Since the beginning of October, 6 cases of adolescent suicide have occurred in Kyiv. On October 2, step-siblings who had lived in a foster family jumped out of the window of the 24th floor of a high-rise building. On October 9, two girls were found in the Desnyan district. On October 15, the body of a 12-year-old girl was found in the Minsk massif, and the next day in the evening, the body of a 16-year-old boy was found in the Desniansky district.

Suicide is the second most common cause of death among teenagers aged 15 to 19 years in Ukraine. According to the Ministry of Health, 120 child deaths are recorded in the country every year. It is crucial to approach this topic with sensitivity and compassion.

Factors that may contribute to suicide among teens:

Depression, anxiety disorders, and other mental illnesses.Alcohol and drug use.Bullying and violence by peers or adults.Deep self-doubt.Moving, divorce of parents, death of a loved one, and other stressful situations.School problems, conflicts with teachers and peers.Undivided love.Easy access to deadly weapons.A full-scale war only exacerbated these problems. Forced resettlement, loss of parents’ jobs, lower standard of living, and separation from friends and relatives were added to regular problems. And often even adults are not able to cope with these problems, so what can we say about children?

Therefore, during this period, adults need to be careful with their children and need to look after them. Pay attention to whether your child shows:

the desire to withdraw, apathy, aggressiveness, refusal to communicate with elders;changes in nutrition or sleep;decrease in school performance;refusal of favorite activities and any activity;a depressed state, signs of emotional trauma.Talk to your teens about suicide. Don’t be afraid to talk about it openly and honestly. Create a safe and trusting environment at home. Let your teens know that you are there to listen and support them. Listen carefully to the child, about its problems and worries, do not blame, do not evaluate, do not condemn, and do not devalue the difficulties the teen is going through. Reassure your child that you love them. Encourage your teenagers to seek professional help if they need it.