Adolescence is the age when a person transitions from childhood to adulthood. During this transition, adolescents may experience mental health problems such as anxiety disorders, eating disorders, depression, and suicidal thoughts. To reduce the number of teen suicides, families and parents play an important role in teen suicide prevention.

Causes of suicidal thoughts in teenagers

The appearance of suicidal thoughts is an emergency in psychiatry. There are many factors that can cause adolescents to have suicidal thoughts.

Adolescents who have suicidal thoughts may feel that they cannot change their lives, so they decide to end their lives. There are also those who think that they are a burden to the people around them, so by ending their lives, maybe the people around them will not be burdened anymore. According to WebMD, many teens who attempt or die by suicide have mental health issues. They may not fully understand that suicide is a permanent response.

Below are some factors that can increase the risk of suicide in adolescents, namely:

• History of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, etc
• Having a substance or alcohol abuse problem
• Being a victim of bullying, violence or sexual harassment
• Having access to sharp weapons or certain drugs
• Losing a close friend or family member or having a conflict with them
• Being a victim of discrimination, which could be due to race, gender identity or sexual orientation
• Experiencing severe financial problems
• Feeling hopeless, alone and worthless

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How to prevent suicidal thoughts in teenagers

For parents, understanding the feelings and thoughts of their teenagers can be very challenging. Sometimes, the emotional changes that teenagers experience are normal, but sometimes this can be a sign of mental health problems in teenagers. As a parent, you can do the following, namely:

1. Never ignore a child's mental health issues

If you notice a change in your teen's attitude or behavior that has been going on for some time, you should start talking to your child. In dealing with this change in attitude, as a parent, you should remain calm. Don't wait for your teen to start talking openly to you. Instead, start the conversation by asking about his condition. Ask why he looks sad or different and what you can do to make him feel better.

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2. Listen and pay attention

Your teen may not find it easy to communicate what he or she is really feeling. You may go unheeded when you first approach them. However, you can pay attention to the things your child doesn't say and how they behave. Notice if there are changes in their sleeping patterns, appetite, relationships with others, and daily activities.

3. Offering professional help

If after talking to your child, you feel that this problem cannot be solved by yourself, you can offer to get help from a professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist. Suicidal thoughts are a psychiatric emergency, so if you think your child has started thinking about suicide or there are signs of self-harm, you should take them to the hospital for treatment.

To prevent teen suicide, you should encourage your teen to consult a doctor or psychologist. Give them the understanding that mental health consultation with professionals is not taboo and is necessary to save their future.

For your child's safety, you can also remove any dangerous tools that your child could use to commit suicide. As parents, always give your children positive support so that they feel valued and not lonely.

Teenage mental health issues are not easy for parents to deal with, but that doesn't mean they are insurmountable. With the right treatment, you can save your teen from the risk of suicide.

If you need medical advice or consultation, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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