While there is evidence suggesting there has been and increase in suicidal thoughts among adolescents since the start of the pandemic, experts cannot yet confirm this issue is worse than usual. Although confirming data has not been released by the Center for Disease Control or any other comparable agency, parents and field experts are looking for ways to help this usually vulnerable population.
In her article, “How to Help When Adolescents Have Suicidal Thoughts” for The New York Times, Dr. Perry Klass discussed ways parents can help their children navigate the pandemic and how to determine or what to do when a child is at risk or experiencing a mental health issue. Some of the advice offered by interviewed experts include:
Parents and adults who work with adolescents should pay closer attention to their wellbeing during this time.
Think about the different ways adolescents might respond to stress. Are they withdrawing and sleeping more; eating more or less; or trying drugs, alcohol or tobacco?
Encourage teenagers to get out of the house and to use the right safety measures — masks, hand-washing, distancing.
Take care of your own mental health before you try to fix your child’s mental health.
Among these professional Dr. Sarah Vinson also lends her expertise to readers here:
Giving kids a sense of agency is also vital, said Dr. Sarah Vinson, an associate professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at Morehouse School of Medicine. “Think how kids can be part of the solution,” she said, whether that’s encouraging them to do volunteer work, or helping them understand that concrete steps, like wearing masks, can play a vital role in “reclaiming our day-to-day lives from this pandemic.”