Teenager & suicidal thoughts

[RachelGreensHair]

DD15 told me she is having suicidal thoughts. Everyone keeps saying if I tell school or her GP she will end up being sectioned. I am meeting with a private psychotherapist next week who wants to talk to me first before he begins talking to her. If we were to tell him about her suicidal thoughts would he keep it confidential or would he get her sectioned too? I cannot believe I am typing this and my child feels like this. Thank you.

I am so sorry your child is thinking about this. In my experience even multiple suicide attempts is not enough to get a section. Thoughts would not meet the criteria for this, they might tell you to go to A and E if she started to create a plan but I think you will be ok.

Oh OP I am so sorry… someone with experience and advice will be along soon but I’m sending a handhold. What a massive shock. However, you have done a great job as a parent to have created the means for her to confide in you. Well done for that. Xx

Being sectioned is very very unlikely. But you need to let anyone who can help know. It very likely that the school have someone who is trained in suicide awareness.
Please don't let this worry stop you from getting your daughter the help she needs

Take her to the GP without delay.
Reach out to this community for support www.parentingmentalhealth.org/

Wouldn't be sectioned, in our area it wouldn't even meet threshold to be seen by CAMHS

OP, it's unbelievably hard to go through this.

DD is the same age and we've been going through the same thing. We've had to hide all the sharp knives in our home because DD had started cutting herself and her main suicidal thoughts were about stabbing and cutting herself.

We contacted the GP straight away when we found out though and we managed to get to see one the same day who put an urgent referral in with CAMHS and we had an appointment with them just a couple of weeks after that. DD has been in therapy (organised through CAMHS) since then and we're just waiting to hear from CAMHS now about medication as the therapy has come to an end and the therapist recommended it. We did have an appointment last week but the nurse was ill and we haven't had a rescheduled date yet. Being sectioned has never been mentioned, not once.

Un-MNetty hugs to you though OP, it's honestly one of the hardest things I have ever had to go through as a parent and very few people IRL know the extent of what we've been going through.

I'm so sorry this is happening but no your DC is very very unlikely to be sectioned as a result of suicidal thoughts. And truthfully as hard as this is, when someone is sectioned for suicidality it's because they are so high risk they need to be in hospital to stop them taking their own life so please encourage your DC to be completely open about their thoughts, it's what's needed for the right help.

She will not be sectioned for suicidal thoughts
next of kin are consulted when someone is being assessed for a section and can refuse to consent to a section
however that’s not relevant here unless she is severely unwell and there is absolutely no other way of keeping her safe / alive
section is the last resort
don’t let the fear of that prevent her from accessing the help and support she needs

Being sectioned sucks, but it has saved my life. I don’t understand the fear of being sectioned when it is necessary. Certainly doesn’t make sense to avoid getting any mental health care because you might be sectioned- so what?! It’s not that bad and a damn sight better than the alternative.

We got support through the school, it's terrifying but unfortunately not uncommon. Got some private counselling organised too.

At home, we talked more about how proud we were that she opened up and told people and got help.

Sorry you and your daughter are going through this.

She won't be sectioned. Unfortunately what is more likely is she'll be on a waiting list for an extremely long time.

It's fortunate you can afford to go private, and you don't need to worry about him sectioning her for having suicidal thoughts.

She would only get sectioned if it was deemed necessary to protect her, if she couldn't keep herself safe. It's not a punishment.

I think you need to encourage her to discus it with her GP. They should be the first port of call to get her on any waiting lists necessary and to consider medication. CAMHS is woefully underfunded so if you can afford private support too I would consider that too.

Also see if she can access support through school. Being open and talking is a good thing.

I’m so sorry that you your daughter are going through this. I am a teacher and have, sadly, been supporting 2 teen girls with severe mental health issues and suicidal thoughts.
In both cases, GPs have been a great source of support. Rightly or wrongly, young people are not sectioned at the moment, even after multiple attempts, so this is not a concern.
Both of ‘my’ girls have turned a corner after a really, really tough period of 6 months or so. One now takes SSIs on prescription, the other doesn’t. Both have found counselling which they have accessed through school very helpful. One thing that has helped them both is downloading supportive apps on their phone, such as Jigsaw and Booster Buddy. These and a few more here:
https://jigsaw.ie/mental-health-apps/
One has also found texting with the Samaritans to be really helpful. I hope that this helps a bit. Remember to enlist some support for yourself too - Samaritans are fab if you want someone anonymous to listen.

Thank you all so so much. Its been a really weird few days where I don't feel quite present in my own body :/ The psychotherapist wants to see me on my own today before he meets DD. I feel physically sick. I need to be 100% honest with him but am also scared to say it all out loud, am really hoping he can help.

I also spoke to GP on the phone and said she needed help with her mental health, didn't mention the suicidal thoughts - she's meeting DD later this week for a chat and hoping they can also help but realise NHS support might be slower.

I love being single but days like this, really need a hug :(