found a kind of peace by developing a plan to end their suffering. Remain vigilant! 

It’s important to realize that, even if you have a great relationship with your teen, you may be the last to know what’s really going on in their life and notice changes in their behaviour. The important thing is that you follow your gut and don’t hesitate to ask for help, even if your child seems to be communicating openly with you. If they tell you that things are fine but your instinct tells you the otherwise, take action! 

How to talk about your concerns with your child

If you’re concerned about your teen, listen carefully to what they have to say and always keep the lines of communication open. 

  • Mention your concerns: Be matter-of-fact about what why you think something is off: “You’re always closed up in your room,” “You don’t seem interested in the activities that you used to love,” etc. You can also ask them questions about how they feel, like “Why are you thinking this way?” or “Do you ever think about dying?” Let them know that you’re there for them: They need to know that they matter to you. 
  • Bring them to see a psychologist: Sometimes, youth have preconceived notions about psychologists. If they resist, explain that the symptoms of depression may sometimes be due to a physical condition and that it’s important to do a full assessment to be sure. This will help convince them to be receptive to psychotherapy. 
Learn more tips on how to discuss psychotherapy with your teen

When should you worry?

If, during your conversations, your teen mentions that they have a specific plan to commit suicide, the situation is urgent. Don’t wait:

  • Call 911
  • Go straight to the closest emergency department
  • If your teen’s suicidal thoughts seem less concrete, call Suicide Action at 1-866-APPELLE (277-3553) and your call will be automatically forwarded to the resource in your region (free and confidential service, available 24/7)

Don’t be worried about the professional confidentiality that covers youth over the age of 14: suicide risk is a situation in which a health professionals’ duty of confidentiality does not apply. You will be informed if your child has been seen by a medical professional. 

Taking care of your own mental health

If your child is in distress, it’s normal for their condition to monopolize your thoughts and energy. But remember that by taking care of yourself, you’ll be better able to help your teen. 

Lean on a trusted support network of friends and family that you can rely on. In addition, there are resources available to support you during this difficult time. 

If you feel the need to speak to someone with an outside perspective, psychotherapy may be a good option. 

Resources to support you

NEED INFORMATION AND SUPPORT FOR WHAT YOU’RE GOING THROUGH WITH YOUR TEEN?