My son recently tried suicide, now on anti-depressants and attending phycologist, we feel so helpless, any sug

Answer 1

Just be there for him, Support him through everything, I'm 16 years old and was hospitalized last september for attempted suicide, At first I didn't think anyone cared, but it made me realize alot, all you need to do is keep an eye on him but show him trust, don't box him in or anything, show him you care.

Take him places, spend lots of time with him

Answer 2

My daughter did the same thing when she was 16. She fell in love and was dumped. She took an overdose and ended up on the psych ward for pediatrics at the hospital. I was afraid to go to sleep at nite because of what I thought she might do. She had a very dark look in her eyes and I could tell she was not doing ok. I had to take off work for 3 months to keep an eye on her. She tried her suicide attempt more than once and started self mutilating. I didn't really have much support because of a divorce and no family around to help.
I hope your son has a good psychologist/psychiatrist. I was feeling pretty desperate because I think they prescribe too many drugs and don't do other things which are theraputic.
I would get involved in your sons life and find out what is eating on him. Go into familiy therapy. Involve his siblings as much as possible. Let his teachers, friends and school counselors know so they can be supportive of him. Try not to leave him alone, because this is when he has time to try it again. I am not much into church, but I got my daughter involved with a church group. Just to let her know that the Lord loves her too and she can always talk to him in her time of need.
Keep him busy.
Good luck. My prayers are with you.

Answer 3

I'm so, so sorry that you had to go through that! I can only imagine the battles going on inside of his head that lead to such drastic measures. I can only speak from my personal experiences, from having been a teen. The number one, best thing that you can do as a parent is to make sure that your son knows he is loved. Tell him over and over, slip little notes in his backpack, write it on the walls...anything to penetrate the fog that clouds his mind to reality. Promise him, guarantee him that no matter what he does you will always love him, even if you're scared or frustrated or downright p*ssed off with him. Tell him how the day he was born was the happiest day in your life, and your love for him has only grown since then. Ask him what you can do to help him feel happy again. It is ok to be angry with him for trying to commit suicide - it is a very natural and real reaction. He needs to see that to know the depth of your feelings and hiding the pain might be interpreted as not caring. I recently lost my best friend during child birth (29 years old) and MY parents took the opportunity to tell me over and over again how much they love me, that loosing a child is the worst thing that can ever happen to a person. Though it doesn't make the pain go away, the assurance of their love gave me just enough stregnth to get up every morning and live again. Keep close tabs on your baby boy. Did you notice any patterns of behavior before his drastic measures? Watch for those; they could be a call for help. For the fact he didn't suceed means that he doesn't really want to die. Best wishes to your family.

Answer 4

I guess giving him space would be my first suggestion, I wouldn't neccessarily try to force him in any sense to talk about it until he is ready to. He will probably not trust the pschycologist if he is associating him with you- his parents. You might have to carefully and honestly consider who you are, and if you have in any way neglected him, took him for granted or been dismissive, uninvolved, callous, selfish. (His reason may not be associated with you at all, and if this is the case you must search hard for whatever the catalyst was.) This action on his part maybe the only way he can think of getting you to reconsider what you think of is your way of showing him you love him. I hope he is ok, and be wary that once he has had the courage to do this once, and I do not use that word lightly, it would be less difficult the second time. I sincerely hope that doesn't happen, but be aware of that. My only helpful suggestion would be to try to encourage, as diligently and cautiously as possible, for him to have free contact with his closest friend, it will help to loosen him up. If his attempt was a call for help this avenue is where he will probably start his talking... Good luck. Incidentally, he does love you. You know that.

Answer 5

Of course you do.Suicide is such a selfish thing,the person does not consider other peoples feelings.However most suicide attempts are a cry for help,maybe that was the case for you're son.He obviously needs you're help and all you can do is be there for him even if he is rejecting you now.Without knowing the reason for his attempt its hard for anyone on this site to advise you.The usual causes are drugs,loss of partner or depression and all need a different therapy.I have had knowledge of drug induced suicide attempts from a close Friend. If that can be of use please contact me. I wish you and you're son well for the future

Answer 6

How you respond to this SHOCK will teach him something. If you cower and withdraw into yourself this would be a bad thing.

Dust yourself off, get exercise, be good to yourself at this time. He IS watching what kind of resilience YOU have to shocks in your life. The best teacher is role modeling.

So the question is not what you can do for HIM. It is what can you do for yourself right now to bounce back from this tragedy. Offering love and empathy while promoting your OWN good mental health. Live it mom.

Believe it or not...this is what you call a teachable moment for your child. How to overcome terrible adversity in your life and thrive not just survive. By walking the walk; not just talking the talk. He will be watching to see how you respond to this in a healthy way.

Answer 7

I myself experienced the loss of a son in this way. All I can offer is that this problem seems to occur together with a vast feeling of personal despair at one or more seemingly insurmountable problems. Ask yourself if your observations of your son have ever yielded any information to you which might indicate this despair and/or a set of problems which he may need assistance with. Is he seemingly isolated (which can make matters even more intense). Search for possible new social realities or novel activities which may invoke curiousity and interest from him. Follow through with what you tell him you will do for him.

Answer 8

Ask him to consider faith. If he does then go worship together. Have you asked him why he attempted suicide? Tell him that whatever it was that made him take his own life you will try to understand. Also tell him that at anytime in his life that something is bothering him to let you know. People attempt suicide for many differant things but uasally is something that the people they are closest to dont know about.


Hope your son gets his life back on track and makes a good future for himself and others who he is closest to.

Answer 9

Get him to talk about whats bothering let him know that anything that's been bothering him can be sorted out.the anti-depressants can take up to a month to work and that's only when the doctors get he dose right Trust me Ive been there,things will get better in time and this can be a long process.I wish him the best of luck,he can get through this.

Answer 10

Hello
Sorry to hear that your son tried suicide. I

There is a doctor called Neil Nedley. I heard one of his talks in the US re depression etc. The book 'Depression - the way out' will help see http://www.nedleypublishing.com/.

God Bless