| Parenting Resources - Teen Suicide |
Guiding a Suicidal Teenager
It’s crucial to consider the delicate state your teenager may be in if he or she has been exhibiting self-destructive behaviors. Positive reinforcement is a prime tool in guiding a suicidal teen away from the dark path he or she may be traveling. If your troubled teen has been exhibiting suicidal tendencies like threats to kill him or herself while engaging in self-harm, you must be very careful with your words and actions.
You do not want to do or say anything that may give your troubled teen the final push he or she may be waiting for to make that leap at committing suicide.
You must understand that your teenager is in a very volatile situation. He or she may be blaming him/herself or others for whatever feelings of hatred or despair he/she maybe experiencing. Consider that it is almost like your teen is living on a different planet. And the atmosphere is full of negativity. It is exhausting to try and combat this negativity with whatever positive vibes you may provide your child with. Keep in mind that you must persevere to get through your teen’s tough armor of negativity in order to reach the soft warmth within him/her, wherein he/she has kept a remaining ray of hope for him/herself.
Positive Reinforcement
Parents must be warned. Your troubled teen may, in this state of intense negativity, say horrible things to you that may be very hurtful to hear. But you must not let these remarks get the best of you in order to help your teenager. The key to guiding a suicidal teen is positive reinforcement.
Even if he or she may be throwing you the most negative comments, reply with positive love. Your teen may most likely be trying to push your buttons on purpose in order for him/her to prove to him/herself that yes, he/she was right, you don’t care! But you know that this could be farthest from the truth, you do care. And in order to help your teen, keep feeding him/her positive reinforcement.
Even if he or she may be throwing you the most negative comments, reply with positive love. Your teen may most likely be trying to push your buttons on purpose in order for him/her to prove to him/herself that yes, he/she was right, you don’t care! But you know that this could be farthest from the truth, you do care. And in order to help your teen, keep feeding him/her positive reinforcement.
Yes, this task of showing positive reinforcement while your teenager could be farthest from it is a difficult task to take on. But remind yourself that it is for your child’s best. The negative mind can have a powerful effect on your teenager’s outlook and sense of self. In order to combat this, your positive reinforcement must prove to be enduring.Once your troubled teenager reaches a point where he/she is actually contemplating suicide, it is crucial for you to seek counseling for him/her. If your teenager may be uncomfortable speaking to you about his/her issues of depression, it may actually be easier for him/her to talk to a stranger.
This may sound confusing, but for some teens, talking to strangers about personal issues can actually be easier than opening up to someone that they care about or who cares about them very much.
This may sound confusing, but for some teens, talking to strangers about personal issues can actually be easier than opening up to someone that they care about or who cares about them very much.
Find a counselor your teen feels comfortable with.
It’s vital to seek a counselor or psychotherapist for your teenager as soon as you pick up on any suicidal tendencies or clues. It may be beneficial to the progress of his/her treatment if he/she takes several “test sessions” with different counselors or therapists in order to find the one whom he/she feels most comfortable with.
Once you have found a therapist whom your teenager is most comfortable, begin to schedule appropriate sessions with him/her during the week. The number of sessions may depend on your teen’s school schedule and his/her need of therapy. If your troubled teen is suffering from mild depression wherein his or her state affects the teen’s normal functioning by needing more effort to accomplish things, you may consider sessions once a week.
If he/she suffers from moderate depression to severe depression wherein he or she can not even function normally by not being able to accomplish regular everyday activities, you may consider sessions twice a week or more.
Once you have found a therapist whom your teenager is most comfortable, begin to schedule appropriate sessions with him/her during the week. The number of sessions may depend on your teen’s school schedule and his/her need of therapy. If your troubled teen is suffering from mild depression wherein his or her state affects the teen’s normal functioning by needing more effort to accomplish things, you may consider sessions once a week.
If he/she suffers from moderate depression to severe depression wherein he or she can not even function normally by not being able to accomplish regular everyday activities, you may consider sessions twice a week or more.
Be patient; let the therapy take its effect
Keep in mind that it may take a number of sessions and a certain period of time for the counseling or psychotherapy to take its proper effect. Be patient. As long as you are wary of your teen’s safety, let the therapy take its effect while you provide your teen with the positive reinforcement he/she needs.
But it is important to remember that if your teenager is undergoing outpatient treatment like sessions of psychotherapy, his/her time out of treatment is just as crucial to his/her progress. This means that the environment that he or she experiences during the day at school or at home have a significant effect on the progress of his/her treatment. It would be important to inform a guidance counselor at school of his/her condition if it is not already known.
This is helpful in order to reduce the occurrence of triggers of his/her suicidal complex while in class. At home, you must do your part as well by showing him/her positive reinforcement as much as you can.
This is helpful in order to reduce the occurrence of triggers of his/her suicidal complex while in class. At home, you must do your part as well by showing him/her positive reinforcement as much as you can.