Keeping Our Kids Alive: Supporting Parents of Suicidal Young People

In this course, Dr. Lyn O’Grady, MAPS, FCCOM, clinical psychologist and author, describes how the Netflix show, “13 Reasons Why” and 2016 research by Helpline drove work by herself and others to identify parental needs when their children are at risk of suicide or self-harm. Dr. O’Grady observes that, while adolescents are gaining independence and pushing parents away, they still want them around. Despite this, the Helpline research showed that, in the majority of cases, children who reached out did not get help. O’Grady examines the key risk and protective factors and the rapid development of suicidal ideas in children and adolescents, given adolescent brain development. The importance of families and the two-way impacts of suicide attempts on families and vice versa is outlined. Dr. O’Grady lists approaches to supporting families, and the key considerations for doing so. Safety planning is briefly mentioned, along with a note on how parents and professionals can work together.