How to protect your child from suicidal thoughts

According to a study published on the last 12 in the scientific  journal Lancet Psychiatry , 8% of children between 9 and 10 years old report having suicidal thoughts, while 2% say they tried to take their own life. The survey was conducted with more than 8,000 young people in the United States.

Suicide is currently on a worrying rise in that country. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there has been a 30% increase in suicide rates over the past decade alone, with observable growth in all age groups. In Brazil, rates increased by 7% in six years.

According to the article, one of the strongest reasons for suicidal behavior in children is family conflict: about 50% of the time young people take their own lives, a family problem is involved. Previous studies have already pointed out that children who consider suicide tend to believe that their mothers are less caring and more overprotective than mentally healthy young people.

Direct conflict between the child and the parents tends to have the greatest impact on children's mental health, followed by poor communication with parents. In addition, young people's relationships at school can greatly influence their psychological health.

As a suggestion for parents, the researchers responsible for the study present the need for child supervision and involvement with their child's school life. Another indication is the practice of sports within the school: according to older studies, young people involved in this type of physical activity report much lower rates of suicidal thoughts.

Some of the signs given by children and which parents should be aware of are sudden changes in mood, isolation from family and friends, excessive sleep, changes in eating habits and suffering from bullying. According to the researchers, it is very important that the young person feels that his parents are at his side, listening to him and communicating with him.