If your child or teen is self-harming, talking about suicide, or showing signs that worry you, you do not have to figure this out alone. Get clear next steps, safety-focused support, and personalized guidance based on what is happening right now.
Share what you are seeing, how urgent it feels, and what your child has said or done. We will help you understand the level of concern, what to say, and how to keep your child safe right now.
Parents often search for help when a teen is cutting, expressing hopelessness, or saying things that sound suicidal. This page is designed for that exact moment. Whether you are noticing warning signs, trying to understand suicidal thoughts and self-harm, or wondering what to do if your child is self-harming and suicidal, the goal is to help you respond calmly, directly, and safely.
Understand common signs a teen may be suicidal and self-harming, including behavior changes, withdrawal, cutting, hopeless statements, giving things away, or talking about not wanting to be here.
Learn what to say to a child with suicidal thoughts so they feel heard, not judged, and so you can ask direct safety questions without making things worse.
Get practical guidance on how to keep your child safe from self-harm, reduce access to dangerous items, and decide when urgent in-person help is needed.
If both are happening together, it is important to take it seriously and assess urgency quickly. The next step depends on whether there is immediate danger, a plan, recent self-harm, or escalating risk.
Cutting and suicidal talk can happen together, but they are not always the same. Parents need support understanding the difference while still treating any mention of suicide as important and worthy of direct follow-up.
Many parents are not sure whether they are seeing self-harm, suicidal ideation, or both. Personalized guidance can help you sort through what you have noticed and choose the safest next step.
If your child mentions suicide, says they want to disappear, or you discover self-harm, try to stay present and speak clearly. Ask direct questions, listen without arguing, and focus first on safety. You do not need to solve everything in one conversation. You do need a plan for what to do next, how urgent the situation is, and when to involve crisis or emergency support.
Based on what you share, get help thinking through whether this sounds like immediate danger, a very serious situation that is worsening, or a concern that still needs prompt support.
Get parent-focused guidance on what to say, what questions to ask, and how to avoid responses that may shut the conversation down.
Understand when to contact a therapist, pediatrician, crisis line, mobile crisis team, or emergency services, depending on the level of risk and what is happening now.
If there is immediate danger, a suicide attempt, a weapon, a stated plan, or you believe your child cannot stay safe, call emergency services or go to the nearest emergency room now. Stay with your child, remove access to dangerous items if you can do so safely, and do not leave them alone.
Warning signs can include cutting or other injuries, talking about death or wanting to disappear, hopelessness, isolation, sudden mood changes, giving away belongings, searching for ways to die, or saying others would be better off without them. Any combination of self-harm and suicidal statements should be taken seriously.
Use calm, direct language such as, "I am really glad you told me," and "I want to understand how bad this feels." Ask clearly whether they are thinking about suicide, whether they have a plan, and whether they feel able to stay safe. Avoid minimizing, lecturing, or promising secrecy.
Stay close, increase supervision, and reduce access to items that could be used for self-harm or suicide, such as medications, sharp objects, cords, and firearms. Safety steps at home are important, but they do not replace urgent professional or crisis support when risk is high.
Not always. Some young people self-harm without wanting to die, while others may have suicidal thoughts with or without self-harm. Because the two can overlap and risk can change quickly, parents should take both seriously and ask direct questions about suicide.
Answer a few questions to get a focused assessment for your child’s self-harm and suicidal thoughts, including safety steps, conversation guidance, and next-step support based on how urgent this feels.
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