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Child Behavior (Expert Forum)
Little girl with suicidal ideation?.
Answered by
Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D. - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
This forum is for questions and support regarding child behavior issues such: Child Discipline (behavior management), Normal Child Development, Parent-Child Communications, Social Development
Little girl with suicidal ideation?.
by helga, Nov 10, 2000 12:00AM
I hope you can advise me. I wrote to you some time ago about my own son and found your advice very helpful therfore I thought you might be able to advise again in respect of a friends child. I am a professional working in the field of developmental delay and mental health, because of this I was approached by a friend who had found a very disturbing poem written by her 8 year old daughter in her school satchel. The child had given the poem a title 'why not kill yourself?' she went on to say she saw no reason not to and that it would make you feel better. She further elabourates and advises the reader to take a knife, stick it against their chest, count to three and push it in. To complete the note she has drawn a picture of a knife dripping with blood. This is a summary of the note - I cant remember the exact phrases she used but my initial feeling was one of alarm. My friend is going through a divorce at the moment and she is aware that her daughter is 'struggling' to cope with all the changes. I know nothing at all about this kind of thing and advised my friend to seek advice from some on with the necessary knowledge. But I have no idea who this would be.
Also I wonder if this letter is really cause for alarm - or is the childs way of expressing anger and sadness, how should she respond to this? - and how worried should she be?
I will gratefully pass on any advice you can offer.
Also I wonder if this letter is really cause for alarm - or is the childs way of expressing anger and sadness, how should she respond to this? - and how worried should she be?
I will gratefully pass on any advice you can offer.
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., Nov 11, 2000 12:00AM
, Nov 11, 2000 12:00AM
Dear HW,
This sort of reaction definitely warrants professional evaluation ASAP. Now, it may not precisely indicate that the child actually contemplates an attempt to do what she describes, but at the very least indicates a level of distress so serious that it has resulted in suicidal ideation.
If your friend is not certain whom to approach for a pediatric mental health evaluation, she can start with the pediatrician, who perhaps can offer some direction. Other resources canbe any local child guidance clinic or mental health agency, outpatient departments of local hospitals, government mental health/social services agencies. Any request for help should include the urgent nature of the situation, and the parent should bring along the picture you described.
It also is sensible for the parent to raise this directly with the child, in a form somewhat like this: I found this picture in your book bag. It looks like you are very worried and upset, so worried that you have even thought of hurting yourself. Let's talk about this. Dr. KDK
This sort of reaction definitely warrants professional evaluation ASAP. Now, it may not precisely indicate that the child actually contemplates an attempt to do what she describes, but at the very least indicates a level of distress so serious that it has resulted in suicidal ideation.
If your friend is not certain whom to approach for a pediatric mental health evaluation, she can start with the pediatrician, who perhaps can offer some direction. Other resources canbe any local child guidance clinic or mental health agency, outpatient departments of local hospitals, government mental health/social services agencies. Any request for help should include the urgent nature of the situation, and the parent should bring along the picture you described.
It also is sensible for the parent to raise this directly with the child, in a form somewhat like this: I found this picture in your book bag. It looks like you are very worried and upset, so worried that you have even thought of hurting yourself. Let's talk about this. Dr. KDK
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Who do you think you are. this forum is about the well fare of child. Not to personally get at someone.
one last thing, to HW, I hope things are better with your child. I feel that the two previous responses have covered most of it. A professional person could help you out way more than any of us here. God Bless, and take care.