2023-09-17 03:11:05
Suicides are increasing along with depression in children… Sharing emotions through conversation and trust are important.
Entered 2023.09.17 12:10 Views 1,578 Entered 2023.09.17 12:10 Modified 2023.09.17 15:19 Views 1,578
To prevent the ever-increasing number of child suicides, it is important to make efforts to communicate comfortably about emotions and mental health.[사진=게티이미지뱅크]Threatening mental health due to depression is no longer just a problem for adults. Nowadays, the number of children suffering from various problems such as depression and even making extreme choices is increasing significantly.
According to a report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in May, suicide is one of the leading causes of death among children and adolescents, although it is not common. In particular, increasing research results show that suicidal impulses and behaviors in children and adolescents have increased. According to a study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) last May, there was no significant change in the total number of emergency room visits from 2011 to 2020, but the number of visits related to youth suicide increased fivefold. did.
This is not just an American problem. According to data submitted by Rep. Kim Won-i of the Democratic Party of Korea on the 7th from the Ministry of Education and the National Health Insurance Corporation, the number of people aged 6 to 11 receiving treatment for depression in Korea jumped by a whopping 91.5%, from 1,849 in 2018 to 3,541 in 2022. During this period, there were more than 800 elementary, middle, and high school students who made extreme choices.
Is there anything parents can do to prevent their children from choosing terrible tragedies? Everyday Health, an American health information media outlet, introduced that proper conversations with children about suicide and mental health can be of great help in preventing extreme choices. The key is to create an environment where people can comfortably talk about their mental health and how they feel, and to allow people to accept that even if they have suicidal thoughts, it is not a big problem.
Are elementary school students too young to talk about ‘suicide’?
Suicide is the act of taking one’s own life because one cannot bear the pain. Many parents feel pressured to bring the topic of suicide into the conversation. In particular, many people decide that it is better to wait until they are a little older, thinking that it is a too heavy topic to talk about with young children. Dr. Joanna Quigley, an outpatient child and adolescent psychiatrist in Madison, Michigan, pointed out that it is especially important to talk about suicide at an age when it is still difficult to understand. He emphasized that the first step in helping children take care of themselves is to let children know in advance that something like this can happen to anyone and to make them realize that people around them can help them deal with and solve problems when they arise.
The explanation is that explaining what suicide is and talking about it does not increase the risk of a child thinking about suicide or harming themselves. In the case of a child who is contemplating suicide, giving a clear name to what he or she is thinking and letting him or her know that he or she can talk about it out loud can actually provide relief and open the door to sharing his or her concerns.
Let’s talk about our feelings in a safe space
It is important to create an environment where children can talk about mental health and emotions, such as depression, on a daily basis. If parents or primary caregivers monitor their child’s mood on a daily basis and share their thoughts about it, children will be able to easily open up to their parents about mental problems, just like when they catch a cold or are injured.
To achieve this, it can be helpful to create a space where children can feel safe. Michael Lindsay, a professor at New York University’s Silver School of Social Work, said, “If you create a non-judgmental and safe conversation space where children can freely share their thoughts and feelings without any repercussions, they will feel more comfortable opening up.” It’s a good idea to try to have a conversation after dinner or at a time when the family is relaxing.
“We are by your side”, letting you know that help is available
Through conversation, it is important to let children know and trust that their parents and those around them can help when they have a problem. Also, we need to make children realize that it is okay to report this to their parents or primary caregivers when they feel that they are not worth living, and there is no problem. Just making it clear that feeling suicidal doesn’t make you a weird or bad person can be very helpful.
As the topic of suicide is not a light one, we must be careful not to choose words or sentences that may unconsciously put a burden on children. Telling boys to “act like a man” or emphasizing to girls to “solve matters within the family first” out of concern about rumors etc. can put pressure on children and make them keep quiet.
Thinking about whether I have the right to talk to you
Before having a conversation with your children, you need to take time to think about whether you are ready and qualified to have this conversation. If you speak incoherently when you are completely unprepared, your children may become anxious and feel burdened. Your child is ready to talk about suicide only if he or she can maintain a calm and neutral expression no matter what they say. If you feel like your child may be shocked or have an emotional reaction to something she says, it’s best to seek help from a pediatrician or mental health professional rather than taking action on your own.
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