Suicide is the second leading cause of death for children ages 10-14 and the third for those ages 15-24. While it’s tempting to believe these national statistics don’t affect our community, Oakland County’s rates are similar.
As a parent, you should be aware of these troubling numbers, says Hanna Cassise, health education supervisor at Oakland County Health Division. “It is very concerning. But what’s most important for parents to know is that suicide is preventable,” Cassise says.
Ways to prevent youth suicide
There are several key ways you can keep your kids safe, and being proactive is important. Here, we share what you need to know:
- Talk with your kids. “Young people are way more comfortable talking about mental health and suicide than their parents’ generation,” says Cassise. Don’t shy away from conversations, but tailor them to your child’s developmental level.
- Encourage healthy peer relationships. “In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory calling out loneliness and isolation as a public health crisis,” she says. “It’s important to have in the back of your mind. Fostering healthy connections for everyone, particularly kids, and setting up that foundation is really important.” Rather than rely on social media relationships, prioritize in-person activities for your kids whenever possible.
- Monitor prescription and over the counter drugs carefully. Use the acronym M.E.D.S: monitor, educate, dispose, secure. Keep track of the number of pills in your prescriptions and how often you are refilling. Educate friends and relatives, especially grandparents, of the need to monitor and secure medications at home. Use drug disposal programs rather than flushing medicines down the toilet or the drain. Secure drugs in a locked cabinet.
- Keep firearms locked safely away. Use a lock box or safe and store the ammunition separately. Keep the key location or lock code a secret. If your child is visiting a friend, check to make sure the home follows this rule, too.
- Know the myths. “If a young person says that they’re thinking about suicide, it’s a myth that they are not serious or they just want attention,” Cassise says. Another myth is that a person will always find a way to die by suicide and there’s no way of preventing this. “That’s absolutely not true,” she says. “Most people with thoughts of suicide do not want to die. They just want their pain to end.” Recognize warning signs as invitations to help and talk with them or find someone they’re comfortable talking to. “This leads to the myth that talking about suicide puts the idea in someone’s head,” she adds. “This is not true. Talking about suicide reduces the risk. Most people want help to live.” When you let someone know that you are a safe person to come to, this reduces the barrier to getting help.
- Use available resources. Don’t wait until a crisis happens. Call or text 988 anytime you have questions. Trained staff are on hand to provide insight and your call is routed to the most local point possible so they can help you find resources right in your own community or nearby. “988 is such a simple resource to remember,” Cassise says. “We have 911 for physical health and 988 for mental health.”
OCHN manages and funds a service provider network for approximately 29,000 Oakland County residents at more than 400 service sites across the county. People who receive public behavioral health services through OCHN’s provider network include those who have an intellectual or developmental disability, mental health concerns or substance use disorder. Most of these individuals have Medicaid insurance coverage.
OCHN’s goal is to ensure these individuals are aware of and have access to services and support that will improve their health and quality of life, as well as ensure their engagement in full community participation. Its mission to “inspire hope, empower people, and strengthen communities” reflects an unyielding belief in a “Valuable System for Valued People.”Programs and supports provided by OCHN’s service network are available at oaklandchn.org.
