Warning Signs Your Teen Could Be at Risk for Suicide

Teens At Risk for Suicide

During adolescence, teens often experience intense emotions. New friends, different schools, first love – all allowing for wonderful emotions to be experienced and enjoyed. But strong emotions may also be in play when teens experience stressful events in their lives. Anxiety about friendships or school is common. Teens may experience short bouts of sadness related to breakups, bad grades, or parents going through a divorce. Sometimes distress is not passing and can reach alarming levels. Sometimes it’s hard to tell if the troubling behavior is just part of growing up or something more. Knowing about warning signs that teens could be at risk for suicide is a step towards keeping them safe.

Recognize Warning Signs

It’s important to recognize that mental health conditions don’t only affect adults. If you observe behaviors or thoughts interfering with daily life or notice problems lasting weeks (or months), contact a health care professional.

Please note: Sometimes suicide is an impulsive act in reaction to a particular event, including a loss of a relationship, bullying, or feeling angry or ashamed. Do not assume that only people with long-standing problems hurt themselves. If you are worried now, get your teen attention immediately. 

No list is complete as everyone is different. It’s not essential to know whether something is a diagnosable problem. It is essential that you reach out for help if you have any concerns that your children might be at risk for suicide. Below are some warning signs to look out for.

1. Changes in Mood. Are they increasingly irritable, or expressing rapidly changing moods? Or is there a sudden and intense calm about them that doesn’t make sense to you?
2. Self-Esteem Issues. Do they say they feel ashamed or worthless?
3. Loss of Interest. Have they lost interest in things they cared about in the past?
4. Lack of Hope. Do they express a lack of hope for the future? Do they talk about feeling trapped?
5. Self-Harm. Do they cut or burn their skin on purpose? Do they engage in any other form of self-mutilation?
6. Taking Unnecessary Risks. Are they exhibiting self-destructive behaviors? Taking risks for no apparent or rational reason? Could these risks lead to death?
7. Self-Loathing. Do they express self-hatred or loathing? Experience intense guilt? Make statements that the world will be better off without them— that they are a burden to others?
8. Talking About or “Joking” About Dying or Suicide. Do they refer to dying (even in apparent jest), disappearing, methods of killing oneself?
9. Putting Affairs in Order. Are they giving any of their prized possessions away?  Are they saying goodbye to friends or family members?
10. Searching for, Writing or Drawing Death. Do they search for violent images or videos online? Create poetry, prose, or artwork in which death plays a role?  
11. Changes in Thinking. Do they suddenly display disorganized thinking or behavior? Are they increasingly suspicious of others?

Other Important Risk Factors

There are some additional risk factors that could contribute to or increase the possibility of teens considering suicide. These include (but are not limited to) adolescents who have been abused or neglected, those who are depressed, highly anxious, have impulsive behavior/poor self-control and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Also, teens who are loners or dealing with serious trouble (in school or at home), those who have experienced the suicide of a family member or a friend, teens with a parental history of substance abuse or violence, and those from marginalized populations.

If you’re worried or have a feeling something is wrong, you should take it seriously. Consult with a mental health professional, health care provider or contact one of the crisis services listed here immediately if you are concerned about their safety:

911

988

The National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK)

Crisis Text Line: Text START to 741-741

You can also find additional important resources and information here:

JED Foundation

American Psychological Association

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

American Academy of Pediatrics

Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine

American Counseling Association

Suicide is preventable. And mental health issues are treatable. Check in with your teen. Seek out professionals who can help.

We want to thank Dr. Victor Schwartz at the JED Foundation for reviewing this article and offering helpful feedback.