Please note, this article discusses sensitive topics related to mental health and suicide prevention. If you or someone you know is struggling, remember that help is available—you don’t have to carry it alone.
Suicide Prevention Month is an important time for parents and caregivers to reflect on the mental health and well-being of their families. It's a chance to learn more, talk openly, help change any misunderstandings, and remind ourselves that mental health matters just as much as physical health. By knowing the signs and risks of suicide, you can support both yourself and your children.
A big challenge in preventing suicide is the fear of talking about mental health. Speaking openly and transparently about feelings, thoughts, and actions may encourage others to do the same. This can lead to deeper conversations about everyday sadness, worry, and stress, and how they can affect the way you parent. Through those deeper conversations, you might find that the person you’re talking to may be feeling the same way or has gone through something similar. Welcoming those open conversations can make it easier for you to feel safe asking for help.
According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, here are some ways you can start the conversation:
"Hey, there's something I’d like to talk with you about. It's kind of important to me, and I'm wondering if we can make some time."
"I'm wondering if you have a few minutes at lunchtime for us to talk today."
"Is there a good time I might call you this evening?"
If the person you'd like to talk to is unavailable, know that it doesn't mean they don't care. Speaking up is the most important step you can take, and it’s a strong step toward change. Another important factor of mental health is understanding how it affects every part of our lives, including our bodies.
Mental health affects more than just your mood. It can also affect a person’s physical health. For example, depression can cause tiredness, headaches, and stomachaches. It can also cause someone to feel pain more intensely, leading to aching muscles and back pain. Depression might even cause changes in vision, like making the world look blurry or gray. And it can lead to digestive problems like constipation or diarrhea, or a general feeling of uneasiness in the stomach.
A common physical health issue that can lead to depression is chronic stress. Chronic stress might cause a person to experience muscle pain or trouble falling asleep. It can also cause an increase in blood pressure or a weakened immune system.
Knowing that mental and physical health go hand in hand can feel overwhelming, but it also shows how caring for your mind and body can help you overall.
Looking after your mental health is important for you and your family. Here are some ways to do that to help shift your focus from stress and worries to self-care and wellness:
Practice Mindfulness: Try mindfulness activities like meditation, yoga, or journaling. These can lower stress levels and can make you feel better overall.
Reach Out for Help: If needed, talk to mental health professionals, join support groups, or call a crisis hotline. Connecting with others who understand your experiences or can help you navigate them can give you comfort and guidance. Here are some resources that can help.
Set Limits: Create healthy boundaries to help manage stress and avoid burnout. It's okay to say no sometimes so you can focus on what you need. For example, you can say, “I’m mad/sad/frustrated right now. I need my space for 10 minutes.”
Move Your Body: Exercise regularly to uplift your mood and energy. Find an exercise you enjoy and make it a regular part of your routine.
Talk Openly: Encourage open conversations about mental health with your family. Let your kids know it's okay to share their feelings and ask for help.
These practices can make a big difference, but if your feelings are still so heavy that they're leading you to thoughts of self‑harm or suicide, know you’re not alone and help is available.
When facing overwhelming stress or depression, it can lead to experiencing suicidal thoughts. If you find yourself struggling with those thoughts, you don’t have to carry it alone. Help is available:
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline:
Available 24/7
Free and confidential
Accessible by call, text, or chat
Reaching out for help and discussing your feelings openly are crucial for your safety and healing. It may also influence those around you, who may be silently struggling, to seek those valuable resources too.
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood. These can include abuse, neglect, or family violence. When children go through ACEs without adequate support, their bodies and minds can stay in a flight, fight, or freeze response. This creates something called toxic stress.
Regular stress can help children manage problems, but toxic stress is different. It can cause problems with their emotions, behavior, and learning that may continue into adulthood. However, parents and caregivers can help stop this cycle. They can reduce the harmful effects of toxic stress in their children by creating a home where everyone feels safe to talk about their thoughts and feelings.
To create this safe space, listen to what your child says and give them time to talk before you respond. You might say something like, "It's okay to feel like that. What else are you feeling?"
Building stronger and healthier relationships is possible. When you take care of your mental health, you show your children how to do the same. Working as a family to better understand mental health, ACEs, and toxic stress can help children grow up feeling supported and safe. It can also help you heal from your own past experiences.
