Part Seven -Why not just end it all? Parent Alert!

TO THINK ABOUT
It has been said that suicide doesn’t end your problems; it merely passes them on to someone else. How is that true?
To whom could you talk if you experience intense anxiety?
More articles from the “Young People Ask” series can be found at www.watchtower.org/ype
A NOTE TO PARENTS
In some parts of the world, suicide among the young is disturbingly common. In the United States, for example, suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people between the ages of 15 and 25, and during the past two decades, the suicide rate among those between the ages of 10 and 14 has doubled. Those most at risk include youths who suffer from a mental-health disorder, those who have a family history of suicide, and those who have attempted suicide in the past. Warning signs that a youth may be thinking of taking his or her life include the following:
Withdrawal from family and friends
A change in eating and sleeping patterns
A loss of interest in activities that were once pleasurable
A marked change in personality
Drug or alcohol abuse
Giving away prized possessions
Talking about death or being preoccupied with subjects related to it
Dr. Kathleen McCoy told Awake! that one of the greatest mistakes a parent can make is to ignore such warning signs. “No one wants to think that something could be wrong with their child,” she says, “so some parents go into denial. They tell themselves, ‘It’s a phase’ or ‘It will pass’ or ‘She always was a bit dramatic.’ That’s dangerous. All threats should be taken seriously.”
Do not be ashamed to get help for your son or daughter if he or she suffers from severe depression or another mental disorder. And if you suspect that your teen is thinking about ending it all, ask him about it. The notion that talking about suicide will encourage the act is false. Many youths are relieved when parents bring up the subject. So if your teen admits to having thoughts of suicide, find out if a plan has been devised and if so, how detailed it is. The more detailed the plan, the more urgently you need to intervene.*
Do not assume that the depression will lift on its own. And if it does seem to lift, do not think that the problem is solved. Some experts say that this is the most dangerous point. Why? “A teenager who has been severely depressed may be too immobilized to act on suicidal feelings,” says Dr. McCoy. “When the depression lifts, the teen may have enough energy to go through with it.”
It is indeed tragic that as a result of their despair, some youths consider ending it all. By being attentive to the signs and responding to them, parents and other caring adults may “speak consolingly to the depressed souls” and prove to be like a place of refuge for young ones.—1 Thessalonians 5:14.
* Experts also warn that households with potentially lethal prescription medication or loaded and accessible firearms are particularly at risk. Regarding the latter, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention notes: “Although most gun owners reportedly keep a firearm in their home for ‘protection’ or ‘self defense,’ 83 percent of gun-related deaths in these homes are the result of a suicide, often by someone other than the gun owner.”
Appeared in Awake!