Suicidal Ideation

Diagnosis

Adolescence and transitioning to adulthood can be trying times for many as they struggle to develop their identity and deal with new responsibilities and freedoms, however, the thoughts of suicide and self-harm go beyond the typical “moodiness” that is expected at that age.

If your child is reporting that they no longer wish to continue living, have considered harming himself/herself, or has already done harm to self, you should seek help immediately. If this sounds familiar, your child may be suffering from suicidal ideation, or thoughts of killing oneself. Many times this is ignored in teens or young adults or written off as typical teenage drama. However, the truth is that just under 12% of all suicides are carried out by adolescents, making it the second leading cause of death among youth and young adults. Self-harming behavior, such as cutting or burning, does not always correlate with suicidal ideation, but is still cause for concern and can lead to potential life-threatening infections, complications, or accidental death.

How We Can Help

The thought of losing your child to suicide is devastating, and we want to do everything we can to help prevent it. Our treatment programs have a proven track record of halting the progression of suicidal thoughts before they turn into actions and are based on respected industry best practices.

When your child enrolls in one of our innovative, inpatient programs, they’ll be immersed in a compassionate and controlled environment where they can safely confront these challenges and develop a new, positive outlook on life. The journey begins with crisis stabilization (at or outside an FHW program), followed by a thorough assessment and the development of an individualized treatment plan. The rest of the time is spent therapeutically addressing your child’s thoughts and behaviors, and helping them to develop the outlook and skills they’ll need to achieve positive mental health.  

At Family Help & Wellness a multi-disciplinary team comprised of specialized clinicians, psychiatric practitioners, medical staff, and academic instructors work together to provide the highest quality of care is delivered for each and every program participant. We combine a variety of therapies, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Equine Therapy are available, along with medication management, and family therapy components. When teens finish our program, they have a positive outlook on life, increased confidence and self-worth, and a solid plan in place to help them maintain their mental health upon return home.

Suicidal Ideation

There are two main forms of suicidal ideation: active and passive. While “passive ideation” involves thoughts of death or a wish to die, “active ideation” involves an existing wish to die accompanied by a plan for how to carry out the death.