Teen suicide—It’s terrifying. I mean, as a parent, there’s nothing more frightening than the idea of something happening to my kids. Especially something as tragic as one of them taking their own life.

But it’s more common than you think. A poll taken in 2021 by the Montana Office of Public Instruction found that 21% of youth have considered ending their lives.

Shocking. Right?

Kids are struggling at epic proportions right now. Surveys reveal that over 40% of teens show signs of severe depression—feeling sad or hopeless daily.

And it’s reason for concern. It’s more critical than ever for parents to understand the warning signs of suicide and how to intervene.

Below are teen suicide indicators that every parent needs to know.

Warning Signs of Teen Suicide

Talking or writing about suicide

Has your child suddenly started talking or writing about suicide? If so, take it seriously! Examples include making statements such as “I’m going to kill myself” or “I won’t be a problem for you much longer.”

Social withdrawal

Have you noticed your teen is isolating? Do they no longer seem interested in hanging out with friends? Are they finding excuses to avoid school?

If your child is a social butterfly and suddenly seems disinterested in spending time with others, it may be a sign they’re considering suicide.

Changes in mood

Marked changes in your teen’s mood indicate something isn’t right. And frequently, pronounced bouts of sadness are a precursor to completed suicide.

Here are warning signs of depression parents should never ignore:

• Sadness
• Dropping grades
• Being irritable or angry often
• Acting bored all the time, and/or dropping out of activities
• Difficulty with relationships, including changing peer groups or becoming more isolated
• Risky behavior
• Persistent physical complaints such as headaches or stomachaches
• Fatigue

Pay attention to any atypical mood swings, up or down. Even a sudden elevation in mood after a bout of sadness is something to note. Suicide survivors often report a feeling of relief and raised spirits after deciding to end their life, seeing it as an end to their suffering.

Alcohol or drug use

Has your teen started using drugs or drinking? If so, it’s not something to ignore! Often, youth who are struggling use substances to cope. And intoxication increases impulsivity, making it a dangerous cocktail for teens grappling with thoughts of suicide.

Feelings of being trapped, hopeless, or helpless about a situation

Frequently, people who attempt suicide report feelings of being trapped or hopeless. And for teens, it’s something to particularly pay attention to because their concept of time is different than adults’.

As a result, life outside of high school may seem like an eternity, with an end to painful emotions, at the hands of a breakup or friendship conflict, being hard to grasp.

Changes in eating or sleeping patterns

Has your child’s eating or sleeping patterns changed? Both are common indicators of mental health struggles and frequently coincide with suicidal ideation.

Risky or self-destructive behavior

Teens are impulsive. And risk-taking behaviors? They’re a staple of adolescence. But if you notice your teen has suddenly started engaging in destructive behavior that’s uncharacteristic and beyond what’s safe or age-appropriate, it’s a clear indicator that they need help.

Giving away personal possessions

Before completing suicide, people often give away their possessions, making final preparations to end their life. So, if you notice that your teen is giving away prized items, it might be a hint that they are considering suicide.

Personality shifts

Does it feel like your teen’s personality has shifted overnight? Maybe your child was once confident and upbeat and now seems consistently anxious, angry, or agitated. If so, take note! It’s often a warning sign something else is going on.

How to Prevent Teen Suicide

Listen.

Never assume that statements like “nobody cares if I live or die” are just drama. Too often, parents think that and worry if they ask directly about suicide, they’ll plant the idea.

Here’s the thing, though. The only way to know if your child is suffering and get them the help they need is to ask. By inquiring, we show that we care.

Get help.

This piece is crucial. Call your doctor, call a mental health professional, call a suicide hotline, or take your child to a local emergency room. If a professional recommends treatment, be sure to pursue it and make sure your teen sticks with it.

Take precautions.

Do you suspect that your child might be thinking of suicide? If so, take action to limit access to lethal means.

If you have a gun in your house, lock it up along with ammunition, secured separately. And note any prescription medications or alcohol in your home that your teen could use for self-harm and either get rid of it or be sure it’s stored safely.

Final words

Remember, when it comes to suicide, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. So, ask the questions, take the precautions, and reach out for help.

Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch (YBGR) is here to help! We provide a wide range of wraparound mental health services designed to help kids heal.

Contact us online to get a child support today.

Want More?

Check out the rest of our blog and follow us on social media. You can find us on LinkedIn at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, Instagram at @ybgr_cares, and Facebook at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch.

School anxiety is a common experience, especially at the start of a new academic year. Nervousness can intensify when kids are faced with a new environment, where making new friends and adjusting to fresh expectations become part of the daily routine.

How to Tame School Anxiety

The good news? With a little preparation, open communication, and intentional connection, we can guide kids through the anxious feelings that often accompany the back-to-school transition.

Set the Stage for Success

Preparation is a powerful tool in easing anxiety.

Start by building a connection with your child’s school. Attend events, meet teachers early on, and talk with kids about the school year ahead. Focus on both upcoming challenges and opportunities.

It’s important to reassure children that feeling nervous is normal—these emotions are just part of growing and stepping into new beginnings.

Identify + Address Fears

Encourage kids to openly share their worries while steering the conversation in a way that emphasizes the positives.

Subtle shifts in language, as illustrated above, help kids concentrate on the positive aspects of their new environment while still allowing space for their concerns.

Identifying fears early on gives you the chance to address them directly, offering both comfort and clarity.

Highlight the Positives

Help kids focus on the aspects of school that excite them.

Take some time together to list out fun activities, favorite subjects, and friends they’re looking forward to seeing. This simple exercise can shift their focus from what they’re worried about to what they love about school.

Another helpful activity is creating a “worry jar.” It allows kids to separate their anxieties from positive thoughts, helping them see that there’s balance in their experiences.

Click Here to Learn How to Make a “Worry Jar.”

Keep the Connection

Staying connected throughout the school day can do wonders for easing anxiety. Simple gestures, like slipping a comforting note into your child’s lunchbox or giving them a small item from home to carry with them, provide reassurance.

Small acts show kids that they’re supported and loved, even as they navigate new situations.

Need Support?

Back-to-school time can be tough for many kids. If you know a child who needs extra support, contact us today to learn more about the mental health services we offer for children and families.

Want More?

Check out the rest of our blog and follow us on social media. You can find us on LinkedIn at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, Instagram at @ybgr_cares, and Facebook at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch.

Have you heard of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? It’s a mental health condition that can develop in response to highly stressful, traumatic events.

Below is a basic overview of the symptoms of PTSD:

As parents, it’s critical we know how to support children experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder and create an environment where they can feel safe and heal.

Recognizing Behavior Stemming from PTSD

Trauma affects children’s bodies, brains, emotions, and behavior. And each child is different based on age, history, and unique personal characteristics. For example, toddlers may be clingy, middle schoolers may withdraw, and teenagers may react with aggression.

Learn More: Parenting Children with Trauma Factsheet

5 Tips to Help You Care for Kids with PTSD

Identify trauma triggers.

Your actions, words, or even an item in your home may trigger traumatic memories. Pay attention to what distracts or scares your child or emotions that don’t seem to fit a situation.

Be present.

Offer encouragement, reassurance, and attention in whatever way your child needs at the moment. If they want to talk about their experience, be available to listen.

Control your emotions.

When your child escalates, remain calm, lower your voice and listen. Don’t take their behavior personally or use physical punishment.

Create consistency.

Regular routines are vital to helping children feel stable and secure.

Encourage and empower.

Create positive experiences to boost self-esteem, teach relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and allow age-appropriate choices to help your child feel in control.

Do you have a child who struggles with PTSD?

Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch (YBGR) provides a wide range of wraparound mental health services designed to help kids heal. Contact us online to get a child support today.

Did you find this article helpful?

Check out the rest of our blog and follow us on social media. You can find us on LinkedIn at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, Instagram at @ybgr_cares, and Facebook at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch.

“I say I am sick. They say no, you’re an inspiration. How could I not fall in love with my illness? With becoming the kind of silhouette people are supposed to fall in love with.” — Blythe Baird

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we’re exploring eating disorders—some of the most pervasive and deadly mental health conditions.

Eating disorders slowly erode the body. Yet, they often go untreated—swept under the rug and even glorified until reaching a crisis point.

Often appearing in adolescence, they impact roughly 30 million people in the United States at some point during their lifetime.

Check out the Crash Course video below for an overview of eating disorders and their impact:

Exploring Eating Disorders

The physiological effects of eating disorders are devastating.

“If you are not recovering, you are dying.” — Blythe Baird

Impacts on the body include:

• Slowed heart rate
• Loss of bone density
• Fatigue
• Muscle weakness
• Hair loss
• Severe dehydration
• Very low body mass index

Eating Disorder Subtypes

While there’s a variety of different eating disorder diagnoses, including some not listed in this article, all share either the restrictive or binge/purge behaviors.

Restriction

Marked by an extremely low-calorie diet, excessive exercise, and purging via vomiting or laxatives

Binge/Purge

Involves episodes of binge eating combined with restrictive behavior

Common Eating Disorder Diagnoses

Below are the three most commonly diagnosed eating disorders.

Anorexia Nervosa

Marked by restrictive behaviors, those struggling with anorexia have an intense fear of gaining weight, a distorted body image, and a significantly low body mass index. And it’s thought to kill more people than any other mental illness.

Common symptoms of anorexia nervosa include:

Rigidness as a means to obtain control amidst feelings of powerlessness characterize anorexia.

Bulimia Nervosa

Bulimia is distinguished by binge eating followed by purging behaviors such as vomiting, using laxatives or diuretics, or excessive exercise. And it often goes unnoticed because those afflicted tend to maintain a normal or minimally healthy body weight.

Common signs of bulimia nervosa include:

While those grappling with bulimia aren’t always dangerously underweight, it damages the entire digestive system. Irregular heartbeat, inflammation of the esophagus and mouth, tooth decay, irregular bowel movements, stomach ulcers, pancreatitis, and organ damage all stem from the condition.

Binge Eating Disorder

Binge eating disorder is characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large amounts of food, losing control during these episodes, and experiencing shame or guilt afterward.

Getting to the Roots of Eating Disorders

Eating disorders have strong individual, gender, cultural, genetic, environmental, and upbringing components.

Individually, they are often rooted in a need for perfection, low self-worth, fear of falling short of expectations, and concerns with others’ perceptions. Gender and culture also have a significant role, with beauty ideals varying widely.

Genetics plays a hand—eating disorders tend to run in families. But more than simply biology, environmental factors, and upbringing are crucial pieces of the puzzle.

Children watch their caregiver’s relationship with food and the behaviors surrounding it. And learning unhealthy values around weight from family and peers has a powerful effect.

Need Support?

We provide a wide range of wraparound mental health services that support caregivers and help kids heal. Contact us online to learn more about help available through Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch (YBGR).

Want to Learn More?

For more mental health tidbits, check out the rest of our blog and follow us on social media. You can find us on LinkedIn at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, Instagram at @ybgr_cares, and Facebook at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch.

Did you know that World Schizophrenia Day was May 24th? It’s true! And to celebrate, we want to spread a little awareness! You see, the condition affects 1 in every 100 people, yet it is one of the most misunderstood mental health disorders out there.

So, what exactly is schizophrenia? It’s a beast! Really, there’s so much to the diagnosis!

Check out the video below for a general overview of the condition and its causes.

Schizophrenia encompasses a broad range of positive and negative symptoms, including:

Positive Symptoms

Positive symptoms of schizophrenia are disturbances that are “added” to a person’s personality. These can include:

Delusions

These are false ideas an individual may believe. Common examples include the belief of being spied on or of being a famous or religious figure.

Hallucinations

Hallucinations involve seeing, feeling, tasting, hearing, or smelling things that don’t exist. The most common experience is hearing imaginary voices that give commands or comments to the individual.

Disordered Thinking and Speech

Disorganized thinking and speech can look like moving from one topic to another non-linearly. Individuals struggling with schizophrenia may make up their own words or sounds, rhyme in ways that don’t make sense, or repeat things.

Disorganized Behavior

Disorganized behavior can range from having problems with routine behaviors like hygiene or choosing appropriate clothing to unprovoked outbursts and impulsive or uninhibited actions. A person may also appear anxious, agitated, tense, or have constant movement without any apparent reason.

Trouble Concentrating

An example of trouble concentrating might be someone losing track of what’s going on in a TV show they’re watching.

Movement Disorders

Some people with schizophrenia can seem jumpy. Sometimes they’ll repeat the same movements over and over again. But sometimes, they might be perfectly still for hours at a time; something called being catatonic. Contrary to popular belief, people with the disease usually aren’t violent.

Negative Symptoms

Negative symptoms are capabilities that are “lost” from someone’s personality due to the disorder. In schizophrenia, this appears as:

• Social withdrawal
• Extreme apathy (lack of interest or enthusiasm)
• Lack of drive or initiative
• Trouble with speech
• Emotional flatness

Schizophrenia Spectrum & Related Disorders

Often referred to as a spectrum disorder, medical professionals used to breakdown schizophrenia into the following subtypes:

• Catatonic
• Disorganized
• Paranoid
• Residual
• Undifferentiated

However, today schizophrenia is a single diagnosis with a variety of related disorders. It has a substantial biological component, with the most significant risk factor for developing it being genetics. In fact, immediate relatives of those with the condition often lie within the spectrum, although not so severe it requires treatment.

Below is a list of conditions closely related to schizophrenia.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder

People with schizotypal personality disorder have difficulty developing close relationships and may hold beliefs not shared by others in their culture. They may also have unusual behaviors and learning difficulties.

Schizoid Personality Disorder

People with schizoid personality disorder are often aloof from other people and don’t show many emotions.

Paranoid Personality Disorder

People with paranoid personality disorder suffer from paranoia, an unrelenting mistrust and suspicion of others, even when there is no reason to be suspicious.

Delusional Disorder

People with delusional disorder believe things could happen that are highly unlikely. For example, they may think they have cancer despite several negative test results. More so, they have no other psychotic symptoms except those related to their delusion and can function in daily life.

Schizoaffective Disorder

Symptoms of schizoaffective disorder mirror those of schizophrenia but include episodes of depression and mania.

Schizophreniform Disorder

Symptoms of schizophreniform disorder are similar to those of schizophrenia but are present for less than six months. Additionally, people with this disorder often don’t struggle as much to get along with others.

Treatment

Treatment for schizophrenia is a lifelong process. It’s complex, requiring medication, skill-building therapy, social supports, and frequently community based services. Hospitalization is often needed to ensure the personal safety of individuals during times of peak symptoms.

Common Misbeliefs About Schizophrenia

Perform a simple Google search, and you’ll find a ton of misinformation out there! Here a few common misbeliefs about schizophrenia and people who struggle with the condition.

People with schizophrenia are violent.

Only 3 to 5% of violent acts are carried out by people living with serious mental illness. In fact, those afflicted are more than ten times as likely to be the victim of violent crimes versus the general population.

Bad parenting is what causes schizophrenia.

Years ago, we believed that parents were responsible if their child developed schizophrenia. While there is a genetic component—the disorder tends to run in families—there is no evidence that it is caused by bad parenting. In fact, even if you have a parent who has schizophrenia, your chances of getting it are less than 25 percent.

People with schizophrenia are stupid.

Some people assume that those with schizophrenia aren’t intelligent, but this isn’t the case. Many times, people with the condition are brilliant. Consider the mathematician John Nash. He was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and won the Nobel Prize in economics for his scholarly work on game theory.

One reason for the assumption that those with schizophrenia aren’t intelligent is one of the disorder’s symptoms, alogia. Alogia disrupts an individual’s thought processes and leads to the absence of speech or verbal fluency. Those affected may have disorganized speech or memory, but that has nothing to do with their intelligence levels.

Want to Learn More?

Check out the rest of our blog and follow us on social media. You can find us on LinkedIn at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, Instagram at @ybgr_cares, and Facebook at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch.