Jesse Jones
According to the state’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey, nearly one in six Indiana high school students attempted suicide in 2023. Nationally, that number is about one in eleven.
I have seen children admitted to the ICU after a suicide attempt.
As a parent, you know your child better than anybody else. You know when they are acting different. You know when they are more emotional than normal. You know when they are more angry than normal. You know when they are more withdrawn. Many times we brush these behaviors off as typical of a child, preteen, or teenager.
Often, this is the case. But when we see these behaviors, we cannot allow ourselves to become complacent.
In today’s world, kids can find help in their screens by texting the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Most importantly, you can also be the one to contact 988 if you are worried about your child.
Being a parent is a hard job; I will never tell you differently. But what I want you to realize is you know more about your child than you might think. It all starts with recognizing when something is not quite right and having a conversation.
Jesse Jones, MSN, APRN, CPNP-PC
Jesse is a father of four and the founder and sole provider at HeroHouse Pediatrics, a Plainfield-based telehealth practice serving families across Indiana. Each month he covers the topics parents need to know about, challenges misinformation, and takes on what parents might not think applies to their children.
herohousepediatrics.com