Parents, how do you know if your teen may be contemplating suicide?  Would you recognize the signs?  Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among teenagers and adults.  It's estimated that 1 Million people commit suicide each year.  Furthermore, there are an estimate 10 to 20 million non-fatal suicide attempts each year.  Hopefully, your teen will not be a statistic.

Teens are under a lot of pressures these days.  They grow up super fast unlike generations of the past.  Bullying can lead to suicide.  Telling your teen to "ignore" a bully or to "suck-it-up" IS NOT the answer.  No one has the right to bully another.  It would be a good idea to speak with your teen if he or she is being bullied.  Get them help on how to deal with it in an appropriate manner.  Suicide is not the way to go.

Warning Signs

1.  Talk about or interested in death.
2.  Teen is very quiet or seems withdrawn -- behavior changes over time.
3.  Change in sleep patterns.
4.  Eating habits change -- either increase or decrease in appetite.
5.  Teen feels hopeless.
6.  Attitude changes.  Teen may have adopt an "I don't care attitude or the "whatever" attitude.
7.  Isolation from family and friends.
8.  Teen may give away things to siblings or friends.
9.  Grades drop.

If you suspect that your teen may depressed, get him help.  Signs of teen depression include loss of appetite, sleeping a lot (no energy) no motivation, loss of social interest, poor self-esteem and guilt, weight loss or gain, and other signs.  As a parent it's your job to ensure the well being of your teen.  If notice any of these signs, reach out to your teen.  If she resists, keep at it -- but not the point of being a nag!  A teen will not respond if you're constantly "harping" on them.  In fact, I would not respond if someone kept nagging or harping on me!  Let your teen know that you're there for her and that you'll always have open lines of communication no matter what.  Reassurance can go a long way.

Talk to your teen about what is going on in her life.  Don't stop until you get an answer.  If you need help, contact the school or find someone in your area that can help you and your teen.  Take the time and invest time in your teen.  She is, after all, the future of the USA and the world.  Isn't she worth the time and effort?