National Suicide Prevention Month: Supporting Teens Before a Crisis

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about suicide, recognize warning signs, and remind one another that support can make a difference.

For teenagers in particular, this can be an especially overwhelming time of life.

“The teen population is really in a critical period of life,” said Kristie Fleurimond, Clinical Program Manager at Wellpoint Care Network. “Between navigating friendships and social groups, academic expectations, testing, social media, and the desire to feel accepted, young people are facing a lot.”

Data from the CDC’s 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey show that nearly 4 in 10 high school students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, 1 in 5 seriously considered attempting suicide and nearly 1 in 10 reported attempting suicide during the previous year.

“I think those numbers are important for teachers and parents to be aware of,” added Fleurimond. “This is a real issue that our teens are dealing with.”

There is no single sign that automatically means a young person is at risk. But changes in behavior, mood, or routines are worth noticing.

“If you see people talking about wanting to die or saying they’re a burden to others, withdrawing or isolating, you should take those warning signs seriously,” Fleurimond said.

Other changes can include:

• Changes in sleep
• Changes in behavior or mood
• Increased agitation or irritability
• Withdrawing from friends, family, or activities
• Talking about feeling hopeless, like a burden, or like they do not belong

One of the most common myths about suicide prevention is that asking someone if they are thinking about suicide will increase their risk.

“That’s actually false,” Fleurimond said. “The more clear and direct you can be, and the more proactive you can be in wanting to support them actually helps reduce a lot of that suicide risk.”

Parents, caregivers, teachers, and other trusted adults may not always know exactly what to say when a young person shares that they are struggling.

Fleurimond recommends starting with listening.

“Being open to hearing what they have to say, not trying to fix it, not trying to give them reasons why they shouldn’t do it,” she said. “I think people oftentimes think in that situation that they need to be the fixer.”

Instead, be supportive, take what they are saying seriously, and help connect them with appropriate professional support.

At Wellpoint Care Network, suicide prevention is part of a broader approach to supporting youth mental health. Through our on-site Mental Health Clinic and School-Based Mental Health services, Wellpoint Care is supporting schools throughout our community.

“We have a really collaborative approach with teachers, students, social workers, anybody that’s involved in the day-to-day of the school,” Fleurimond said.

That support can include parent education, participating in school family events, and being available when a school or community experiences a crisis or death.

“We make ourselves available to not only the students, but families, community members, teachers, and staff that need support in those moments as well,” added Fleurimond.

Wellpoint Care’s prevention work is also expanding through support from the Charles E. Kubly Foundation, helping us provide more training and resources to schools so staff are better equipped to recognize concerns and support youth before a crisis occurs.

“We want to emphasize more of the prevention before the crisis,” Fleurimond said. “It’s about creating an environment where students feel comfortable seeking help earlier rather than waiting until they are experiencing a significant mental health crisis to go find support.”

Each of us can make a difference by noticing changes, starting conversations, and connecting teens with support when they need it.

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Learn more about Wellpoint Care Network’s Mental Health services and how we support children, teens, and families.

If you or someone you know is in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7.

Just Ask. You Can Save a Life.The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), the most evidence-supported tool of its kind, is a simple series of questions that anyone can use anywhere in the world to prevent suicide.