I used to have to and still do make a lethality assessment to determine if it is fleeting thoughts or more serious. It is always supposed to be taken seriously however. I was taught in school that to not be afraid to ask them if they have a plan and if they say yes then get them to the nearest hospital. It is a tough thing and our children have a lot going on it is hard being a kid and teen then add disability to the mix it is harder.
I would definately get him to an inpatient mental facility right away. I used to be a 911 dispatcher & took classes on suicidal callers/people. Jillette is right, if someone says anything about suicide it is ok to ask them what their plan is. In my previous jobs I have spoken to children (as young as 9), teens & adults who all wanted to or were at that moment attempting suicide. It's not an easy thing to talk about but you have to. Also, if they are making any mention of suicide at all they are really crying out for help! Good luck to you.i BELIEVE DEPRESSION COUNSELING DOESN'T ALWAYS FIX JUST LIKE MEDS. WE TELL DANIEL SOME DO WELL WITH SCHOOL AND SOME DO WELL AT OTHER STUFF. WE PUT DANIEL IN SE ALL DAY CAUSE THE PRESSURE HE HAD MAINSTREAM WAS HORRIBLE. HE HAD ALREADY GIVEN UP AND WAS SAYEING i AM DONE WITH SCHOOL. AGE 10.DEPRESSION MEDS ARE NOT SUGGESTED FOR PEOPLE UNDER 18. WARNING LABELS SAYS CAN INCREASE THE THOUGHTS. i FOUND THE B COMPLEX HAS HELPED WITH THIS.We went to his ped on Friday and working on getting him into a therapist (again) early this week.
Thanks for all the help.
My daughter was saying much the same type of thing when she was in grade 7. She was having a hard time with friends and was feeling very alone. It shocked me when she said that she wished that she was dead. I tried to get her in to see a professional but the waiting list was so long. I took matters into my own hands. I gave her the number to the kids help line without pushing it on her and sat down with her on her bedroom floor, where she was at the time, and just listened and talked very gently to her. I did not let her know that I was shocked inside. I let her know how I felt about her and how much I loved and cared for her. How much she was valued and how much her family loved her. I also relayed some of my teenage experiences and how at times I too felt helpless and alone. I also told her how things do get better although they may not seem like it now. I told her that I would do whatever I could for her no matter what the cost because she was worth everything. I did special things with her every day after this and was always available for her to talk to or just to sit with. Things worked out and are now fine but I must say, I was very scared for a few weeks. I hope you get something from this. I would hate for your son to feel this way for a long time. My heart goes out to you. I just got a prayer request from our church the other day, for the family, friends, school-mates, teachers, etc, of a 9-year-old girl that committed suicide this last week. It happens. Please heed the warnings they give you, and take action. it's hard to know what can be so overwhelming to a 9-year-old, but please remember the suicide rate amongst ADHDers as a group is higher than the norm, and we may not be aware of what's really going on in their hearts and minds.OK, if you all know any thing about me, you will know how much I hate the cut and pasting that some people do. But this is one occasion where i think it's important to give the c&p a try. I feel very strongly about this topic for several reasons that i will not go into. but here's the info:
Teen suicide attempts are calls for help
Many teenagers have thoughts of death. These can stem from a variety of causes, and can result in actual attempts on their own lives. It is important to take suicide attempts seriously. While there is no way to reliably figure the exact ratio of attempted suicides to completed suicides, the National Institute of Mental Health believes that as many as 25 suicides are attempted for each one that is completed. That means that for every teen suicide that you hear of, there are probably at least 25 suicide attempts made. And this does not even cover the teenage suicide attempts and completed suicides that are never heard about. Understanding that a teen suicide attempt is a call for help is essential in preventing a completed attempt later.
Teen suicide statistics and gender
Teen suicide statistics draw a correlation between gender and suicide. It is interesting to note that there are some very clear indications that suicide is different for males and females, attempted and completed suicides alike. For example, males are four times more likely to die from suicide than females. However, teen girls are more likely than teen boys to attempt suicide. So, even though teenage girls make more attempts on their own lives than teenage boys, the boys are more likely to actually complete a suicide attempt. They do not allow for intervention, and are less likely to “call for help” through a suicide attempt, since there is often little opportunity to get males into treatment since their suicide completion rate is higher than that of females.
My son is 8. He says the same kind of things. Why because he doesn't like to follow our rules. But kids with adhd say things that they don't mean to say. When i ask my son why did you say that? The answer is i don't know. And they really don't know. But as a parent this is very aggravating. Sometime i say to my son you do know and we are not leaving this room until you tell me why. Good luck. I hope this helps.Is he on strattera????You could start with his ped. As for a referral to a counselor or therapist unless he is currently seeing one. If he is, talk to them.
His dr could put him on an antidepressant to start and refer him to a psych. If he does, watch him closely for signs of his depression worsening or suicidal behavior. Some teens have tried to commit suicide on antidepressants so its vital that you watch him.
go directly to an inpatient mental facility! That is a clear sign of contemplation. There are places for minors to be taken to. He needs round the clock watch. Think about it like this. Most parents that find out their children are or have thought about suicide find out because of a failed attempt or a accomplished attempt. His life is too fragile to take that chance. If you have heard him you have to do some thing NOW. Call your local hospital or his doctor and ask for some names of the nearest inpatient mental health facility. Or you can pm me and I'll find one for you and get you to one asap.We are having several difficulties with my son lately (the Lost on what to do next is my post below). But sevearl times lately when my son is alone in his room I have heard him saying "I wish I could disappear, I wish I didn't exist anymore, no one would care if I just went away"
I am very alarmed by this. I discussed with my husband and he said it is just because our son hates the rules and if we were less harsh and jsut let him go more then he wouldn't say these things. But I worry it depression or part of the underlying problem we do not understand.
What would you do? I did talk to my son and all I got was "I don't know" - he doesn't know why he said that or if I catch him at wrong moment he never said that.
I wouldn't fool around with wondering at all, I'd get him in to see someone immediately and force them to take this issue seriously.Please take him to a counselor. My daughter was like that as a teen and refused to go to counseling. She is an adult now and I found out she took pills twice trying to die but they didn't work. She was also a cutter.
Don't take the chance. The consequences of doing nothing or trying to handle it on your own are just too horrible to contemplate.
He is not on Strattera - currently he is on Focalin XR. We are still in med trials trying to find the right med and dosage.
Who would I call his ped?
I kinda went through that six months ago. Combined stresses and such. It