Issue link: https://fredparent.uberflip.com/i/1483128
www.FredericksburgParent.NET 19 Karla Lewis is an emergency services therapist for RACSB. Emergency Services is a 24/7 resource that provides counseling and referrals to community resources, as well as triage for psychiatric hospitaliza ons. Lewis points out that star ng a conversa on like this can be par cularly hard for parents who see warning signs in their children. But it is important not to avoid the hard ques ons. "You can't put suicidal thoughts in someone's head. Asking them if they want to live or die is just as clear as day, and that is how I tell parents to ask it," she says. START A CONVERSATION TODAY Try these opening lines to talk to your child about suicide: ● "Some mes when people are feeling the way you are they think about suicide. Is that what you're thinking about?" ● "I've no ced that you seem bothered/wor- ried/preoccupied/ troubled. Want to share what's going on?" ● "What are some things you can do (or I can help you do) so that you don't become overwhelmed?" EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS OF SUICIDALITY: • Talking about wan ng to die or kill oneself • Looking for ways to kill oneself, such as search- ing online, stashing medica ons, or buying a firearm • Talking about feelings of helplessness and hopelessness • Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain • Talking about being a burden to others • Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs • Ac ng anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly • Sleeping too li le or too much • Withdrawing from friends and family • Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge Visit www.lockandtalk.org for addi onal resources and informa on. RACSB offers both adult and youth Mental Health First Aid courses as well as ASIST (Applied Suicide Interven on Skills Training) and the 3-hour safeTALK suicide alertness course to interested community members seeking to be er understand mental health challenges and to help those experiencing a mental health-related crisis. Visit www.rappahannockareacsb.org to learn more. KNOW THE SIGNS, REACH OUT If you observe someone withdrawing from people and ac vi es they typi- cally enjoy, or is ceasing self-care rou nes that had been well-established, such as hygiene, exercise and other wellness ac vi es, this individual may be hav- ing a mental health crisis. Other warning signs include the inability to experience pleasure, sleep and appe te disturbance, increased use of alcohol or drugs and talk about hopelessness or wan ng to die or kill oneself. It is important not to ignore signs like this, and to not be afraid to speak directly to someone who may be in crisis. "Start with an honest conversa on," recommends James Dayton-Olsen, the in-house therapist at the Sunshine Lady House for Mental Health Wellness and Recovery, a voluntary in-house crisis stabiliza on unit located in the city of Fred- ericksburg and operated by RACSB. "Say, 'Here is what I am seeing, and I am worried. Are these concerns legi mate?' … I would advocate that people get comfortable with reaching out and having that difficult conversa on. It may very well save someone's life."