In a March 31 article on www.connectwithkids.com, Emily Halevy reported that anger and aggression -- as well as a family history of drug and alcohol abuse -- may also put a child at higher risk of suicide:
"So a child that's sad more days than not, that loses interest in their normal activities, that isolates themselves, whose outward behavior changes, who stops being able to function in school and with friends, those are some pretty obvious signs," says Dr. Shannon Croft, a child psychiatrist with the Emory University School of Medicine.
But, experts say, sadness isn't the only sign of suicidal thoughts.
"The majority of the time it only presents with anger and aggression," says adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Saaid Khojasteh with Washington University in St. Louis. "That by itself is a red flag."
Experts say other factors that put teens at risk are family history... and drug and alcohol use.
"If you suspect that your teenager is using alcohol or drugs," says Dr. Croft, "anything that effects somebody's ability to accurately think about themselves and their life and may change their mood- that's a real serious risk factor."
Labels: suicide, aggression, angry
Posted By: Aspen/CRC