Behavioural signs of suicide risk
If your child or teen is contemplating suicide, they might:
- talk about suicide or about not being in the world any longer
- undergo marked changes in sleeping habits (sleep a lot more or a lot less than usual)
- experience significant changes in eating habits (eat more or less than usual)
- engage in self-harm
- withdraw from friends and family, for example not want to leave their bedroom or home
- withdraw from enjoyable activities
- start or change their pattern of using substances such as alcohol and recreational drugs
- have difficulties at school, for instance not finishing assignments, receiving lower grades, saying that they do want to go to school or missing classes frequently.
Emotional signs of suicide risk
A child or teen who is considering suicide might:
- feel worthless
- feel hopeless about the future
- experience mood problems such as irritability, anger, rage or extreme increased agitation.
If you are concerned that your child is struggling with negative moods or feelings about themselves or the world around them, it is important first to talk with them to understand just how extreme these feelings are. You may also need to take steps to protect your child.