If warning signs are increasing or your child says they might hurt themselves again, take clear, immediate steps to improve safety, reduce access to means, and get the right level of help without waiting to see if it passes.
Use this brief assessment to identify the safest next steps based on what you are seeing today, from urgent danger to concerning warning signs at home.
If you believe your child may attempt self-harm again, stay with them, speak calmly and directly, and treat the situation seriously. Ask whether they feel able to stay safe right now. Remove or lock up anything they could use to hurt themselves, including medications, sharp objects, cords, ropes, and firearms if present. Do not leave them alone while risk is unclear. If there is immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. If the risk feels high but not yet life-threatening, contact their therapist, psychiatrist, pediatrician, local crisis line, or 988 for immediate guidance.
Remain physically nearby, keep your voice steady, and avoid arguments, punishments, or long lectures. Your goal is safety and connection in the moment.
Secure medications, knives, razors, cords, tools, alcohol, and any other items your child has used before or mentioned. Ask another adult to help if needed.
If your child cannot agree to stay safe, has a plan, is escalating quickly, or you are unsure you can keep them safe at home, contact 988, emergency services, or seek emergency care now.
Take seriously any comment about wanting to hurt themselves again, not being able to cope, feeling trapped, or saying others would be better off without them.
Watch for pacing, panic, withdrawal, giving things away, sudden anger, intense shame, substance use, or a sharp drop in functioning after a conflict or setback.
Increased hiding, collecting objects, searching for methods, refusing supervision, or returning to places or routines linked to past self-harm can signal rising risk.
Use simple, direct language: 'I’m glad you told me. I’m here with you. My job is to help keep you safe.' Avoid debating whether they mean it or asking them to promise they will not do it again. Focus on what happens next: supervision, removing means, contacting supports, and deciding whether home is safe enough right now. If your child already has a safety plan, follow it. If not, create a short emergency plan for the next few hours: who stays with them, what gets locked away, which clinician or crisis resource you will contact, and where you will go if risk rises.
Use crisis support when your child has self-harm urges, risk is rising, or you need help deciding the safest next step right away.
Call their therapist, psychiatrist, pediatrician, school crisis counselor, or on-call clinician if they know your child’s history and can advise on urgent care.
Choose emergency care if there is immediate danger, an injury, a suicide note, a plan with access to means, severe intoxication, or you cannot maintain safety at home.
Stay with them, remove access to anything they could use to self-harm, and ask directly whether they can stay safe right now. If they cannot, or if you are not confident you can keep them safe, contact 988, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room.
Sometimes, but only if risk appears manageable, your child can engage with you, and you can provide close supervision while removing access to means and contacting support. If risk is high, escalating, or unclear, seek immediate professional or emergency help.
Respond the same day. Increase supervision, reduce access to means, pause nonessential demands, contact their treatment team, and document what you observed. Do not assume the moment has passed just because your child becomes quiet or says they are fine.
Yes. Calm, direct questions do not create the idea. They help you understand urgency and show your child you are willing to talk openly. Ask whether they are thinking about hurting themselves, whether they have a plan, and whether they feel able to stay safe right now.
If you are worried your child may attempt self-harm again, answer a few questions to get a focused assessment and clear next-step guidance based on the level of risk you are seeing today.
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