Our society has a way of acting as if suicidal ideation in teens is like a rare disease–something unfortunate that only happens every now and then. This idea is completely unfounded. Suicide continues to be the second leading cause of death for young people, ages 10 to 24. That’s not a rare disease, that’s a plague. 

September is National Suicide Awareness Month. For this month, we want to make an effort to inform others about suicidal ideation in teens and how to prevent suicides.

What is suicidal ideation in teens?

Suicidal ideation is having thoughts about suicide and/or planning suicide. These thoughts/plans can be fleeting or extremely detailed. Suicidal ideation does not include the act of committing suicide–it’s the before phase. For many, thoughts never reach fruition, but that doesn’t make suicidal ideation in teens any less dangerous.

A teen experiencing suicidal ideation probably struggles with mental health issues that need to be addressed.

Recognizing the signs in your child

Wellness doesn’t just include physical health, it includes mental health as well. Problems with physical health are easy to see–fevers, scraped knees, fairly straightforward. Checking in on mental health poses more challenges. A student with perfect health could easily be struggling with suicidal ideation in teens.

Some red flags to watch for in your teen:

• Extreme mood swings
• Issues concentrating on regular day-to-day tasks
• Problems sleeping (insomnia, oversleeping, nightmares)
• Loss of appetite or excessive overeating
• Mentioning dying, disappearing, or self-harm

While signs and symptoms don’t necessarily indicate your child is thinking of suicide, they still should not be ignored.

How to talk to your teen about suicidal thoughts

Ask your teen how they’re doing and listen.

Parents have this horrible habit of not listening–I know that’s hard to hear as a parent. Teens often report feeling like their parents don’t actually listen to what they’re saying and feeling. This has to change. Approach your teen with the intent of really listening to what they’re experiencing and then validate those feelings. This includes actively listening, asking them questions to clarify, and staying non-judgemental.

Do not freak out.

Individuals struggling with suicidal ideation in teens often don’t want to reach out because they’re afraid someone will freak out or it’ll be embarrassing. No, I’m not saying it’s not incredibly alarming to hear from your child that they’re contemplating suicide–but you have to stay calm for their sake. It won’t be an easy conversation.

Ask clarifying questions.

Parents easily jump into “help” mode when a problem arises. Resist the urge to jump straight into talking about treatment. A teen saying they’ve been thinking about suicide can mean many things. It can mean they’re not getting something they need, that they don’t want to feel intense emotions, or that they’ve actually planned how to do it. All of these are very serious, but asking questions to clarify where your child stands is an important step.

Reach out to a professional.

After talking with your child, you need to reach out to a professional to help guide you in the right direction. Keep your teen in the loop with all of this. It’s important for them to understand how they’re going to receive help and that you’re doing this as a family, not alone.

Viewpoint Center helps with suicidal ideation in teens

ViewPoint Center is an assessment center for teens, ages 12 to 17. At ViewPoint Center, we provide treatment through superior assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and stabilization–all in a personalized environment for your child in crisis. We strive to provide the best help for teens through the most efficient and effective methods available. Our goal is to help your child through this hard time.  

Before ViewPoint, families are often frustrated and lost. Varying doctors and therapists with a range of advice, diagnoses, and plans leaves parents and children unsure of where to turn. At ViewPoint, we centralize all of the different diagnoses and create a comprehensive report for you and your family to get back on track. Let us help you.

Teen Mental Hospital | Private Mental Health Hospital

I See The Devil by Cyma Rizwaan Khan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Read from December 30, 2013 to January 07, 2014 — I own a copy

This is all about the Good vs Evil and who's side is the good side. It would force you to pick a side then make you question if you are really capable of true goodness. AND at the end of the story, you would definitely view Satan and the Angels with a different light.

The story revolves around Jeremy Pearce a mental hospital escapist and his meeting with Lucifer the famous fallen angel, the devil himself. The manipulative charms of the devil is very much like the siren call so it's understandable how Jeremy readily falls into the devil's plan to bring forth the Apocalypse. Jeremy was told he was an essential ingredient for Lucifer's grand design for humankind or we should call it the idealistic re-designing of humankind. Lucifer's offer was tempting enough that I caught myself fantasizing about it. It is something most would die for and here, Lucifer eagerly proffers it. Of course nothing in life comes for free especially for such a coveted prize. What are you willing to sacrifice? Best still, who's life are you willing to use as a trading chip to secure said prize?

What good would come out of following the devil? Jeremy was lead into committing various horrid deeds, some was willingly done while there are others not as eagerly carried out by him. This crazy journey with the devil has certainly changed Jeremy. For the better or for the worst? I'll leave that to you to make that judgment for yourself. Afterall this story is about making the right choices and for that we need to polish our judgment skill.

I did like some aspects of this book. Like how it would sometimes compel me to evaluate myself, makes me think a little deeper. Asides from that there are a number of quotes I liked and below is a quote which is simple yet forceful enough to remind us of that we have always forgotten to take good advantage of our mind power. We should really be a good slave driver when it comes with our mind. Make it work harder for us. Abuse it more and often. Make it yield to us in total submission!

Most of us does tend to underestimate the power of the mind and the marvel of the universe. In essence we are all a mass of energies, each with our own unique frequencies. I believe that our thoughts are very much like radio signals to the universe to select the channels we wanted. Fundamentally, we hold our own future because our thoughts brings us our future. Hence do be careful of what you wish for >:D

I enjoyed trying to figure out Lucifer and having him keeping me on my toes. He is such an elusive guy. A goal driven entity fearless in pursuing his ideal and always confident with himself. Like Jeremy, I couldn't take his word without a measure of doubt although it is very hard not to be swayed by his persuasiveness. He could be so sweet and nice when he wanted to be.

There is a point where I felt the book zaps all my happiness away and I am left moping in the dark. Also there are times when I felt like putting the book aside to stop it from further draining my energy. Asides that, the going was painfully slow for me in the beginning and I had to push myself a little to continue. Maybe too much preaching from the devil? The brainwashing is tiring me out. Lol. As for the horror aspect, I am curiously undisturbed although it wasn't lacking in the morbid department since this is a horror fiction.

I am also not liking how some plots doesn't smooth over well enough for me to eat it up. Besides that, at times Jeremy's idiotic moves frustrates me and jolts me out of the believe-zone. Lastly I am sorry to say the ending didn't worked for me. It was anti-climax and too simplistic after all that initial grand buildup. I see strings hanging and I am itching to tie it up like a pretty bow just to quench my thirst to know how some things would end. Sniffing and pouting a little, the ending left me dying in a desert alone and lonely, that's figuratively speaking of course. Maybe it's just me... just my over inquisitiveness to be blamed for feeling such a way. Everybody does have their own unique perception right. Okay, if anyone is pressing to know if this one ends with a sweet happily ever after... click the spoiler below.

[yes, you are safe to proceed with this wonderfully dark book as you will certainly see the rainbows you wanted at the end of the tunnel. It may be a foggy one but it is a rainbow since the hero survived and gain much needed inner strengths he lacks of before his hellish journey. Safe to say it's a HFN. (hide spoiler)]

To be clear, I am happy with the outcome for the protagonist, only disappointed the ending was too mild, nothing like the earth shattering ending I expected.


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NOTE: This is an ARC copy extended to me by the author.





BOOK DETAILS:

Title: I See The Devil
Author: Cyma Rizwaan Khan
Publication Date: January 5th, 2014
Type: Novel, 48,714 words (approximate)
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Horror, Thriller, Supernatural
Tags/Keywords: asylum, mental hospital, mental patient, mental hospital escapist, devil, satan, fallen angel, Lucifer, angels, archangels, Antichrist, supernatural, mysticism, evil, darkness, immortality, apocalypse, darkfics, dark story, dismemberment, mutilation, dungeon, family issue, ghost/apparition, HFN, horror, injury, magic, special abilities, philosophical, physical abuse/torture, revenge-punishment, ruthless killer, murders, attempted murders, manipulative antagonist, stubborn and rebellious protagonist, substance-abuse, suicidal-suicide, supernatural, thriller.

Description:
Insanity goes deeper than the soul. At least that's what 27 year old Jeremy Pearce is beginning to experience. He sees the devil; a devil who is hell-bent on bringing down the apocalypse.
Will Jeremy be able to save the world before it's too late?

WHERE TO BUY:




* Reviewed on January 7th, 2014


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Comment on December 27th, 2013:

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