An Update on Suicide and Self-Harm Myths Based on Latest Research
Suicide isn’t a comfortable topic to talk about.
Especially when talking about suicide in kids and teens.
But it’s something I feel I need to cover.
Because shockingly, a recent CDC report showed that suicide rates have increased 195% since 1990.
And that’s not all.
In youths aged 5-19, self-harm has also risen by a staggering 411%.
And in children aged 5-12, suicide is now the 5th leading cause of death.
I know hearing this might make you uncomfortable.
And it should.
It certainly does me.
But we can’t just brush this issue under the carpet.
After all, resistance to speaking about suicide and self-harm in children and teens is likely one of the reasons these rates have continued to climb.
And sure, there are other factors involved as well …
But a reluctance to talk won’t have helped.
Self-harm and suicide risks are very real.
In fact, barely a week goes by when my team and I don’t speak to a parent who’s already found evidence of their HSC self-harming …
Or they’re having sleepless nights, and living with constant anxiety over what their child might do.
Which is heartbreaking.
Obviously, we do whatever we can to help these people.
But I wanted to post this in case it’s something you’re struggling with, too.
See, as shocking as these stats are, there’s also some promising news.
Because research published just last year showed a compelling link between how well a family functions, and a lowered risk of suicide and self-harm in children.
The study focused on teaching parents emotional regulation skills, which could then be passed onto the kids.
The researchers found that doing this led to:
- Improved heart rate variability
- Increased feelings of comfort
- Better self-regulation
- More meaning in life
And ultimately, a lower risk of suicide and self-harm.
What does this tell us?
Well, it shows us that what you focus on grows.
When parents focus on their own emotional regulation, and then actively coach their children to do the same, this has a huge impact on their quality of life.
The key word here though, is ‘actively.’
Simply knowing this isn’t enough.
Neither is it enough for parents to learn this themselves, but not make a conscious effort to pass this on, on a consistent basis.
That’s why, at MTC, we work with both the parents and kids to help family functioning.
If that’s something you’d like to explore, you can book a call with us here.
I’d love to tell you that you could simply send your kid to a few therapy sessions, and everything would be right as rain.
But I can’t.
And any therapist who says this is the case is deluded.
Because helping your HSC -- whether you need help with calming the meltdowns and stress, or you’re genuinely worried about their risk of self-harm -- is a team effort.
You need them to be involved.
You need to be involved yourself.
And if you want the fastest, simplest, most predictable results, you’ll also have a team of professionals in your corner.
I’d love if we could be that team for you.
So if your kiddo is struggling right now, and you’re genuinely worried for them -
Schedule some time to speak with us.
We’ll walk you through what working with us looks like …
You can tell us about where you’re seeing problems right now …
And we’ll go into what an ideal outcome would be for you and your family.
So go ahead, book that call, and let’s work together on this.
If you're a family with a high school age teen, book your call here.
Talk soon,
Megghan
