Call your child’s healthcare provider right away if your child:
- Feels extreme depression, fear, anxiety or anger toward themselves or others
- Feels out of control
- Hears voices that others don’t hear
- Sees things that others don’t see
- Can’t sleep or eat for three days in a row
- Shows behavior that concerns friends, family, or teachers, and others express concern about your child’s behavior and ask you to get help
Call or text 988 if your child has suicidal thoughts, a suicide plan, and the means to carry out the plan. You will be connected to trained crisis counselors at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. An online chat option is also available at 988lifeline.org. You can also call Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255). Lifeline is free and available 24/7.
If your child has a phone, make sure they have emergency numbers in their phone. These may include parents, other trusted adults, a healthcare provider and the Lifeline. Help your child understand that reaching out for help is the most important thing to do if they are thinking about self-harm.
If your child expresses suicidal thoughts, first get care right away, then make sure all dangerous items in your home are not in reach of your child. Remove knives and other sharp objects. Lock up guns and ammunition in separate locations. Lock up all medicines and alcohol.