Suicide Prevention for Kids: North Carolina Mental Health Official Shares Important Advice
Suicide Prevention Week is September 10-16. While conversations about suicide, suicidal ideation, self-harm, depression, and anxiety can be difficult, they can be life-changing and should start early. The following piece includes expert advice on these topics.
It is the most difficult interview I have ever done. It is also the most important one. The picture you see here is no stock photo. This is one of the tables at our 16-year-old grandson’s service. We lost him on March 20, 2023, after a years-long battle with depression. Losing a child is the worst of the human experience. I would like to spare you that. This life-saving information will help your child and could save their life. I talked with North Carolina mental health official Kelly Crosbie on keeping kids alive with awareness and support.
Kelly is the Director of the Division of Mental Health for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. At the NCDHSS, they realize that it is easy for a kid struggling with mental health to shut down. They are there to help the kids struggling and the people that love them. This information can and will save lives.
As parents, we make sure our kids get to the doctor, get to school, get to playgroups, and get to their sporting events. What can we do from the beginning of their lives to ensure their mental health as well? What should we be paying attention to right from the start? And what do we do if we discern there is a problem?
Suicide is a leading cause of death among young people. But with more information and support for the person suffering and the people who love them, this can change. It must change. Please take a moment and watch this video. North Carolina mental health official Kelly Crosbie on keeping kids alive with awareness and support. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental well-being or if you or someone you know is thinking about taking their own life, please dial or text 988. You will get immediate assistance. Be Open To Care with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services right here.
