When Kids Talk of Suicide - Shrinking It Down

When Kids Talk of Suicide – Shrinking It Down

By Steven Schlozman, MD and Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Tune in wherever you get your podcasts – just search for “Shrinking It Down.”

As the summer fades and we move into Autumn, activities in our lives start to build up and so can the stress. Perhaps this is one reason that September is national Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. It’s an unsettling topic, but in our first episode of the season Gene and Steve talk about young people and suicide – not to bring folks down but to give it the time it deserves. Whether you’re trying to make sense of increasing suicide rates, practicing how to talk in detail to a young person you’re concerned about, wondering how to talk to a neighbor who’s been impacted, or simply trying to be aware of the supports out there, please tune in.

A special thanks to those of you who sent in your thoughts; they were helpful in planning this episode. Thank you all for joining in this conversation. If you have comments or questions, please e-mail us at contactmghclaycenter.org.

Media List

NCHS data brief: Increase in Suicide in the United States, 1999-2014 (National Center for Health Statistics)
Suicide Rates Among Adolescents and Young Adults in the United States, 2000-2017 (Journal of the American Medical Association)
Why Are Teens So Lonely and What Can They Do to Combat Loneliness (MGH Clay Center)
What if My Child Has Depression (MGH Clay Center)
Does asking about suicide and related behaviours induce suicidal ideation? What’s the evidence? (Psychological Medicine)
When Teens Talk of Suicide: What You Need to Know (MGH Clay Center)
reportingonsuicide.org (Reporting on Suicide)
Summer Challenge: Come Together for Mental Health (MGH Clay Center)

Resources

TEXT “HOME” to 741-741
CALL 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Suicide Prevention (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Suicide Resource Center (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry)
Find Support (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)
Mental Health Resource Center (JED)
Where to Turn (MGH Clay Center)

Episode produced by Sara Rattigan

Music by Gene Beresin

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Steven Schlozman, MD

Steven Schlozman, MD, is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School (HMS), course director of the psychopathology class for the MIT-HMS Program in Health, Sciences and Technology, and former co-director of the Clay Center for Youn...

To read full bio click here.

Gene Beresin, Executive Director

Gene Beresin, MD, MA is executive director of The MGH Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds, and a staff child and adolescent psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is also...

To learn more about Gene, or to contact him directly, please see Our Team.