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If children or teenagers are depressed, certain things can put them at high risk for suicide.

These include:^{1 2}

• Acting rashly or aggressively
• Having tried suicide before
• Having another mental health problem, such as an eating disorder
• Having been abused physically or sexually
• Having lost or been apart from a parent
• Being attracted to and having sex with someone of the same sex
• Abusing alcohol or drugs
• Having a family member who has tried suicide
• Being able to get at something they can use to kill themselves, such as a gun
• Not having any close family or friends.

If you think that your child may be at risk for suicide, here are some things you can do.

• Try to talk to your child, to make them feel less alone and more hopeful.
• Make sure your child has phone numbers to use in case of an emergency.
• Lock up guns or remove them from your home. Having them around makes suicide more likely.
• Have a no-suicide contract. This is an agreement between you, your child and a doctor. Your child agrees to tell an adult and their doctor if they feel suicidal.¹
• Don't leave around lots of medicines, including over-the-counter ones.
• Make an emergency action plan with your doctor to use if your child is suicidal.
• If your child starts saying they want to die or starts saying it more often, call your doctor right away.

We don't really know the best treatment for children and teenagers who feel suicidal.¹ There isn't enough research to tell us. A talking treatment (psychotherapy) may help. Depressed teenagers who are suicidal can benefit as much from cognitive behavioral therapy as those who don't think about suicide.³ Your child may need to stay in the hospital for treatment if they are suicidal.

Some drug treatments for depression have been linked to young people talking about or even trying suicide. For more, see Warning about antidepressants in children and teenagers.

This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment. ©BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2008. All rights reserved.