Rising rates of suicide in teens highlight the urgent need for parental awareness and intervention. Guardians of teens who are showing signs of depression should always take note of them. This can be done by open communication about mental health, proactive measures and access to appropriate care which can make a significant difference. By engaging in this discussion, parents can equip themselves better to support their teenagers through these critical years and help prevent potential tragedies.
Is it a normal teenage tantrum or is something wrong?
A typical teenage tantrum lasts for a short duration, especially when you say ‘no’ to something or when you are feeling overwhelmed by schoolwork. These outbursts often have clear triggers, such as arguments with parents, frustration with school, or conflicts with friends. After the tantrum, the teenager usually returns to normal behaviour, and the emotional episode passes without lingering effects. Many teens will apologise or seek resolution after cooling down, indicating that the outburst was a momentary lapse in emotional control.
Teenagers naturally go through emotional ups and downs due to hormonal changes, stress, and the pressures of growing up. However, certain signs may indicate that the behaviour is more than just a typical teenage outburst and could be a sign of deeper emotional distress. Those signs may include:
- Prolonged emotional distress
- Withdrawal from social activities, friends, and family
- Sudden changes in behaviour
- Expressions of hopelessness or self-harm
- Physical disturbances like headaches, stomachaches, or fatigue
Recognising suicidal tendencies in a teen
The teenage years are very stressful years of a child’s life. They go through a lot of physical and emotional changes due to changing hormones in their bodies. Following this, the child may show changes in behaviour, increased irritability and lack of patience, which is quite normal. However, few of the signs may depict they have suicidal tendencies, especially, if those symptoms stay for a long time.
One of the most common signs of suicidal thoughts in children is social withdrawal. A child may begin to distance themselves from friends, family, and activities they once enjoyed. They may start staying indoors, playing video games, or spend most of their time in their room. Sudden and extreme changes in behaviour or mood can be a red flag. This can include shifts from being outgoing to quiet, or from calm to agitated. For instance, a child who was once cheerful may become frequently angry, sullen, or easily upset.
If the child starts talking about death or self-harm it should be taken seriously. This might include statements like ‘I wish I were dead’ or ‘You’d be better off without me’. Children may also express curiosity about death or ask questions about what happens when someone dies. A child might start giving away favourite toys, belongings, or items that have sentimental value may show a sign of suicide in teens. Furthermore, changes in a child’s sleeping patterns or eating habits can be an indicator. This might include difficulty falling asleep, nightmares, or a sudden lack of interest in food. A sudden drop in school performance can also be a sign of emotional turmoil.
Dr Sanjeev Kalra, MD, Neuropsychiatry, Associate Professor and Clinical Training Director, Maharishi International University in Fairfield, Iowa, United States says, “Teenage and adolescence suicide rate increasing in today’s fast-paced life. So we all understand that adolescence is a very critical transition stage or phase. They face numerous challenging situations at this age. Sometimes they are able to cope by themselves. Sometimes they are not able to understand what’s going on, whether they should talk to their parents or not, and whether they would be able to understand.” Parents need to be more open and understand the signs of suicide in their children.
How do you nurture your child out of these thoughts?
Dr Binda Singh, Psychologist, Advance Psychotherapy & Counselling Centre, Patna, Bihar says, “Today, when a child has negative thoughts and says repeatedly that he is not feeling like it. If someone don’t feel like living, then the parents should not take it too lightly here, because in a way, there is a warning and the child is tired somewhere and is very troubled by something. The first thing that you, the parents, need to do is sit and talk with the child and whenever the child says something, do not rebuke him. Ask him as lovingly as possible and console him that everyone is with him.”
She further adds, “The negativity within him will reduce to a great extent. Yes, children definitely speak, given that they are handled sensitively. In this way, they will never make a wrong decision out of impulse. If someone is speaking negatively about them then you should try to support him.” Whenever the child talks about dying and gets angry over the matter, leave him alone. Usual way to cope is that the parents should not react, listen to him lovingly, and try to consult an expert.
Adolescence is a challenging period marked by emotional, physical and psychological changes and teenagers are particularly vulnerable to mental health struggles. It is a phase where the child goes through a lot of hormonal and physical changes which can be uncomfortable, adding up to the frustration. This may lead to thoughts of suicide in teens, which we as guardians need to understand and nurture.
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