Alison remembers showing off the cuts on her arms to her friends and still getting no response about the severity of her problems. My friends would look at my cuts and not say anything. Woo feels that breaking someone's trust, while difficult, is essential in a suicidal situation. The person may be really mad at first, but in the end it's the best solution, and they will be happy about that way things turned out. Ritvo says that if someone is suicidal, the only solution is treatment.
Suicide is a leading cause of death amongst adolescents so it definitely requires attention.
According to the APA, the safest way to deal with a suicidal teen is to place them in a safe and protected environment such as a psychiatric hospital. Patients may also be put on anti-depressant medication because some people who are depressed have altered levels of certain brain chemicals, such as serotonin. These medications can begin working in two to three weeks and are used along with psychotherapy. Nearly 90 percent of depressed people respond to a combination of these treatments. Ritvo believes that even mild cases of suicidal feelings require professional help.