Counseling an adolescent who is suicidal is essential because suicide is preventable. Teens who take their own lives generally do not want to die, but they feel such a sense of despair that they cannot see any other way out, notes HelpGuide.org. Even as you counsel a teen who is suicidal it is important to be sure that the teen is under the care and supervision of a mental health professional. Warning signs, such as talking about suicide or glorifying death, can help you spot potential suicide attempts.
Step 1
Offer your support. A teen who is thinking about or who has become suicidal in the past may need someone to talk with and be around. Ask her what she is thinking. Tell her you are there for her. According to TeensHealth.org, generally when someone offers their care and support to a person who is suicidal, that person will open up and discuss her behaviors or thoughts.
Step 2
Listen without judgment. Let the teen be free to say and express whatever he wants. Be mindful of your facial expressions. Do not let any judgment be expressed through your face.
Step 3
Avoid letting things she says surprise or startle you. A suicidal teen may make statements that are outlandish in an effort to see if she can trigger your emotions. Be prepared for the teen to say inappropriate and attention-grabbing things. Determine ahead of time how you are going to react if she says these things. Remain calm. Treat her statements as if she is talking about normal topics.
Step 4
Take his threats of suicide seriously. Inform him what actions you will take when he becomes suicidal. Tell the teen that you care and you will do everything you can to keep him from attempting or committing suicide. Make him aware that if he threatens suicide you will contact the police immediately and have him sent for a psychiatric evaluation at the hospital. Ensure that he understands you will do this because you care about him and are not trying to punish him.
Step 5
Remain with the teenager. If you feel that the teen's risk or suicide is high and she is in immediate danger of harming herself, make sure she is not alone, notes TeensHealth.org. Remain with her until more help arrives. Stay calm. Do not feed into her anxieties. If you cannot remain with her, find someone to stay with her who understands the threat. Call 911 and/or notify her therapist. Have the police escort her to the hospital to receive a psychiatric evaluation. If you need more support, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.
