Having to take your teen to an emergency department of a hospital because of concerns about suicide, is a stressful, emotional and painful time. Or perhaps you had to call an ambulance after the teen had attempted suicide. Teen suicide is one of the leading causes of death in youths in this country, and despite there being ways to see it coming and prevent it, those numbers just keep going up. One of the things we can do better at as a community is talking about it, and having the resources and support in place in key areas so that they get the help they need. Parents in an emergency room panicking and terrified need support and help in dealing with the current situation and what to do next. Rather than making things worse with words they do not think clearly enough about, that is where the SPTS mental health toolkit comes into play.

Exploring the presence of this resource in emergency rooms

The toolkit is an excellent opportunity to allow parents and medical staff to better interact with each other. It gives a list of things to do, ask and expect so that communication remains effective and the teen gets the best care possible. Already found in a number of healthcare facilities it is also state-funded so hospitals do not have to spend money on the resource themselves. The goals the mental health toolkit is designed to achieve include;

• Improving the experience patients and parents have when engaging with staff at the hospital, encourages an approach that means people collaborate a lot more effectively.
• Encouraging better communication between the families and between the family and the staff at the hospital.
• Easing the fear and anxiety families are feeling during this difficult time and focusing on the teen, their safety and what their treatment needs to look like now, and potentially in the future. Parents are naturally exhausted and desperate and with the help of staff and this resource, this can be navigated.
• To give parents the questions they need to ask in a way that helps and does not cause further issues.

SPTS

The Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide is an organization ready to support parents, teens and the community with the issue of teen suicide. This kit is just one of the vital resources they offer to help with communication in a hospital setting. If you work in an ER department you can find out more about the toolkit and how to access it by visiting the SPTS website. Working together communities can become stronger and parents can be equipped with the tools they need to get through this, and to ensure their teen gets through it too. A lot of suicides could have been prevented. But there is still stigma over talking about and not everyone takes the warning signs they observe seriously. Talking to your teen will not make then do it. But it could very well stop them.