A Unified Response to Teen Crisis: Supporting a Teen Struggling With Suicidal Ideation
When it comes to the topic of teen suicide, no one can honestly say it is an easy subject to talk about. For parents, teachers, coaches, caregivers, and others involved in the daily lives of teenagers, the idea that our young friends could even possibly be contemplating suicide when they are feeling anxious or depressed can be confusing, troubling, paralyzing, and scary. Dying at a young age is tragic enough. When it involves a young person taking their own life, it has a ripple effect. One that can negatively impact not just families but entire communities as well.
What if your adolescent child or one you work with has, at one time or another, expressed feelings of despair in a way that reflects possible suicidal ideation? Maybe it’s some violent or disturbing drawings of theirs you’ve seen. Stories they write mentioning death or referencing suicide. On and off vague dark thoughts shared with you. Or even straight-up verbal outbursts where they openly state, “Sometimes I just want to kill myself!” What can you do to support a teen struggling with suicidal ideation? Before we explore how therapy can help couples/ parents develop a unified response, let’s first consider some of the data.
Some of the numbers on suicide
Suicide and suicidal ideation in adolescents are a serious public health issue around the world. According to research from a global school-based health survey conducted between 2003 and 2015, 14% of over 275,000 polled adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 experienced serious suicidal thoughts over a period of 12 months.
In 2020 in the United States, the second leading cause of people aged 10-14 and 25-34, as well as the third leading cause of death for people in the 15-24 age range, was suicide. In 2021, 20% of high school students seriously thought about attempting suicide, 16% made/had a plan, and 9.5% made an attempt.
Approximately 6,400 people aged 10-24 years old die by suicide annually. Of all the emergency room visits at children’s hospitals, about 1/3 of such visits are for suicide or self-injury.
These numbers may be startling to some, and not so surprising to others. Nonetheless, suicide is a problem that continues to manifest itself in our youth today. What are some of the signs and risk factors to look for?
Signs of suicidal ideation, risk factors, and warning signs
These are some of the physical, medical, and life issues that can increase the risk for suicidal ideation and behavior:
Mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and other behavioral disorders
Substance use issues (alcohol, marijuana, stimulants, among others).
Being a survivor of suicide: knowing a family member or friend who completed suicide.
History of experiencing abuse (physical/sexual) or bullying.
Gender/identity challenges or being a member of the LGBTQ community.
Some warning signs that your teen child or a teen you may be struggling with suicidal ideation:
Talking about or writing about suicide, either directly or via innuendo. (I want to kill myself, I will not be a burden to you very long).
Expressing hopelessness or despair about the present and/or future.
Increase use of drugs or alcohol.
Participating in self-destructive or risky behavior.
Giving away personal or valuable items for no obvious reason.
Isolative behavior, including socializing less and a desire to be alone.
If you are seeing any of these signs, it is likely your teen is struggling with suicidal ideation. Thus, it is important to get immediate support. And that starts with having a conversation with your teen.
Start the conversation and ask about suicide
Parents, teachers, therapists-in-training, and other adults I advise sometimes share with me a similar worry. That bringing up the topic of suicide with a teen will put the idea in their head. This makes them afraid to talk about it at all. Trust me when I tell you this: it doesn’t! And while it can be a scary conversation for you to have, it is imperative for you to take this important first step toward providing support for your teen who is struggling with suicidal ideation. As hard as it may be for you to bring up suicide, the sooner you can address it openly through a discussion, the sooner your teen will feel supported and more open to interventions.
A few things I encourage couples/ parents to remember when having the conversation:
Find a comfortable, private space where you know your teen will feel safe. Open by expressing your concern in a non-judgmental manner: “I really care about you, and I’m concerned about you.”
While sharing your concern, be direct and clear when asking about suicide. It can be as simple as, “I’m worried about you and I’m wondering if you have been thinking about killing yourself?”
Listen to your teen’s response carefully, do not judge what they say and instead focus on validating and acknowledging what they are sharing. You can try reflecting what they say, literally paraphrasing what they said in a statement back to them. Or something as simple as “Wow, that sounds really terrible.” And letting them know you are interested and care by asking them, “Would you mind telling me more about that?”
When the threat of suicide becomes a reality for you and your teen, it is of utmost importance to acknowledge the challenge and talk to your teen about your concern. Once you have that conversation, you may wonder, “so what steps can I take now to support my teen with suicidal ideation?”
Develop a Safety Plan
The first step to take is to come up with a safety plan to ensure you and your teen are on the same page and know what to do when the threat of suicide arises. Safety planning involves talking to your teen about ways to keep themselves safe if they start feeling suicidal.
Most safety plans involve listing warning signs to recognize that those feelings are coming up, listing coping strategies to use before contacting someone, and then listing people to contact when coping alone is not possible.
It can even look like a simple action plan with a list of resources:
Use healthy coping skills (square breathing, mindfulness exercise)
Call mom/dad, family member, or friend (include phone numbers)
Call/text your therapist or psychiatrist
Call 988 – the suicide and crisis lifeline (available 24 hours a day)
Use the 988 chatline
Go to the hospital/emergency room
Call 911
Other elements of a safety plan may involve removing all firearms from the home, as well as sharp objects or dangerous medications that could be used in a suicide attempt.
Having a safety plan in place provides both you and your teen with actionable steps to take that are known well in advance of a crisis situation.
Find Professional Help
The threat of suicide is nothing to take lightly. Therefore, it is imperative to engage with an experienced therapist, psychologist, psychiatrist, or other professional help in order to help your teen overcome the struggles they are having with suicidal ideation. It is not uncommon for teens who are in distress to forgo seeking help on their own as they continue to spiral downward.
Mental illness is prevalent in people contemplating suicide, so finding treatment options can prove to be an immense source of support for your teen. Professional mental health clinicians can also provide emotional support. They can teach healthy coping skills to your teen that will help them overcome struggles with suicidal ideation.
What else can you do to support your teen?
Some other things you can do to help support your teen as they navigate the challenges of having suicidal thoughts:
Check in and follow up on a regular basis
It is important for you to remind your teen that you are thinking of them and want to support them through this struggle. It’s best if you can have daily check-ins with your teen and continue to have honest conversations with them. Use empathy in your ongoing conversations with your teen and remember to acknowledge and validate their concerns. Avoid using dismissive statements.
Encourage social interactions with friends and family
Isolation and loneliness often feed suicidal ideation. Help your teen find ways to hang out more with friends to build social connections and promote a sense of belonging, which will help combat suicidal thoughts.
Work on creating a healthy sleep
Poor sleep and changes in sleeping patterns are both warning signs before suicidal ideation. Simply improving the quality of your teen’s sleep and ensuring they are getting a full night’s rest will result in improved mental health and well-being, which in turn reduces mental health symptoms that contribute to suicidal ideation.
Encourage more physical activity
Similarly, physical exercise can improve your teen’s mood through the body’s resulting endorphin production (helps reduce stress) while also supporting higher levels of serotonin, the “happy hormone” we naturally produce that helps improve mood and promotes more restful sleep.
Final thoughts from a family and couples therapist in Arcadia, CA
Supporting a teen who is struggling with suicidal ideation is no easy task, and there is no one right way to go about it. If you find yourself working with a suicidal teen or have an adolescent child with suicidal thoughts, it is important to remember that while it is a scary situation, there are strategies and treatments available that can help prevent suicide.
Do your best not be afraid to talk about suicide with your teen. Remember to always validate their feelings and acknowledge their struggle. Show them your concern in an honest, compassionate, and empathic manner. In doing so, you will open up your teen to having ongoing conversations about their struggles. That, in and of itself, is truly the best way to support them.
If you’d like expert guidance in navigating the topic, we encourage you to reach out to Maple Leaf Counseling by phone call at (626) 214-8384 or email at info@mapleleafcounseling.org.
Supporting Your Teen Starts With Supporting Each Other: Couples Therapy in Arcadia, CA
When a teen is in crisis, parents often feel overwhelmed, frightened, and unsure how to respond, especially when stress begins to create tension between partners. Couples therapy for parents offers a steady, supportive space to help you align, communicate clearly, and respond to your teen’s needs as a united team. By strengthening your partnership, you can create a safer and more emotionally supportive environment for your child.
At Maple Leaf Counseling, we offer both in-person sessions in Arcadia and Claremont and secure online therapy, making it easier to access care during urgent and emotionally demanding times. Here’s how to take the next step:
Schedule a free 20-minute consultation to discuss your family’s concerns and explore how therapy can support you as parents.
Work with an experienced couples therapist in Arcadia who understands the emotional toll of teen mental health crises on families.
Learn practical tools to improve communication, manage fear and uncertainty, and respond to your teen with consistency, compassion, and calm.
You don’t have to navigate a teen crisis alone or at odds with one another. With the right support, couples therapy can help parents stay connected, grounded, and better equipped to protect their teens’ well-being during this critical time.
Other Services Maple Leaf Counseling Offers in California
When a teen is struggling emotionally, it can place immense strain on parents and the relationship between them. Therapy helps couples come together as a united front, improving communication, reducing conflict, and creating a calmer, more supportive environment where a teen can feel safer and more understood. With guidance, parents can learn how to support their child while also strengthening their partnership.
At Maple Leaf Counseling, we offer a comprehensive range of therapy services to support families during difficult times. In addition to couples therapy for parents, our practice provides individual therapy for adults, teen therapy, and child counseling, addressing emotional needs across every stage of development. We also support clients navigating grief, chronic illness, and perinatal or postpartum challenges, recognizing that stressors often overlap within families. Services are available in person at our Arcadia and Claremont offices as well as through secure online therapy, offering flexibility when families need it most.
To learn more about our therapists, our practice, and our approach, we invite you to explore our mental health blog or review our FAQ page. You can also stay connected by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. When you’re ready to take the next step toward healing—whether for yourself, your relationship, or your child—we’re here to help guide your family toward greater stability, connection, and hope.
About the Author
Ken Park, LCSW, is a licensed clinical therapist who supports adolescents, adults, and couples as they navigate complex mental health, behavioral, and relationship challenges. With extensive experience working with families, Ken helps parents and partners manage concerns such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, Autism, addiction-related issues, and the impact of technology and screen use on family dynamics. His work is especially relevant to couples and parents seeking guidance during times of stress or crisis, including grief and loss. Ken is currently in private practice at Maple Leaf Counseling in Arcadia and Claremont, California, where he focuses on helping families build healthier communication, stronger connections, and more supportive environments for their children.
Resources
“About Suicide.” Suicide Prevention Resource Center.
“Addressing Pediatric Suicide.” Children’s Hospital Association. August 20, 2025.
Biswas, T. et al. (2020, June 22). Global variation in the prevalence of suicidal ideation, anxiety, and their correlates among adolescents: A population-based study of 82 countries. ScienceDirect.
Sigel, Eric J. & Rahmandar, Maria H. “Suicide Prevention: 12 Things Parents Can Do.” American Academy of Pediatrics. October 7, 2024.
“You Can Be The Difference: How to Help.” Didi Hirsch.