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Family Involvement in Treatment

The success of any treatment with suicidal adolescents is heightened when parents and other family members are actively enlisted to support the treatment goals. Specific strategies include: 61

  • Enlist the family members in the monitoring and risk assessment process by telling them what to look for and how to recognize the importance of potentially suicidal behaviours.
  • Ensure family members understand the importance of reducing access to potentially lethal means of suicide, e.g. medications, firearms, etc.
  • Clarify the limits on information-sharing and remind family members that if suicide risk is suspected, confidentiality will be breached and parents will be told.
  • Communicate interest in what family members have to say.
  • Clearly define a role for the family in the treatment process.

Following a young person’s suicide attempt, many parents and caregivers are understandably shocked, frightened and upset. Providing emotional support and reassurance; offering education about depression, mental health and suicide risk; letting parents know what to expect in terms of treatment options; and assisting parents to take specific actions to reduce future attempts and reinforce treatment goals, are all important aspects of sound clinical care. For more information go to "After a Suicide Attempt".