How do you best communicate with and be there for a child who might be suicidal?
This issue of depression and suicide is a lot more common than most people think. Most people struggling may not want to talk about their mental health or feelings for fear of judgement.
The first way to help, is to listen.
Giving the gift of your time and presence to your child, be there to listen without judgement. Even if you may not agree with your child at that moment in time, listening without interruption is often the most helpful way to help. If you don’t agree with your child at that moment, continue to listen, allow your child to have an opinion at that moment. Maybe in a future moment when your child’s mood might be brighter it might be possible to discuss the topic again.
If communication is not so good, it might be an idea to start by asking something like “your mood seems a little lower than usual, is there anything you would like to share? Perhaps there’s something not right at school, or with friends, or even something in the family that is upsetting you at all?”
Again, of utmost importance is to listen without interrupting your child. Being heard is the most rewarding someone who is depressed. It’s best not to offer solutions as this can be seen as judgement.
If the timing feels right, you could also possibly share something like this with your family member or friend.
“I heard about a hotline that help with people in challenging and even stressful situations, how would you feel about contacting them?
Feel free to contact us for further support.
