229. What Parents Need to Know About Teenage Emotions and Suicidal Thoughts

In 2020, I had the privilege of being a guest speaker on Sandy Fowler’s podcast “Mighty Parenting” for a candid discussion about youth mental health, suicide prevention, and the critical role parents play in supporting their children through emotional challenges. I thought it would be interesting to blow the dust off this episode where I was being interviewed by Sandy.

As a medical professional deeply committed to improving mental health care in primary care settings, I shared insights specifically for parents about how to recognize warning signs, have difficult conversations, and access appropriate resources. That conversation became a pivotal moment in my career, sparking my desire to reach a broader audience through podcasting… Pediatric Meltdown was born!

Today, as the host of Pediatric Meltdown, I continue to build upon that mission, but I thought it would be worth revisiting this discussion that served as a catalyst for my current role as a podcast host. During our conversation, we tackled the crucial topic of youth suicide prevention, breaking down barriers to communication, and providing practical tools for parents to support their children's mental well-being. Unfortunately, with the impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic, this discussion remains as relevant today as it was then, perhaps even more so.

[00:05- 21:59] Brain Development & Behavior

• Teen brains function differently from adult brains
• Role of prefrontal cortex in decision making
• Impact of developing brain on behavior
• Understanding cognitive limitations

[22:00 -32:45] Suicide Prevention Strategies

• Proper approach to discussing suicidal thoughts
• Importance of staying calm during difficult conversations
• Available crisis resources
• Steps for emergency

[32:46 - 42:51] Mental Health Statistics

• 25% of youth screen positive for depression
• Annual screening recommendations for ages 12+
• 15% experience suicidal thoughts
• Implementation of 54321 coping technique

[42:52 - 53:02] Action Steps for Parents

• Creating safe environment for emotional expression
• Understanding brain development impact
• Using emotional scale assessments (1-5)
• Knowing when to seek help

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Tweetable Quotes:

"But in terms of completed suicides, it's firearms, and the really sad thing is, suffocation mostly by hanging is the most common and becoming more common and that one, of course, is really hard to restrict because you can hang yourself with so many items." … Dr. Lia Gaggino on the harsh reality of suicide methods

“"If you set the stage that it's okay to talk about your thoughts and feelings, then and and that's just a habit that you've had all along, then I think it makes the conversation easier." … Dr. Lia Gaggino on communicating with kids about Mental Health

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