Skip to main content
FamilyEducation
FamilyEducation
Family Education

FE-Menu

  • Pregnancy
    • <blank>
      • Pregnancy Tracker
      • Trying to Conceive
      • Signs & Symptoms
      • Pregnancy Health
    • <blank>
      • Baby Names
      • High Risk Pregnancies
      • Preparing for Baby
    • <blank>
      • Concerns & Complications
      • Labor & Delivery
      • Postpartum
  • Baby Names
    • <blank>
      • Browse All Baby Names (A-Z)
      • Top Names for Boys
      • Top Names for Girls
      • Baby Name Generator
    • <blank>
      • Baby Name Lists & Ideas
      • First Names By Origin
      • Browse All Last Names (A-Z)
      • Last Names by Origin
  • Babies
    • <blank>
      • Caring For Your Baby
      • Baby's Health
      • Feeding Your Baby
    • <blank>
      • Your Baby and Sleep
      • Baby's Growth & Development
      • Baby Hygiene
    • <blank>
      • Baby Safety
      • Baby Products
    • <blank>
  • Toddlers
    • <blank>
      • Toddler Growth and Development
    • <blank>
      • Toddler Behavior and Discipline
    • <blank>
      • Your Toddler and Sleep
  • Kids
    • <blank>
      • Health
      • Childhood Development
      • Fitness & Nutrition
      • Childhood Safety
    • <blank>
      • Communicating with Your Kids
      • Childhood Behavior and Discipline
      • Fostering Responsibility
      • Instilling Values & Manners
    • <blank>
      • Childcare
      • Neurodiversity in Kids
      • Adopting Children
  • Teens
    • <blank>
      • Teen Health
      • Teen Puberty & Sex
    • <blank>
      • Behavior & Discipline
      • Teen Social Development
    • <blank>
      • Values & Responsibilities
  • Activities
    • <blank>
      • Printables
      • Indoor Activities
      • Learning Activities
      • Arts and Crafts
      • Performing Arts
      • Food Activities
      • Outdoor Activities
    • <blank>
      • Books
      • TV
      • Movies
      • Online
      • Quizzes
      • Games
      • Celebrities
    • <blank>
      • Parties
      • Travel
      • Toys
      • Holidays
      • Gifts
  • Learning
    • <blank>
      • By Grade
      • By Subject
      • College
      • Preschool
    • <blank>
      • Back to School
      • Study Skills
      • Learning Styles
    • <blank>
      • Homeschooling
      • Parental Involvement
      • Your Child's School
  • Family Life
    • <blank>
      • Mom Life
      • Dad Life
      • Family Relationships
      • Having a Healthy Marriage
      • Divorce
    • <blank>
      • Health & Fitness
      • COVID Resources
      • Managing Your Home
      • Moving Your Family
      • Pets
    • <blank>
      • Family Finances
      • Work
      • Families and Food
  • NewslettersNewsletters
    Newsletters

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Teens
  3. Teen Health
  4. Teen Mental Health
  5. Teen Suicide: A First-Person Message For Parents

Teen Suicide: A First-Person Message for Parents

A mother who has lost her son to suicide has a first-person message for parents: Learn about suicide, and talk to your teen.
  • facebook share icon
  • pin
  • twitter share icon
  • email share icon
  • Print page icon

Teen Suicide: A First-Person Message for Parents

Suicide Prevention
From the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide

I was not one of those parents who was unaware of her child's emotional distress. My son, Duke, a 21-year-old senior at college, complained that he "just didn't feel like himself" and didn't know what to do to feel better. He asked for my help. I knew that he was dealing with something that was beyond my skills as a parent, but I didn't know exactly what was happening to him.

I reached out to our family doctor. He referred Duke to a local psychiatrist, who saw him for two sessions. I accompanied him to the first and my husband, Duke's dad, accompanied him to the second. At the end of each session, we were brought into the office with the psychiatrist and Duke. We felt we were actively engaged in helping Duke by our presence and support. However, we were not educated about depression and did not know that we could be facing a "fatal" illness. Depression, to me at the time, was a way of describing feeling very sad -- not knowing what to do about decisions that needed to be made by a person entering adulthood.

Duke wanted very much to return to college to finish the semester. With the psychiatrist's guidance, we decided to support Duke's request to return to school. I spoke with Duke's college dean, shared the information that I had at the time, and asked for names of local services. I found an off-campus counseling center with a 24-hour hotline. It seemed like just the right thing.

Unfortunately, time was not on Duke's side. He had two appointments at the center. He was prescribed a medication for depression and was to continue with therapy. However, before any of these treatment recommendations could be implemented, Duke took his life.

I wish I could tell you why Duke died, or that I know getting appropriate mental health treatment sooner would have saved his life, but I can't.

What I can tell you, though, is that I wish I had been better informed about the nature of depression. My understanding that it meant "feeling sad" wasn't even close! I had no idea of the despair and hopelessness that color depressed days and nights, or the desire to die to escape the pain. At that time, I was unaware of the physical and biological components of depression. Accompanying Duke to his visits in New Jersey wasn't enough. I wish I had known how to be more proactive with the professionals seeing Duke. Perhaps we would have been told that Duke was having suicidal thoughts. I wish I had known how important an educated support system of family and friends could be. Duke had many people who loved him, but none of us was educated on the details of what he was dealing with.

As parents, we discuss many topics with our children -- sex, drugs, drinking, and more -- in an attempt to guide them. Never did I hear that suicide was the second leading cause of death for college students. It is a threat, and that threat is now at the doorsteps of our high schools and grade schools. It is not an issue limited to celebrities -- we just hear about those people more often. It is not limited to the "dysfunctional family." It is affecting the average family every day.

My message to you is simple: Learn about depression and suicide. Read. Ask questions. Check out the Internet for as much current, evidenced-based information as you can. Educate yourself and your child! It just may be the most valuable information you ever need to know!

Was this article helpful?

Thank you for your feedback.

What's hot

  • 14-Year-Old Doesn't Know If His Penis Is Big Enough TeensI Need Help! Is my penis too…
  • Breast Buds: My Daughter's Breast Hurts Should I Be Worried? TeensBreast Buds: My Daughter…
  • Teen Budget Worksheet TeensTeen Budget Worksheet
  • Tips for a Successful After-Prom Party TeensTips for a Successful After-…
NewslettersNewsletters
Your partner in parenting from baby name inspiration to college planning.
Family Education
FamilyEducation does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Information on our advertising guidelines can be found here.

FE Footer

  • Newsletter Center
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Policy
  • Editorial Team
  • Expert Panel
  • Medical Review Policy
  • Fact-Checking Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Site Map
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info (for CA Residents)
sandbox learning logo
Family Education is part of the Sandbox Learning family of educational reference sites for parents, teachers, and students. 

factmonster logoinfoplease logoTeacherVision logo

sandbbox logo
©2022 Sandbox Networks Inc. All rights reserved. Sandbox Learning is part of Sandbox & Co., a digital learning company.