My blogs are typically planned in advance, thoughtful essays written about topics related to children and teens like handling melt downs, understanding your child’s temperament and discipline strategies when things get hairy.
But this week, in honor of Self-Injury Awareness Day (SAID), I felt an urgent calling to shine a light on a different kind of topic related to children and teens. Suicide. My close-knit community – where I was born, raised and now raise my own family – has suffered too many recent suicide attempts and completed suicides in recent years. Really, one is too many.
Many families, school employees and community leaders are feeling raw, ragged…raging. These events – some secret and some well-publicized – in my community have rocked families to the core – and I hope they rock our mental health system both locally and nationally too!
How do we deal with a lack of available resources, the disappearing ability to direct your own child’s care rather than trust the state’s temporary detention system, limited access to support for older teens who can’t be picked up and carried to a hospital and the reliance on alcohol and drugs to self-medicate when affordable mental health supports run out?
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among youth between the ages of 10 and 19, but how can we support the teens we know? How can we help teens see that there is help all around them – especially when it feels like there isn’t a person in sight who could possibly relate to how they are feeling?
We’re talking about this at my house – a lot.
We’re talking about it at our schools – a lot. Talking about feelings… stress… trauma… heartbreak…cutting…suicide – these conversations DO NOT CAUSE kids to get more stressed out – they DO NOT CAUSE kids to self-injure or commit suicide. They open a dialog about LIFE.
Ask your kids about LIFE tonight – be willing to listen to the good…the bad…and the ugly without a running commentary. Let’s make the tragedies around us serve a higher purpose – Be WISE.
Please take a moment to read through how you can play a role in preventing suicide. This site also includes excellent resources and hot lines for the Alexandria area. https://www.alexandriava.gov/health/info/default.aspx?id=79908
Be Wise!
“Supporting the mental health of the kids and teens in our community is one of the most challenging and also one of the most important jobs anyone could have. And I see your team doing it with both skill and enthusiasm.Our family could not be more fortunate to have found your practice 3 years ago.
Our kids are growing up but we still keep your number on our phone and we know we can reach out to your team if we need it. We tell everyone who asks about the WISE people at The Wise Family.
Thank you for doing what you do for so many people.”—from the parent of two former clients (siblings)
— Parent of two former clients (siblings)“I went home and practiced what Dr. Amy taught me…and it worked!”
— 8-year-old coaching client“Dr. Amy knows how to relate to children and make them feel comfortable. My son was shy in the beginning but Amy asked him a couple of questions about what he likes and immediately found a connection with him. He happily followed her into the office (just after a 3 min of conversation) and performed the test. He wasn’t nervous or scared and it’s because of her ability to relate to kids.
We had a great experience and he wants to go back! Thank you very much!”
— Dad of 5-year-old assessment client“Dr. Amy talks about moving children from being externally-driven to internally-driven…and she helps you get there!”
— Parent of 15-year-old daughter
