Suicide Prevention

Teenage suicide is preventable when people learn to recognize the warning signs. Often teenagers present the warning signs to people closest to them. Unfortunately by the time a teenager that is feeling suicidal gets to a trained mental health professional, it can be too late. Therefore it is vital that all people learn to recognize the warning signs. It is only when the warning signs are recognized, and addressed that suicide can be prevented.

You do not need to be a trained mental health professional to prevent teen suicide. You must be willing to listen, and you must be willing to ask the "right" questions.

If you believe that a teenager may be suicidal, you must be willing to ask the question. You must be willing to ask if they are feeling suicidal. Many people are afraid to ask, as they believe that asking about suicide will lead the teenager to make a suicide attempt. This is a myth. Asking about suicide will not lead to suicide anymore than asking about teen pregnancy will lead a teenager to get pregnant. If you are concerned that an individual is suicidal, then you must be willing to take the first step and ask.

Asking about suicide can help a teenager that is feeling suicidal to feel okay about speaking about these feelings.

Be prepared. Once you ask the question, you must be willing to listen to the answer. Take the answer seriously. Many people believe that a person that talks about suicide, will not do it, as they only want attention. This is a myth. People that talk about suicide often do make suicide attempts so any indications that tell you this person is feeling suicidal must be taken seriously. Anybody that uses suicide as a means of getting attention, desperately needs attention and we must pay attention.

Over 85% of the people that complete suicide made a suicide attempt before taking their own lives. People that talk about suicide often do make suicide attempts, so take these conversations seriously.

For more information about preventing teen suicide please visit my website.

About the Author: Tammy Stoner is a licensed clinical social worker and trained family therapist. She has provided training and education to lay people and professionals about preventing teen suicide. A course can be found for continuing education units at http://www.zurinstitute.com/teensuicidecourse.html (Article Source)