Children's Mental Health

People who are thinking of ending their life often exhibit one or more warning signs, either through what they say or what they do. There usually is not one clear reason for why someone may feel suicidal or that suicide is the only answer to their problems. Suicide is preventable and knowing the warning signs allows us to help those around us who may be feeling hopeless.

Suicide is and has been for the last decade, the second leading cause of death for adolescents in the United States. The reasons why suicide occurs are often not well understood, leaving family and friends wondering what could have been done differently. Here are some things you can do as a parent to help your child if there is a concern about suicidal thoughts or actions.

Suicide can be a very difficult topic to discuss. Teachers often feel helpless to prevent student suicide, but they probably underestimate the impact of their words on their students. Honest and caring conversations about suicide can save lives. Not only can students in emotional pain benefit from these talks, but their peers can begin to recognize warning signs among their friends and gain the courage to act.

This one-pager outlines the early stages of escalation. Download this PDF to help you interrupt the process, flatten the curve, and respond effectively before it's a crisis.

Give your brain a break and find some inspiration with our "Works of Heart” coloring pages. Download, print, and share our four hope-filled designs.

Recognizing the different stages we move through on our way to a crisis, and beyond, is critical in helping to avoid a crisis in the future.

Talking about our own feelings, and in particular suicide, can be uncomfortable and overwhelming. Learn how to engage teens in a valuable, yet difficult conversation.

What is the correlation between depression and suicide, and when should you be concerned?

By understanding the risk factors and recognizing potential warning signs, you can help be the preventative eyes and ears for youth with suicidal intentions.

While conversations around children’s mental health have entered the mainstream, often children who are newborns to age six are left out due to misconceptions that they won’t remember the things happening at this point in their life. But science shows us differently – children’s mental health begins developing before they are even born.