Has anyone ever had a child under the age of eight talk about suicide?

[nicnak01]

I'm actually praying that a hundred message appear saying of course all the time.

Millarkie, I'm glad to hear that your ds is much better now. What you say is really interesting as there are so many parallels, and in fact my dh was depressed when ds was about 2 as well. We have a dog and ds loves him to bits and takes him out for walks, which is good for both of them, and although I worry when he's out for ages (by the river where a lot of parents won't let their children go), I try not to let this get the better of me as I think the responsibility (and exercise) are really good for him. He also listens to music and the radio to calm down (Radio 4, which would not exactly be the chosen fodder of most of his contemporaries and explains why he finds it hard to relate to them!). Apart from his choice of radio station, he's like a moody teen too - in fact, more so than his 13-year-old sister!

Overthehill - it was reassuring to read that your GP had taken it seriously and you had a CAMHS referral. As I said, ds had always been 'different' - I work in a children's hospital and I had more than one colleague suggest to me that he is/was somewhere on the autistic spectrum (would be high functioning/aspergers type) but hearing impaired kids often have similar behavioural traits (he needed strong routine, he had poor communication because he couldn't talk til 3yrs etc). But I haven't pushed the issue and taken him to a GP and assumed that school would notice if he really did need help. That said, he saves his worst behaviour for after school, he is surprisingly quiet in class and has mainly ended up in trouble for not telling the teacher that he hasn't heard what to do, and then not getting his work done in time. He has been calmer recently since the bad teacher left and a visit to the Head to discuss his behaviour at home co-incided with the results of some ability tests coming out - Head saw that he has very high ability (despite being youngest in the year) and I think the school's view of him changed and they have been a bit better with him since.
But, since reading your post I have made up my mind that if he gets worse again I'll take him to the GP and see if we can get some help.

Nicnak - I would go to the Head and talk to her about the teacher's style affecting your dd. (and I recommend furry pets and music ) Hope things get better.