Adolescent Self-harm: Essential Information for Parents on Recognizing Risk Factors and Mitigation Strategies

In a bid to combat the rising issue of suicide among young people, pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist Dr. Ellen Rome is urging adults to take a proactive approach in understanding the warning signs and fostering a supportive environment for children.

Dr. Rome emphasizes the importance of de-stigmatizing emotional health and well-being, encouraging all adults to open up lines of communication with children to make them more comfortable seeking help. She stresses that it is crucial for adults to let kids know that friends should never keep secrets about suicidal thoughts.

Romanticizing suicide should be avoided, and a focus on caring for the living is encouraged. Dr. Rome encourages fostering an environment of kindness and empathy to help a child see a light at the end of the tunnel in case they are being bullied or experiencing obstacles.

The most important warning signs for suicide in adolescents include expressing suicidal thoughts explicitly or implicitly, social isolation, lack of motivation, feeling overwhelmed, making future plans that exclude themselves, self-harm, changes in daily habits such as sleep and eating patterns, declining performance, and possible preparations like acquiring medication. Other warning signs include talking a lot about suicide, withdrawing socially, mood swings, self-medicating with alcohol or daily marijuana, using fatalistic language, taking risky, self-destructive actions, giving away all belongings without a logical explanation, difficulty sleeping, sleeping too much, feeling numb, and self-harm like cutting.

If concerned about a teen's suicidal feelings, they should be taken to the emergency room or call 911 immediately. For urgent help, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers expert, free, and confidential help 24/7. Alternatively, the Crisis Text Line can be reached by texting "HOME" to 741741.

Dr. Rome encourages parents to be their teen's moral compass and beacon of light. Parents can build resiliency in their teens by being a guidepost rather than a hovering parent. Each family member in a household should know they can seek help for their mental health.

No child is responsible for the actions of another child, student, or friend. It is important to remind children that they are not alone and that help is available. Dr. Rome emphasizes that turning a blind eye or shrugging off a teenager's worrisome behaviour is the worst thing you can do.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged 10 to 24, after motor vehicle accidents. By taking a proactive approach in recognising and addressing suicide risk, we can work towards preventing these tragedies and ensuring a brighter future for our youth.