Help for young people: How parents can take suicidal thoughts seriously

Help for young people: How parents can take suicidal thoughts seriously

In Germany, suicidal thoughts among young people are a serious problem that often remains unknown in the background. A remarkable case of a 15-year-old from Schönberg recently became public who, according to her parents, has already attempted 38 attempts at suicide. The child is now in the care of a clinic. Professor Michael Kölch, director of the Psychiatry Clinic, notes that the suicide rate in Germany is relatively low in comparison to other European countries. Nevertheless, it is emphasized that in young people, high rates of suicide attempts and suicidal thoughts are often determined, while the definitive desire to die is less common. In many cases, it is self -injury behavior that is characterized by dysfunctions in emotion regulation and is not always associated with the desire to actually die.

Self -harmful behavior can arise for several reasons. Professor Kölch points out that permanent conflicts in school or negative experience in childhood are common triggers. Relationships in the parents' house play a crucial role when it comes to how young people deal with their emotions. It is important that parents take advantage of professional help in such cases and take their children seriously. The topic of suicide and self -harm should not be tabooed, but openly addressed.

detection and prevention of suicidality

The challenge for parents and supervisors is to recognize the signs of suicidality at an early stage. According to the MSD manuals, children and adolescents who talk about self -harm or even take a suicide attempt should be taken to an emergency room. It is alarming that a third of all suicides are preceded by an attempt to suicide, which underlines urgency to take such behavior seriously.

Professional advice can be crucial for the members of suicide victims to understand the psychological context of suicide. It also shows that after suicide in the area there is an increased risk of further suicide cases, especially among friends and classmates. Schools and communities can offer aid programs to provide support.

important approaches for parents

parents are asked to respond to the emotional needs of their children. One of the recommended actions is to listen actively, ask questions and explore the causes of the problems of your children. Professional offers of help are essential, if you suspect serious mental illnesses such as depression, children should be referred to child and adolescent psychiatry. Of course, the clarification of dangerous substances and their storage in the household also plays a role to counteract potential dangers.

There are no particularly successful methods to prevent suicide. Nevertheless, it is important that diseases such as depression or bipolar disorders are treated, even if this cannot completely rule out the risk. Antidepressants can increase the risk of suicide in some young people, which is why careful monitoring is required. The participation of the family doctor is as important as a possible briefing to a clinic, depending on the individual assessment of the doctor.