MUSD Mental Health Counseling Resources

24/7 Hotline

1-800-854-7771

YOU CAN ALSO TEXT “LA” TO 741741 ANYTIME

TO BE CONNECTED TO A CRISIS COUNSELOR

Talking to Your Children

Parents play an important role in supporting their children. During adolescence, children share less with their parents and teachers and confide in their peers about their problems. Parents must be aware of the risk and protective factors regarding suicide.

If you believe your child is experiencing thoughts of suicide, it is important to address the issue directly:

1. Ask your child, “Are you thinking about hurting yourself?”
2. Be empathic towards your child with their answer. Let them know you are there for them.
3. Provide support to your child considering suicide by taking them to the emergency room for an evaluation.
4. Provide ongoing support through mental health counseling either through the school or in the community so your child can receive help with their suicidal thoughts.
5. Get support for yourself by seeking out counseling or parent support groups.
6. Familiarize yourself with the warning signs and protective factors around suicide.
7. Be aware of community resources that specialize in assisting youth with thoughts of suicide.

   Not My Kid: What Every Parent Should Know: Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide, Inc.

   We hope the information below is helpful to you and provides valuable information that we didn’t have before we lost our children to suicide. These questions have all been asked to us by parents – and the answers provided by experts. Knowing how important it is for you as parents to ASK those complicated questions is important. And to keep asking them until you get the answers that help you make educated decisions about your child’s mental health needs. We want to stress the importance of really listening to your kids and looking for any changes in feelings, behaviors, or moods that seem out of character or concern you. If you seek professional help for them, do some research – and ask that mental health professional those complicated questions so you know what they are recommending and why they are recommending it.

   You may not know…but suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth ages 10-24. It is important to note that most kids are generally not in a suicide crisis; however, even if the percentage of kids who may be in this type of crisis is small, we must know what to do if we have any concerns about our children, their friends, or their peers. An important question is….what can YOU….as a parent do? The Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide wants to address some of your questions about teen suicide. We have found that information and education are essential components of youth suicide prevention. This document will help to clarify some of the misinformation about suicide and provide practical, helpful suggestions that you can use with your kids and their friends.

If you or someone you know needs food assistance:

• Visit a Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Not in Los Angeles? Find a nearby food bank through auntbertha.com
• CHIRPLA Food Bank Guide