If your child or teen may have attempted suicide, the first priority is immediate safety and medical care. Get clear next-step guidance for emergencies, including when to call 911, what to do at home right now, and how to respond after the immediate crisis.
Answer a few questions to get personalized guidance based on what happened, whether there may be a medical emergency, and what parents should do next right away.
Call 911 now if your child is unconscious, not breathing normally, having a seizure, bleeding heavily, badly injured, difficult to wake, confused after taking something, or may have used a weapon or overdosed. If you are not sure how serious it is, treat it as urgent and get emergency help. If it is safe to do so, stay with your child, remove access to medications, sharp objects, cords, firearms, and other dangerous items, and do not leave them alone.
If there is any sign of overdose, poisoning, loss of consciousness, trouble breathing, severe injury, or weapon use, call 911 immediately. Emergency responders can help with both medical stabilization and safe transport.
Keep your child within sight and hearing. Speak calmly, avoid arguing, and focus on safety. If possible, have another adult gather pill bottles, substances, or details about what happened for emergency responders.
Move medications, alcohol, sharp objects, ropes, cords, and firearms out of reach right away. If a firearm is in the home, secure it unloaded and locked away from ammunition, or remove it from the home if possible.
A child may look calmer and still be at serious risk. Even if the attempt happened earlier or they now say they are fine, they still need urgent mental health evaluation and close supervision.
If 911 is not needed but you believe your child attempted suicide, contact emergency mental health services, go to the nearest emergency department, or call/text 988 for crisis support and guidance on the safest next step.
Do not leave your child alone, including overnight, until a qualified professional has assessed the situation. Ask another trusted adult to help if you need support.
After a suicide attempt, emergency teams may check breathing, heart rate, injuries, level of consciousness, and possible overdose effects. Bring any medication containers or information about substances taken.
A clinician may ask about suicidal thoughts, self-harm, what led up to the attempt, and whether your child can stay safe. This helps determine whether hospital care, crisis services, or another level of support is needed.
Before your child returns home, ask about supervision, follow-up appointments, warning signs, medication safety, and what to do if suicidal thoughts return. Ongoing support matters even after the immediate emergency.
Yes, call 911 if your child is unconscious, not breathing normally, seizing, injured, may have overdosed, used a weapon, or could be in medical danger. If you are unsure, it is safer to call emergency services.
Stay with your child, call 911 if there may be medical danger, remove access to anything they could use to hurt themselves, and do not leave them alone. If the immediate medical danger is unclear or seems to have passed, seek urgent crisis evaluation the same day.
Yes, it can still be an emergency. Some overdoses, internal injuries, and suicidal crises are not obvious right away. A teen who is awake and talking may still need emergency medical care and urgent psychiatric evaluation.
Call 911 if your child may have overdosed, taken an unknown amount, mixed substances, is vomiting, hard to wake, confused, or having trouble breathing. Emergency responders can begin treatment on the way and monitor for sudden changes.
Emergency help may include 911, the nearest emergency department, mobile crisis services where available, and 988 for immediate crisis support. The right option depends on whether there is medical danger, ongoing suicidal intent, and whether your child can be kept safe.
Answer a few questions to understand whether this situation needs 911, urgent emergency evaluation, or immediate crisis support, and get clear parent-focused next steps for keeping your child safe right now.
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