I've Been Thinking About Suicide - Do I Need to Tell an Adult?

Published: June 13, 2018
Dear TeenHealthFX,

I have been thinking of suicide a lot in the past few months, it'€™s almost the first thing I think of in the morning and the last thing at night but I know I wouldn't have the strength and I wouldn'€™t actually do it until much later. Is it still necessary for me to tell an adult? If so how do I even approach something like that?

Signed: I've Been Thinking About Suicide - Do I Need to Tell an Adult?

Dear I've Been Thinking About Suicide - Do I Need to Tell an Adult?,

TeenHealthFX would like to start by saying that we are very sorry to hear that you have been having these suicidal thoughts so frequently over the past couple of months. Experiencing these kinds of thoughts and feelings on such a regular basis can still be a very difficult thing to manage. And we can certainly appreciate that the past few months may have been a real struggle for you.  

Even though you stated that you do not intend to act on these thoughts, it is still very important for you to talk to a trusted adult about it. FX recommends that you to seek out professional help from a reputable mental health professional so that you can get the guidance and support you need to address whatever issues are contributing to these suicidal thoughts. There are many things that can bring a person to the point of feeling suicidal, such as dealing with a mood disorder (i.e., depression), feeling lonely, or being bullied. FX thinks that it would be very beneficial for you to meet with a reputable therapist, such as a clinical social worker or clinical psychologist so you can address the specific thing(s) contributing to these feelings for you. This will help to ensure that things do not get to the point where you do want to act on these feelings, as well as help alleviate these thoughts and feelings so you can continue to experience them less and less as time goes on.

FX can appreciate that it can sometimes feel scary or embarrassing to speak with someone else about these kinds of very personal thoughts and feelings. Because of this, FX thinks that it is important for you to find a therapist who you experience as warm and non-judgmental so that you can come to feel that you have a safe space to discuss these thoughts and feelings.    

If you live in northern New Jersey and need help finding a therapist you can call the Access Center from Atlantic Behavioral Health at 888-247-1400. Outside of this area you can log onto the US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website for referrals in your area. You can also contact your insurance company to get a list of in-network mental health providers or check with your school social worker or psychologist to get a list of referrals in your area.

If you get to the point that you are seriously considering suicide or are afraid of your impulses then you need to seek help immediately. You can call 911 or go to your nearest hospital emergency room. In northern New Jersey you can also call the crisis hotline from Morristown Medical Center at 973-540-0100. Outside this area call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, available toll-free 24/7. You can also use the Crisis Text Line by texting “connect” to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. This service is free and available nationwide 24/7.

Signed: TeenHealthFX

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