Warning signs of adolescent suicide

• Withdrawal: The teenager may be unwilling to communicate with family and friends and spends a great deal of time alone.
• Aggression: The adolescent may be increasingly irritable and aggressive.
• School Problems: The teenager may be disrupting classes or suffering from falling grades. May not finish assigned projects.
• Moodiness: The adolescent may be "high" one day and "down" the next. If calmness follows an intense period of depression, this can be a dangerous sign that the person has already decided that suicide is the solution.
• A Life Crisis: If an adolescent is already depressed, a crisis such as a parent's divorce or breakup of a relationship can trigger suicide.
• Threats: All threats to commit suicide or comments such as "I wish I had never been born" should be treated seriously.
• Giving Items Away: An adolescent may start to give away cherished items when contemplating suicide.
• Risky Behavior: Risky sex or dangerous driving may be unconscious ways for the adolescent to commit suicide.

If you think someone you know might be considering suicide, get help immediately. Contact your local healthcare professional or call Belmont Behavioral Health at 1-800-220-HELP (4357) or 215-877-2000.