Suicidal Behavior - Treatment
Treatment for suicidal feelings and behaviors:
Specific treatment for suicidal feelings and behaviors must be based on:
- your teen's age, overall health, and medical history
- extent of your teen's symptoms
- seriousness of the attempt
- your teen's tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
- expectations regarding future suicide risk
- your opinion or preference
Any adolescent who has attempted suicide requires an initial physical evaluation and treatment until he/she is physically stable. Mental health treatment for suicidal feelings, thoughts, or behaviors begins with detailed evaluation of events in the adolescent's life during the two to three days preceding the suicidal behaviors. A comprehensive evaluation of the adolescent and family contributes to decisions regarding treatment needs. Treatment recommendations may include individual therapy for the adolescent, family therapy, and, when necessary, hospitalization to provide the adolescent a supervised and safe environment. Parents play a vital supportive role in any treatment process.
A supplemental therapy may be considered - some supplements (such as Exulin) may support emotional well being by targeting specific neurotransmitters known to affect mood.
____________________________________