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In episode 18 “Parents and Youth Suicide, Part III- Info for Parents of Young Adults” we discuss common questions that parents have about youth suicide. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among teenagers.  In addition, the rate of suicide among teens has increased 47% in the past 20 years.  Teen suicide attempts and deaths are at all time highs.  Yet, parents tend to underestimate the risk of suicide by their own teenager. This

Parents (and their children) dread “the talk”.  You know…the one about the birds and the bees. Almost no one looks forward to explaining to their adolescent about such things as condoms, sexually transmitted illnesses, and pregnancy.  However, as difficult as it is, most parents try to find a way to talk with their sons and daughters about sex to prevent what can be life-altering problems. If you don’t have the hard talk about sex, then your

Smart parents recognize the risks of the digital world and try to protect their children from them.  You may have reminded your kids that pictures them post online can come back to haunt them years later.  Or, you may have blocked inappropriate content and warned your kids about cyberbullying.  If you’ve listened to episode 16: “What Parents Need to Know About Suicide, Part 1,” you know that cyberbullying can be a serious threat to young

In episode 15 “Myth BUSTED: Don’t Ask “Are You Suicidal?“‘ we discuss how people sometimes think of suicide almost like a fantasy. They may hold a “romantic” view of suicide. When overwhelmed, they may daydream that suicide would offer them an escape. Often they are not picturing the reality of suicide but a fantasy. This fantasy is reinforced in movies, media, and literature. By far, the most famous example occurs with the star-crossed lovers in

If you’ve listened to episode 15 “Substance Abuse and Suicide“, you know that many people have a hard time admitting that their substance use has become problematic. It is often said that denial and substance abuse go hand in hand.  In fact, being in denial (that you are drinking/using too much) is often considered a cardinal sign that you have a problem. Most of us have known someone who drinks too much, for example, yet is