To best help their teens, parents are encourage to educate themselves on the topic.

This page and the links in the additional links section are great resources to learn about things such as:

• Mental Health

• Suicide

• Abuse

It is important for parents to provide a safe space for their children to speak openly about their concerns and struggles.

Do not judge your teen for what they choose to share with you. It can be very difficult for teens to open up, and if when they get the courage up to do so and they are shut down or judged; the likelihood that they will open up again is very slim.

Parents should understand that acceptance is not agreeance, but it does allow your child to express themselves.

Parents do not have to agree with the things their child is struggling with, but they can accept that it is their feelings about it.

Be truly present while talking with your teen. This includes putting your phone down, paying attention to everything they are saying and being there for your child.

Even if it is the most inconvenient time to speak about something, do it anyway.

One of the most significant things you can be for your teen is their advocate and voice.

Reach out to schools, health care providers (both physical and mental health), groups and whatever other places your teen is a part of. It can be difficult for teens to always get the support they need, especially when they are struggling with something, and having an adult advocate for them can make a world of difference.

Advocate for your teen and be the type of person we all needed growing up.

The National Institute of Mental Health has identified the following as warning signs that someone may be at immediate risk of attempting suicide:

• Talking about wanting to die or wanting to kill themselves

• Talking about feeling empty or hopeless or having no reason to live

• Talking about feeling trapped or feeling that there are no solutions

• Feeling unbearable emotional or physical pain

• Talking about being a burden to others

• Withdrawing from family and friends

• Giving away important possessions

• Saying goodbye to friends and family

• Putting affairs in order, such as making a will

• Taking great risks that could lead to death, such as driving extremely fast

• Talking or thinking about death often

Other serious warning signs include:

• Displaying extreme mood swings, suddenly changing from very sad to very calm or happy

• Making a plan or looking for ways to kill themselves, such as searching for lethal methods online, stockpiling pills, or buying a gun

• Talking about feeling great guilt or shame

• Using alcohol or drugs more often

• Acting anxious or agitated

• Changing eating or sleeping habits

• Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge

Suicide and mental health concerns affect people regardless of their age, ethnicity, gender or sexual identity.

While suicidal behavior is complex and there is no single cause, the National Institute of Mental Health has identified the following as main risk factors for suicide:

• Depression, other mental disorders, or substance use disorder

• Chronic pain

• Personal history of suicide attempts

• Family history of a mental disorder or substance use

• Family history of suicide

• Exposure to family violence, including physical or sexual abuse

• Presence of guns or other firearms in the home

  • If a person experiencing suicidal crisis cannot access the method they planned to use, they generally do not seek out other lethal means to attempt suicide. For tips on secure firearm storage to help create this barrier, please visit the US Department of Veterans Affair website by clicking here.

• Having recently been released from prison or jail

The following five action step method for helping someone during crisis was developed by BeThe1To. For more information on each of these steps, please visit their website by clicking here.

Ask

• By asking direct questions such as "Are you thinking about suicide?" you can communicate that you are open to speaking about suicide in a supportive way. This can open the door to effective dialogue about what they are facing and help everyone see the next steps that need to be taken.

Be There

• This can be to be with them in-person, speaking with them on the phone when possible, or any way to show that the person at risk is being supported.

• Doing this increases their connectedness to others and limits their isolation, something that has shown to be effective to decreasing risk of suicide.

Help Keep Them Safe

• If the person at risk has already created a plan for how they would take their own life, or are otherwise near something harmful, it is important to make sure they are not at immediate risk of that method.

• If there is a firearm or other object that can cause harm, make sure that it is securely stored and out of use for the person at risk.

• If they have already taken action toward attempting to take their own life, such as ingesting medication or harmful substances, take steps to ensure it does not cause them further harm. Contact 911, Poison Control (1-800-222-1222), or your local emergency room for help.

Help Them Connect

• Helping someone with thoughts of suicide create a safety net of connections to supports and resources in their community can help ensure their long-term safety.

• This can include suicide lifelines such as 988, mental health professionals, trusted friends or family members and other resources in the community. The next tab titled Helpful Resources includes different resources locally that can be helpful in such a safety net.

Follow Up

• After making initial contact and connecting the person experiencing suicidal thoughts to an immediate support system they need, follow-up with them to see how they are doing.

• Doing this helps increase their feeling of connectedness and shows that you are there to continue to support them.

If you or someone you know is in a life-threatening situation, call 911.

988 Lifeline

• Whether you are facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug concerns or just need someone to talk to, the 988 Lifeline has skilled and caring counselors to talk with.

• You can call or text the Lifeline at 988 or you can chat or communicate via American Sign Language at their website by clicking here.

988 Lifeline Support on Social Media

• 988 also works with social media platforms and digital communities to establish best practices in suicide prevention online.

• On their webpage, go there by clicking here, you can see how to engage with someone if they are posting things that indicate their may harm themselves and how to share these posts with the proper people to get them direct support.

Teen Lifeline

• Call or text the Teen Lifeline at 602-248-8336.

• The Teen Lifeline is a suicide prevention hotline where teens can call and speak to other teens.

• This method allows teens to talk with someone their own age who has been through similar situations as them, allowing them to speak more openly and comfortably while also providing evidence-based support throughout their conversations.

• The teens who answer these calls do so after school so peer counseling is only available 6 pm to Midnight Eastern Time, this organization is based out of Arizona, but the lifeline is available to call 24/7, 365 days a year.

• Learn more by clicking here.

Poison Control

• If you or someone you know has ingested medication beyond it's intended use or prescription or harmful substances, contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

• If the individual collapses, has a seizure, has trouble breathing or can't be awaken, call 911 right away.

Iris Community Partners

• Community Partners can help connect you, your child or someone you know to resources who specialize in whatever you are facing.

• You can contact Community Partners by calling 1-800-752-7116 or by filling out this form.

Iris Community Resource List

• Iris Family Support Center has developed a searchable database of resources in our area that can support you. You can filter these organizations by location or services, such as Mental Health or Emergency.

• You can go to the Resource List by clicking here.