My seven year old step daughter has made some comments about death that worried me a bit, should I be scared?

Question

One afternoon my stepdaughter was throwing one of her tantrums while we were in a restaraunt together when we were getting ready to leave she ran out into the parking lot and almost got hit by a car. When we explained to her that she cannot just run into a parking lot because of the danger of other vehicles she said she wished she would have gotten hit by the car because "shes not meant for this world" Should I be worried by what shes saying, is taking her to a doctor too drastic? What should we do?

Answer 1

Please take her to a child psychiatrist for an evaluation. You need to find out what she means when she says this, and an evaluation is not at all a drastic step.
I worked as a nurse in child psychiatry for over 20 years. There are many reasons why children make these statements. Because children this age do not think of death as being permanent and irreversible, she is at risk. Don't wait to find out if this is "serious." One mistake in judgment on your part could be fatal.
I hope that this helps. Am not trying to alarm you, but suicide statistics in young children are not a reliable indicator of true numbers. Many Medical Examiners will list a child suicide as an accident to spare the family involved; have seen this all too often. Please do not wait.
Sending prayers your way....

Answer 2

If this is an isolated incident, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Some children are very curios about death and what it means. Most do not grasp the concept of dying and death. some will repeat what they hear other children and people say about it, or will repeat what they heard on t.v. If she makes other comments and they are innappropriate, or troublesome, bring her to the doctor. It wouldn't cause any harm and maybe can help shed some light n where she is getting this from. Remember, sometimes when children are getting in trouble they will say things like "I wish I was dead" because then they wouldn't be getting in trouble. We think it literally means they want to die. What did she say when you asked her about it?

Answer 3

kids at this age often repeat things they hear from others, tv especially...my son is 7 also...death is something that's not necessarily real to them. They are just beginning to understand, but may not really , the finality of her statement. If she's preoccupied with it and brings it up again, then maybe ask a doctor or psychologist for advice; most likely, it's something she said in passing. Might remind her of all the people who would be sad if something happened to her and how much everyone loves her. Good luck!

Answer 4

Take her to a therapist and let her talk to someone besides you and your husband about what is bothering her. Sometimes a child just needs a stranger to listen and know that they are not going to tell mom and dad.
She is suffering from some kind of depression if she feels that she doesnt belong in the world. Show her extra amounts of affection but do not give into everything she wants or desires because then she will use it as a way to guilt you into getting everything she wants.
Be firm in your rules but make time just for her.
A doctor is the appropriate way to go in dealing with this, its best to be safe than sorry later when she does something that causes her or another harm.

Answer 5

I would take any comments like these seriously. I would sit her down and ask her exactly what she means by those kinds of statements. I'd make sure that she knows the seriousness of a comment like that and if she doesn't, I'd make sure she did by the time that we were finished talking.

If she appears that she does understand those comments and she means what she's saying, I'd take her to talk to a child psychiatrist.

I've heard this is a normal phase for kids to go through but it's one area that I'd rather err on the side of being better safe than sorry.

Best of luck to all of you.

Answer 6

no take her to a dr NOW you are not overreacting a friend of my mothers had a 7 year old daughter that would say things like that and one day the mother was getting ready to go somewhere with all the kids and forgot something in the house so she ran inside to get it and the little girl had taken the spare key out of the house and ran the car into the tree in the front yard. luckily no one was seriously injured but it lead to the little girl going to a therapist and the found out she had bipolar

Answer 7

You and your husband definately need to talk to her. she is showing signs of depression. Maybe a couselor would be good too.

I have a lifelong friend (went to school from k-12th and are still friends). she started talking about killing herself since she was 8. She tried twice at the age of 18. it was very scary. Get her help now so that you don't have to be scared for her later.

At least explain that death is not a joke and suicide is not the answer to anything. Suicide only proves that you are a coward and scared to deal with things that happen in real life. Life isn't a fairy tale and everyone has problems and deals with them in different ways.

Answer 8

You have to take this seriously. Ask her pediatrician for a referral to a child psychologist. Avoid psychiatrists at this point unless the psychologist thinks it is necessary. Psychiatrists are too prone to try and fix everything with a pill. Sounds like this child is calling out for help.

Answer 9

She is very young to be feeling this way. I would definitely be worried, and calmly talk with her about why she is feeling this way. Is there something going on that's upsetting her, or is she just beginning to understand life and death... maybe it's something she watched on TV, even. Next, get her to a mental health professional if you're seeing more of this behavior.

Answer 10

Is her mom alive? If not she might think that she will also die young. Did anyone from her school die recently? Sometimes when someone close to them dies they think about death a lot, or if they see something on the news about other kids dying it can affect them.