Tw suicide to think if my child has a plan

[User566677]

To take their own life. They should be admitted to inpatient care. He’s 15 and diagnosed with depression.

Bumping for any advice

Sorry this is happening, OP. It sounds like things have hit rock bottom for your DS.

If he has a plan, and you think he may be in immediate danger then get him to A&E and have him assessed. Having a plan does not necessarily mean inpatient admission though. Inpatient beds are like hen's teeth, even more so for teens. Hopefully getting seen by a crisis team will enable you all to come up with a plan to keep him safe, and to work on getting through this tough time.

Need more information. How do you know he has a plan? Has he previously been seen by mental health services? Does he have longstanding mental health issues? Have you attended the GP/A&E with him since finding out this info?

He’s told me yes. He’s been started on an anti depressant a few weeks back.

@User566677

He’s told me yes. He’s been started on an anti depressant a few weeks back.

Some antidepressants can cause an increase in suicidal thoughts in adolescents in the first few weeks of treatment.

MH care teams will make a distinction between passive and active suicide ideation.
If you think he has an active plan then it is a 999 call.

Your son needs help. Yes anti depressants can exacerbate suicidal thoughts. You need to contact the emergency services.
I’m sorry you are going through this it is tough.

If you think he has a plan and he is going to act on it then yes 999/a&e is appropriate. Has he said about the plan today? Has he been seen by mental helath? Is there a CAMHS crisis line in your area ? Unfortunately and I'm not saying it's right, it's pretty hard to be admitted as there is such a shortage of beds they also try it as an absolute last resort as inpatient is not always the best environment. And yes antidepressants can make suicidal ideation worse to begin with. Due to his age he should be having close monitoring. If you think he's in imenate danger than 99/a&e, if not I'd try CAMHS OOH/crisis line. Young minds also has a parents support line.

I did call Camhs as an emergency no one got back to me

You can (or encourage him to) text mental health charity Shout on 85258 for free advice and support x

It he has a plan please please take this seriously. Talking from experience here. Emergency services x

THe fact that you know he has a plan is a call for help.
Many plans are never found out until it is too late.

Call 999.

Assuming you are in the UK, your only option here is A&E. CAMHS will be called as to assess but even then it's extremely unlikely they will keep him in hospital. You do go to the top of the list for help but there can sometimes still be a wait.
Please don't wait, just go to A&E.

I feel for you, OP. I have been there.

How's he doing right now op? I'd keep on CAMHS you often have to be very persistent to get a response. But as above if he has active plans that he may act open it's a 999/a&e job

Please call emergency services or take him to A&E. Outside of that, this organisation were an invaluable source of support when my eldest DS attempted to take his own life. hectorshouse.org.uk

From bitter experience OP, you do not want to be waiting for an ambulance after you discover your son has acted on his plan. You are not overreacting by contacting A&E. He is telling you that he needs support.

On re-reading your post I see he must be under CAMHS care already if he is already on anti-depressants. I would also phone the psychiatrist who prescribed, as this could be a side effect and his dose may not be right. It could just be a case of riding it out. But A&E if he is in danger.
You are right, access to inpatient care should be easier, although from what I've heard it's not ideal for teens.

999 or A and E. Really hope you can get him the help he needs

Sending so much sympathy - this is so hard for you and for him and agree with others that it is vital to escalate with his existing team but in case it helps as well as the v good advice re A&E if you are in England all NHS Trusts have to have a 24/7crisis line for all ages www.nhs.uk/mental-health/advice-for-life-situations-and-events/where-to-get-urgent-help-for-mental-health/ Papyrus www.papyrus-uk.org/ offers help to yp and to those anxious about them and are a really good source of support.

Agree with above - take him to A&E

Antidepressants can make people worse for the first couple of weeks. They did to me - I honestly thought I was going insane, but then it passed and I felt a lot better.

As someone that had a plan myself but luckily never acted on it you need to go to a&e or ring 999. You can not do this alone. He needs a medical professional to speak too and hopefully get through to him. I’m so sorry this is happening to you .

Having a plan in itself isn't necessarily worrying but it needs exploring. What is the plan? How viable is it? How serious is he thinking about it? inpatient care is one but not the only option. It's very scary for you and him I totally understand but the more you can both talk about it the better really. What stops suicide is time and thinking space to problem solve and work out the 'in order to' so what is being sought by death, what is it to escape, if that makes sense

I'm so sorry OP. I thought suicidal feelings were enough to get someone sectioned as a precaution. Keep pressing GP / a social worker. Good luck xx

I once found - and confiscated - a suicide kit from my friend - an adult. He still wasn't admitted to hospital, despite telling MH services he had planned to use it.

By some miracle he's still alive.

@Skysblue

If everyone with a suicidal feeling was sectioned we would need thousands more hospitals!

GP will likely re-direct to CAMHS.

If you feel he is unsafe before the morning- A&E.

Has he shared the plan with you? Sympathies as you must be so worried.