What Parents Should Know About Suicide Warning Signs in Children and Teens

This article discusses suicide and warning signs for informational purposes. If you or your child is in immediate danger, call 911 or call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

If you're reading this because something has felt off with your child lately – maybe a change in mood, pulling away from people they usually spend time with, or a comment that caught you off guard – it can be hard to know what to do next. As a parent or caregiver, you know your child well, so you may be the first person to notice when something feels different.

This article walks through the signs worth paying attention to, why no single sign tells the whole story, how to have a conversation with your child, and where to turn if you're worried.

Warning Signs Worth Paying Attention To

A number of changes can be noteworthy in a child or a teen, particularly when you notice a change that seems unusual for them.

Some warning signs may include:

• A real shift in behavior, mood, or energy, especially if it's new or has become more intense
• Pulling away from friends, family, or activities they used to enjoy
• Changes in sleep, including sleeping a lot more or a lot less than usual
• More irritability, agitation, or anger than seems typical for them
• Increased use of alcohol or drugs
• Talking about feeling hopeless, trapped, or like a burden to others
• Any direct or indirect statements about death, dying, or not wanting to be here

These signs come directly from NIMH's and SAMHSA's published guidance for recognizing suicide risk in youth, and they reflect the kinds of changes that professionals encourage parents and caregivers to notice.

Why One Sign Alone Doesn't Tell the Whole Story

It's important to say clearly: No single sign automatically means a child is thinking about suicide.

Kids go through mood swings, rough patches, and periods of withdrawal for all kinds of reasons: a friendship falling apart, a hard season at school, or normal changes that come with adolescence can all affect how a child acts and feels. None of that, on its own, is necessarily a cause for alarm.

What tends to matter more is when a behavior is new, has increased recently, or seems connected to a painful event, loss, or change. Noticing several of these signs at once, or a shift that feels genuinely out of character and doesn't pass, is generally more worth paying attention to than any single moment in isolation.

You don't need to constantly watch for every possible sign. It's important to simply pay attention to your child and trust your instincts if something feels different in a way that concerns you.

How to Have a Conversation With Your Child

If you ask, or if your child brings something up on their own, how you respond matters as much as the question itself. A few things that can help:

• Stay calm. Your child may already feel scared, embarrassed, or overwhelmed. Staying calm can make it easier for them to keep talking.

• Listen. Give them space to explain what they are feeling without immediately trying to fix the situation.

• Take anything they say about death or not wanting to be here seriously. Even if you aren't sure what they meant, it is worth listening and following up.

• Avoid dismissing or minimizing their feelings. Phrases like "you have nothing to be upset about" or "just think positive," even when well-intentioned, can shut a conversation down.

• Don't promise complete secrecy. If you believe your child may be in danger, you may need to involve another trusted adult or a mental health professional to help keep them safe.

You don't have to have all the answers in that moment, just be someone that they feel they can come to.

Want more guidance on how to have the conversation?

These resources offer additional information about talking with children and teens about suicide:

• NAMI: How to Talk to Your Teen About Suicide

• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP): Teens and Suicide: What Parents Should Know

• American Psychological Association (APA): Suicide Prevention and Teens

When and Who to Contact for Support

If you're concerned about changes you've noticed in your child, reaching out for support is a good next step. Depending on the situation, that could mean talking with your child's pediatrician, therapist, school counselor, or another mental health professional.

You don't have to wait until you're certain something is seriously wrong before asking for help. Sometimes, having a conversation with someone who knows what to look for can help you better understand what your child may be going through and what to do next.

If Your Child Is in Immediate Danger

If your child has told you they plan to hurt themselves, has access to something they could use to hurt themselves, or you believe they may be in immediate danger, seek help right away.

Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can also call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department if there is an immediate safety concern.

Stay with your child if you can, and remove access to anything they could use to hurt themselves while you get help.

Trusted Resources for Parents

• NIMH: Frequently Asked Questions About Suicide — a comprehensive overview of warning signs, what to do if someone may be in danger, and general information about suicide and risk.

• NIMH: 5 Action Steps for Helping Someone in Emotional Pain — practical, step-by-step guidance for what to do when you're worried about someone.

• SAMHSA: Warning Signs of Suicide — includes specific guidance on warning signs in youth.

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org, available 24/7 for free, confidential support.

Questions You May Have

• My child mentioned wanting to die, but it seemed like a joke or an exaggeration. Should I still take it seriously? 

Yes. Even if you aren't sure what your child meant, it is worth checking in with them and taking the comment seriously. Give them an opportunity to explain what they were feeling or trying to communicate.

• What if my child doesn't want to talk to me? 

That's common, and it doesn't mean you've failed. Let them know you're available without pressuring them, and consider looping in another trusted adult (a school counselor, another family member, or a pediatrician) who might be easier for them to open up to.

• When should I involve a professional instead of just watching and waiting? 

If you notice a change that is new, intensifying, or several warning signs happening at once, that's a reasonable point to reach out to a professional. You do not need to wait until you know exactly what is happening before asking for guidance.

• What should I do right now if I think my child is in immediate danger?

Stay with your child and seek immediate help. Call or text 988 for crisis support, or call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department if there is an immediate safety concern..

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