Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/858460
FACT FICTION WHO TO CONTACT: ✳ Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1.800.273.8255 ✳ Northwest Connections Crisis Line: 1.888.552.6642 ✳ Text "HOPELINE" to 741741 Source: National Association of School Psychologists Gronemus says. That's why open communication between parents or trusted adults and children is so important. For parents, Gronemus suggests asking questions—lots of them. Ask them if they've seen the series, and then ask what they thought. Talk about the emotions that go with the complicated topics surrounding the series. Even if it's clear that children aren't suicidal, it's important to have that dialogue, Gronemus says. GUIDANCE FOR PARENTS ✳ Ask your child if they have heard of or seen the series 13 Reasons Why. Discuss their thoughts. ✳ Don't be afraid to ask if they have thought about suicide or if someone is hurting them. Raising the issue of suicide does not increase the risk or plant the idea. It creates the opportunity to help. ✳ Listen to your child's comments without judgment. Concentrate, understand, and respond, putting your own agenda aside. ✳ Get help from a school-employed or community-based mental health professional if you are concerned for your child's safety or the safety of one of their peers. Q&A: Breaking the Silence About Depression Talking to your teenager about depression can be uncomfortable, especially when you aren't sure what to say. Here, Behavioral Care Therapist Jeni Gronemus, LPC, Prevea Behavioral Care, offers some guidance. Q: A mental health diagnosis doesn't occur overnight. Why not? Gronemus: Just because a teenager identifies with symptoms of a mental illness, it does not necessarily mean they will be diagnosed with one. Sometimes, symptoms may be developmentally appropriate in childhood; other times, they may be causing significant distress. Q: What symptoms should parents look for? Gronemus: Any abrupt changes in mood or behavior should be noted. Some general symptoms for a mental health condition include: • Increased fear or worry • Decreased school performance • Aggressive behavior or persistent disobedience • Difficulty concentrating • Withdrawal from friends • Poor coping skills Q: If someone notices their teenager is dealing with many of the symptoms listed above, what should they do next? Gronemus: Keep the lines of communication open. Ask open-ended questions and listen with compassion to their responses. Demonstrate that you hear them and offer support. Meeting with a mental health professional can help clarify a potential diagnosis, as well as work toward addressing the present symptoms. Q: What can be done to make mental health discussions feel more natural? Gronemus: Engage in a conversation about mental health the same as you would one about physical health. Paint a picture of mental wellness so they can recognize what it looks like. To schedule an appointment with a mental health professional, visit prevea.com, click on "Medical Services" and then on "Behavioral Care," or visit libertascenter.org and click on "Mental Health Services." 1 3 S TJ O E S C H I P FA L L S . C O M