National Suicide Prevention Month
How Parents Can Recognize the Signs and Help Prevent Teen Suicide
Parents do not have to diagnose every difficult day. They can learn to notice concerning changes, begin honest conversations, and know where to turn when a young person needs help.
Parenting tweens and teens can sometimes feel like a constant exercise in interpretation.
Is the closed bedroom door a need for independence or a sign of withdrawal? Is the irritability a passing mood or something more? Is the change in sleep simply a demanding school schedule or evidence that a young person is struggling?
Parents don’t have to diagnose every behavior or assume every difficult day signals a crisis. They can, however, learn to recognize concerning changes, create space for honest conversations, and know where to turn when their child needs help.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month, but the work of prevention happens every day. It begins long before a crisis, with conversations that make it safer for young people to say they’re struggling and trusted adults who are prepared to listen.
“Suicide prevention starts before a young person reaches a crisis. When parents create space for honest conversations about mental health, they help young people know it’s safe to speak up when something doesn’t feel right.”
Javetta L. Allen, M.Ed., director of mental health education at Grant Halliburton FoundationThe need remains urgent. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s most recent national Youth Risk Behavior Survey, conducted in 2023, 20% of U.S. high school students seriously considered attempting suicide during the previous year, 16% made a suicide plan, and nearly 10% attempted suicide. Final CDC mortality data for 2023 also show that suicide was the second-leading cause of death among people ages 10 to 24.
Notice What Has Changed
Adolescence naturally brings changes in mood, relationships, and behavior. The key is to look for patterns that feel different from a child’s usual behavior, especially changes that are new, becoming more intense, or interfering with daily life.
A teen may become increasingly isolated, lose interest in favorite activities, struggle to concentrate, or experience significant changes in sleep, appetite, or school performance. They may appear hopeless, unusually anxious, agitated, or angry. They may begin taking dangerous risks or using alcohol or drugs more frequently.
Parents know their children. If something feels different, they should trust that instinct and check in.
“Parents don’t need to be mental health experts to make a meaningful difference. Noticing a change, listening without judgment, and being willing to ask a difficult question can create the opening a young person needs to accept help.”
Leslie Silva Castillo, MSW, director of mental health resources at Grant Halliburton FoundationA parent can choose a calm moment and begin with what they have noticed rather than an accusation.
- You haven’t seemed like yourself lately, and I’m concerned about you.
- I’ve noticed you’re spending more time alone. How have you been feeling?
- You seem overwhelmed. I’m here to listen, even if it’s hard to explain.
Parents should try to listen without immediately correcting, lecturing, or offering solutions. A young person who feels heard is more likely to keep talking.
Ask the Direct Question
If a parent is concerned that a child may be thinking about suicide, it is important to ask directly, “Are you thinking about suicide?”
Parents often worry that asking the question will put the idea into a young person’s mind. It will not. Research summarized by the National Institute of Mental Health shows that asking directly does not cause or increase suicidal thoughts. Instead, the question can open the door to an honest conversation and identify someone who needs immediate help.
If a young person says yes, the parent should remain as calm as possible, thank them for sharing, and listen without judgment. The answer should always be taken seriously, and the young person should not be promised secrecy.
A parent does not need to solve everything in that moment. The immediate goal is to keep the young person safe and connect them with appropriate support.
“Hearing that a child is thinking about suicide can be frightening, but the parent’s response matters,” Silva Castillo said. “Staying calm, listening without judgment, and helping the young person connect with immediate support can make a critical difference.”
Know What to Do Next
If a young person is thinking about suicide or there may be an immediate risk, take the following steps.
Help keep them safe and connect them with support
- Stay with them. Do not leave them alone.
- Reduce access to medications, firearms, or other potentially dangerous items.
- Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and connect with a trained crisis counselor.
- Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if there is immediate danger.
- Contact a pediatrician, therapist, school counselor, or other qualified mental health professional for continued care.
- Follow up after the immediate crisis. Ongoing support and connection matter.
Even if a young person says they’re not thinking about suicide, persistent changes in mood or behavior still deserve attention. A pediatrician, counselor, or mental health professional can help determine the appropriate next step.
Helping North Texas Families Know Where to Turn
Grant Halliburton Foundation was established in 2006 in memory of Grant Halliburton, a Dallas teen who lived with depression and bipolar disorder and died by suicide at age 19. For 20 years, the Foundation has worked to strengthen youth mental health and prevent suicide through education, resources, and support. Since its founding, it has reached more than 375,000 students, educators, parents, and professionals across North Texas.
Through its Building Blocks of Mental Health programming, the Foundation brings age-appropriate educational presentations to schools and community organizations. Programs for students in grades four through 12 address stress, resilience, coping skills, healthy boundaries, depression, and suicide prevention. Presentations for parents, educators, and other adults provide practical tools for understanding youth mental health, recognizing signs of distress, and responding with confidence.
“Young people need the language and practical skills to understand their mental health before they reach a crisis,” Allen said. “Our Building Blocks of Mental Health presentations help students recognize what they’re feeling, develop healthy coping strategies, and understand that asking for help is a sign of strength.”
The Foundation also provides free online information for parents, young people, and educators, including suicide prevention guidance and downloadable materials available at GrantHalliburton.org.
For families trying to find professional care, the Foundation created HereForTexas.com, which offers a searchable database of providers and resources for mental health and substance use.
The Foundation also offers its free Here For Texas Mental Health Navigation Line, providing personalized assistance to people looking for a therapist, treatment program, support group, or other resource that fits their needs. A trained navigator gathers information about the caller’s situation, and the Foundation’s mental health resources team researches appropriate options and follows up to help the caller move forward.
Silva Castillo says parents don’t have to know every answer. Their most important first steps are to notice, ask, listen, and help connect their child with support.
“Finding mental health care can feel overwhelming, especially when a family is already in distress,” Silva Castillo said. “The Foundation’s role is to listen, help families understand their options, and connect them with resources that fit their individual needs. No parent should have to navigate that process alone.”
Suicide prevention is not about living in fear. It’s about being prepared to recognize when someone may be struggling and having the courage to begin a conversation that could save a life.
“We all have a shared responsibility,” Allen said. “When schools, families, and communities know the warning signs, speak openly about mental health, and understand how to respond, young people are surrounded by a stronger safety net and a clearer path to help.”
NEED HELP NOW?
Whether you’re dealing with a crisis, struggling with major stress, concerned about someone’s mental health, or need to refer a patient, you’ll find helpful resources here.
Call or text 988
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential crisis support 24/7.
988Lifeline.org →Text HOME to 741741
Crisis Text Line connects you with a trained crisis counselor through free, confidential text support 24/7.
CrisisTextLine.org →Call 972-525-8181
Here For Texas offers free, personalized guidance finding mental health and substance-use providers and resources. Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. This is not a crisis service.
HereForTexas.com →This article provides general educational information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.