Listen carefully, ask questions, and don't minimize your child's concerns.
No parent is prepared to hear the words, “I wish I were dead,” or “I don’t want to be alive anymore.”
When a child says something so shocking, it can be tempting to believe they don’t really understand what they’re saying, or they couldn’t possibly be serious.
But if your child expresses thoughts of suicide, the most important thing you can do is to listen and take them seriously. Experts recommend you take these steps.