Situational, Emotional & Behavioral Warning Signs of Depression & Suicide - How Parents Can Reduce Risk

• Academic problems
• Arrest
• Association with a subculture that romaticizes suicide
• Break-up with a friend
• Death of a family member
• Death of a friend
• Dislike of school
• Emotional abuse
• Emotional neglect
• Family crisis
• Family financial problems
• Family health problems
• Family history of depression
• Family history of suicide
• Family tension
• Family violence
• Institutional placement
• Lack of friends
• Loss of an important friend
• Loss of a valued possession
• Loss or death of a pet
• Moving or changing schools
• Parental divorce
• Parental separation
• Personal health problem
• Personal setback, disappointment, or embarrassment
• Physical abuse
• Physical handicap or deformity
• Physical neglect
• Sexual abuse
• Suicide among friends
• Suspension or expulsion from school

  The following is a list of emotional warning signs that may indicate a risk of depression or suicide. Because a child displays one or more of these emotions does not necessarily mean that he or she is depressed or suicidal. Children can be very emotional as a "normal" part of growing up. However, if a child experiences too many of the following emotions for an extended period, the risk of depression or suicide increases.
  
  

  Acute Anger	Anxiety
  Apathy	Bitterness
  Boredom	Confusion
  Day dreaming	Despair
  Difficulty concentration	Dread
  Fear	Frustration
  Giddiness or dizziness	Grief
  Guilt	Headaches
  Hopelessness	Hypersensitivity
  Inferiority	Irritability
  Low self-esteem	Moodiness
  Passiveness	Remorse
  Sadness	Shame
  Suggestibility	Worry

  The following is a list of behavioral warning signs that may indicate a risk of depression and suicide. Because a child displays one or more of these behaviors does not necessarily mean that he or she is depressed or suicidal. Children exhibit changes in behavior for many reasons. They lack maturity and tend to act out feelings through their behaviors. However, if a child exhibits too many of the following behaviors for an extended period, the risk of depression or suicide increases.
  
  

  Accident proness	Aggression
  Alcohol abuse	Bedwetting
  Chain smoking	Changes in eating patterns
  Changes in sleeping patterns	Cruelty
  Crying	Delinquency
  Destructiveness	Deviancy
  Discipline problems	Drug abuse
  Fighting	Frowning
  Giving away possessions	Impulsiveness
  Loss of interest in dating	Loss of interest in personal appearance or hygiene
  Loss of interest in school	Loss of interest in social activities
  Loss of interest in sports or hobbies	Mail biting
  Nervousness	Quitting tasks
  Rebeliousmess	Recklessness
  Regression to infantile behaviors	Repeated outbursts
  Risk taking	Running away
  Secretiveness	Self-destructive behavior
  Social isolation	Social problems
  Studying about death or suicide	Truancy
  Weight change	Withdrawal

  Are Young Children At Risk Of Suicide?

  Yes. Children as young as four can have self-destructive wishes. Young children tend to view death as temporary and reversible. suicidal gestures and attempts are not rare among children under 12. In fact, children under age 10 represent a group in which there is a growing suicide rate. Experts believe the number of suicide attempts among young children is under-reported because they are often "masked" as accidents or are not recognized by doctors.

  What Roles Do Age & Sex Have In Suicide Risk?

  Adolescents are the group of children most at risk of suicide. Children in their early teens are at risk of suicide because of the many changes and stresses that oocur in them socially, emotionallly, and physically. More females than males attempt suicide; however, more males than females die from suicide.

  Why Do Children Commit Suicide?

  There are five popular theories which attempt to explain why children commit suicide. Experts agree that behavior as complex as suicide probably cannot be explained by one theory. DEVELOPMENTAL THEORY emphasizes how stressful it is to grow up in our modern society. Children already under social stress may become suicidal when faced with a difficult adjustment, such as the divorce of parents or the death of a loved one. COGNITIVE THEORY states that children are too immature to understand the finality of death. They many have romantic ideas about death and do not realize it is permanent. SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY accents the importance of social belonging. Suicidal children lose faith in society and see themselves as worthless and unimportant. PSYCHODYNAMIC THEORY asserts that suicide results from a loss of love and attachment, such as neglect or rejection by family and friends. BIOLOGICAL THEORY proposes that when something goes wrong with the chemistry of the brain, severe depression and suicidal thoughts may occur.

  What Methods Do Children Use To Commit Suicide?

  The most common methods children use to commit suicide are: shooting, hanging, drug overdosing, running into traffic, and breathing gases or vapors. Other methods include: cutting or stabbing, wrecking a motor vehicle, drowning, and jumping from a high place. Firearms are the most commonly used device in suicide by boys. Girls are more likely to use drugs (including prescription, over-the-counter, and illegal drugs).

  What Time of The Day & Year Are Suicide Rates Highest?

  Most suicides occur between 3 P.M. and 6 P.M. Studies show that suicide rates tend to rise during spring (peaking in April and May) and decline in winter (dipping lowest through December and January).
  
  

  How Parents Can Reduce Depression & Suicide Risk The following is a list of ways parents can reduce the risk of depression and suicide. Children usually become depressed or suicidal when they are overwhelmed by problems, do not know how to cope with stress, or feel alone in their struggles. Parents/Caregivers should consider these facts and determine how they relate to their children.

• Find ways to help children develop and maintain a positive self-image. Children who feel good about themselves are less likely to become depressed or sucidal.
• Teach and encourage children to communicate openly. Children who can discuss their problems and concerns are less likely to suffer from trapped feelings and more likely to find solutions.
• Teach children "healthy" ways to handle stress. Children who learn that stress is a part of life, and develop healthy ways to deal with it, are better able to handle problems throughout their lives.
• Allow children to help make personal and family decisions. Children who learn how to make decisions, and be responsible for them, are better equipped to deal with stress and other problems they must resolve.
• Develop and maintain a stable home environment with healthy family relationships. Depression and suicide risk are highly associated with family problems.
• Devote time and attention to each child so that he or she will feel like a special individual. Children who feel loved and cared for are less likely to become depressed or suicidal.
• Be aware of sudden or dramatic emotional or behavioral changes in children. children often express their frustrations through emotional outbursts or altered patterns of behavior.
• Know each child's friends and their behaviors. Children sometimes become depressed or suicidal as a response to what is happening within their peer group.
• Set a good example for children in how you handle stress. Children lend to copy the behaviors of their parents and other significant adults.
• Keep alcohol, drugs and medications, guns, knives, and other potentially dangerous objects locked away from children. Some children attempt suicide as an impulsive response to depression or other problems.
• Help children to realize that death is permanent. Many children, especially those under 12, believe that death is temporary and reversible.
• Seek professional hlep if it appears your child is depressed or suicidal. Therapy can uncover the cause of the problem, develop an approach to resolve it, help the child overcome his or her depression, and reduce the risk of suicide.