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When you are a parent of a teenager it is sometimes hard to see what are normal mood swings and reactions they experience and express, and what might be warning signs of something more serious. Everyone thinks not my kid which is why that became a big movement but it is easier to see things that lead up to suicide or suicide attempt with hindsight. There are signs there though and if you learn what to look for you can better help them when they display such negative characteristics and behavior. Here is a look at some of those things so you can help your teen when they need you. If your teen becomes withdrawn and isolated If you notice your teen is becoming more withdrawn and pulling back from friends and family choosing to isolate themselves then that is a worrying sign. Sometimes teens are just naturally shy but sometimes isolation can be an issue, especially if they were once more social but are now a lot less so. Hanging out with a new peer group If you have a teen who is hanging out with friends you have never met, who they do not even want you to meet and who seems to keep getting into trouble this is another warning sign. Youth suicide prevention might include paying more attention to who your teenager interacts with and stepping in with the help of training so it does not escalate into arguments and fights and such. Dropping grades and other issues at school A big sign that something is wrong is when they start to have problems at school. This can happen in a variety of ways. Not my kid will help you work out what to do but you might see grades dropping, failure to get homework done, reports that are no longer as positive as they once were, they want to stay home rather than go to school, pretending to be sick, leaving school grounds, getting into trouble at school, and issues with peers and teachers. Drinking and doing drugs Teens often face the battle of peer pressure and issues with alcohol and taking drugs. It is hard to say no and to face what other teens think of that. But if it becomes a bigger problem with pills going missing, bottles of alcohol going missing, erratic behaviour, drink driving and more then this needs investigating and handling. Showing signs of anxiety and/or depression Youth suicide prevention includes looking out for things like deeper emotional issues, anxiety, depression and other such concerns. Not all suicidal teens are mentally ill but some are and watching for signs of that is important. Are they only wearing long-sleeved tops to hide the fact they are cutting themselves? Are they not sleeping or sleeping too much? Have their eating habits changed? These are just a few of them. Summary By looking out for some of the warning signs for suicide in troubled youths you can prevent something really awful from happening.
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Youth, suicide, prevention,
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