In the conclusion of our three part series on youth suicide, we explore information for the parents of young adults.  Additionally, we discuss things every parent should know about youth suicide regardless of the age of their child. We also field questions from our audience.  We really loved your input. Please keep the questions coming!

Young adults often leave home and start new chapters of their lives.  Some go to college, others move to a new city or just across town. They may begin to look for jobs and develop their careers.  However, leaving the nest can be challenging for most young adults. Some do not respond as well as others to the new stressors.  Parents of young adults should be aware of the warning signs for suicide.  This is especially true if their child has a diagnosed mental illness or needed extra care and management in order to thrive.  

Regardless of the age of their child, it is not uncommon for parents to have questions about suicide prevention. Our audience has posed questions like: “I know my kid best.  How could someone provide better care for them than me?” Or, “What should I do if I overhear my kid’s friend say something suicidal?” We explore these and other frequently asked questions that a lot of parents have on this topic. Finally we discuss how, when it comes to youth suicide, parents need more than just hope.  Learn more in this week’s blog, “Teen Suicide Attempts: Hope Is Not a Strategy.“