My DD1 (almost 14) took an overdose a few weeks ago. She spent 3 days in hospital and is fully recovered physically but still depressed.
Her depression stems (I think) from a number of things. The main one is her dad. We split when she was 4 and she used to see him regularly. But last Sept she told me he had a porno business on the internet. She had known for 2 years and discovered this when he sent her emails - accidentally or on purpose we do not know.
Subsequently we stopped both daughters from seeing him. He took us to court and last week we finally reached the end of the legal process with contact being denied. This is what she wanted, but she does not seem to accept that grief is a natural part of this.
She has been under a great deal of stress for various other reason recently - looking after me and DD2 and DS when I broke my leg in January, and various arguments with her friends. Eventually she developed a tendency to faint and vomit so often that she missed a lot of school. We went through all the medical checks with the GP and she was referred to a paediatrician. Before the appointment came up she took the overdose. Subsequently she saw the paediactrician and also a psychiatrist. Both recommended psychotherapy but she refuses to participate.
I have tried and tried to get her to talk to me but I think she just can't. I don't want to force her to a therapist as I was advised that it might do more harm than good. But I feel helpless because I don't have the training to know how to get her started with talking to me.
She bumbles along as best she can but I often find her crying. She can never explain why. We try to include lots of fun things in our life. She gets out quite a bit, with us and her friends. She helps at home and we do lots of things together.
Her physical symptoms have disappeared since the overdose but now she is suffering with sleeplessness.
I have a history of depression myself although I am over it now. But I really do understand and sympathise with her. However, I found talking was what I needed to do to heal. This evidently isn't something she is ready for, but I don't really know how to help her. I am terrified that she will try to take her own life again. Any advice or ideas would be gratefully received.