Don't avoid the subject or wait for the teen to come to you. Be alert to the teen's feelings. The severity of the problem should be judged from the teen's perception, not by adult standards. If a teen perceives something as a problem, it is a problem for him or her. Model healthy behavior and positive problem-solving approaches.
Adults can be models for young people by dealing with their own stress in a constructive manner.
Use television shows, films, newspaper articles and other media as a trigger for a discussion of effective ways to deal with stress and depression. Provide opportunities for group support. Teens sharing problems with other teens who help find solutions can be beneficial. Adults need to take the possibility of teen suicide seriously even if their community has not experienced one. Teen depression and thoughts of suicide are more common than many adults assume and there are as many as 50 to 100 suicide attempts for every young person who actually takes his or her own life.