Factsheet 25, for parents and teachers
Arabic
version
About this factsheet
This is one in a series of factsheets for parents, teachers
and young people entitled Mental Health and Growing Up.
The aims of these factsheets are to provide practical, up-to-date
information about mental health problems (emotional, behavioural
and psychiatric disorders) that can affect children and young
people. This factsheet looks at the reasons behind why people try
to kill themselves, and offers advice about what to do to help
someone who you feel might be at risk of attempting suicide.
Introduction
Why do people try to kill themselves?
Nearly everyone has times when they feel sad and lonely.
Sometimes, it can feel as if no one really likes us, that we are a
failure, that we just upset people and that no one would care if we
were dead. We may feel angry but unable to say so, or feel hopeless
about the future.
It is feelings like these that make some young people try to
kill themselves. Often, several upsetting things have happened over
a short time and one more upset or rejection is the `last straw'.
An argument with parents is a common example; another is breaking
up with a friend, or being in trouble. Teenagers who try to kill
themselves are often trying to cope independently with very upset
feelings, or difficult problems for the first time. They don't know
how to solve their problems, or lack the support they need to cope
with a big upset. They feel overwhelmed and see no other way
out.
Often, the decision to attempt suicide is made quickly without
thinking. At the time, many people just want their problems to
disappear, and have no idea how to get help. They feel as if the
only way out is to kill themselves.
The risk of suicide is higher when a young person:
- is depressed, or when they have a serious mental illness if
they get the help and treatment they need, the risk can be greatly
reduced
- is using drugs or alcohol when they are upset
- has tried to kill themselves a number of times or has planned
for a while about how to die without being saved
- has a relative or friend who tried to kill themselves.
Is this just attention-seeking?
No. Attempted suicide should always be taken seriously. The
young person needs someone to understand what they have been
feeling, although they might find it hard to put into words. They
need someone to listen, and who is prepared to help.
Who is most at risk?
- There has been an increase in the suicide rate in young men
over recent years.
- Many young people who try to kill themselves have mental health
and personality problems.
- Suicide attempts in young people nearly always follows a
stressful event, usually relationship problems. However, sometimes
the young person will have shown no previous signs of mental health
problems.
- Sometimes, the young person has had serious problems (e.g. with
the police, their family or school) for a long time. These are the
young people who are most at risk of further attempts. Some will
already be seeing a counsellor, psychiatrist or social worker.
Others have refused normal forms of help, and appear to be trying
to run away from their problems.
- Young people who are misusing drugs or alcohol have the highest
risk of death by suicide.
How can I help?
- Notice when your child seems upset, withdrawn or
irritable.
- Encourage them to talk about their worries. Show them you care
by listening, and helping them to find their own solutions to
problems.
- Buy blister packs of medicine in small amounts. This helps
prevent impulsive suicides after a row or upset. Getting pills out
of a blister pack takes longer than swallowing them straight from a
bottle. It may be long enough to make someone stop and think about
what they are doing.
- Keep medicines locked away.
- Get help if family problems or arguments keep upsetting you and
your child.
For parents, it's hard to cope with a child attempting suicide
and it's natural to feel angry, frightened or guilty. It may also
be hard to take it seriously or know what to do for the best.
Specialist help
Everyone who has tried to kill themselves, or taken
an overdose, needs an urgent assessment by a doctor as soon as
possible even if they look OK. The harmful effects can sometimes be
delayed. Even small amounts of some medication can be fatal.
Poisoning with paracetamol is the most common type of overdose in
Britain. Overdosing with paracetamol causes serious liver damage,
and each year this leads to many deaths. Even a small number of
tablets can be fatal.
All young people who attempt suicide or harm
themselves should have a specialist mental health assessment before
leaving the hospital. The aim is to discover the causes of the
problem. It is usual for parents or carers to be involved in
treatment. This makes it easier to understand the background to
what has happened, and to work out together whether help is
needed.
A lot of young people make another attempt if they do not
receive the help they need. Usually, treatment will involve
individual or family work for a small number of sessions. A very
small number of young people who try to kill themselves really do
still want to die. Often, they are suffering from depression or
another treatable mental health problem. They may need specialist
help over a longer period of time.
References
- Carr, A. (ed.) (2000) 'What Works with Children and
Adolescents?' - A Critical Review of Psychological Interventions
with Children, Adolescents and their Families. London:
Brunner-Routledge.
- Rutter, M. & Taylor, E. (eds) (2002) Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry (4th Edn). London: Blackwell.
- Scott, A., Shaw, M. & Joughin, C. (eds) (2001) Finding
the Evidence: A Gateway to the Literature in Child and Adolescent
Mental Health (2nd edn). London: Gaskell.
Sources of further information
- The Samaritans provide a 24-hour service offering confidential
emotional support to anyone who is in crisis. Helpline 08457 909090
(UK), 1850 609090 (ROI); e-mail:[email protected]; www.samaritans.org.uk.
- YoungMinds provides information and advice on child mental
health issues. 102-108 Clerkenwell Road, London EC1M 5SA. Parents'
Information Service 0800 018 2138; www.youngminds.org.uk.
- A CD-ROM designed for 13-17 year-olds on mental health which
looks at depression and self-harm: Changing Minds: A Multimedia
CD-ROM about Mental Health. Further details from the Royal
College of Psychiatrists: tel. 020 7235 2351, ext.146;
www.rcpsych.ac.uk/publications/auvideo/cmindscd/index.htm.
Or you may like to look at these websites:
- www.lifesigns.ukf.net
- www.nshn.co.uk
- www.selfharmalliance.org
- www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
- The Mental Health and Growing Up series contains 36
factsheets on a range of common mental health problems. To order
the pack, contact Book Sales at the Royal College of Psychiatrists,
17 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PG; tel. 020 7235 2351, ext. 146;
fax 020 7245 1231; e-mail: [email protected], or
you can download them from this website.
© [2004] Royal College of Psychiatrists. This factsheet may be
downloaded, printed out, photocopied and distributed free of charge
as long as the Royal College of Psychiatrists is properly credited
and no profit is gained from its use. Permission to reproduce it in
any other way must be obtained from the Head of Publications. The College
does not allow reposting of its factsheets on other sites, but
allows them to be linked to directly.
Please note that we are unable to offer advice on individual cases. Please see our FAQ for advice on getting help.
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