Everyone needs coping skills to manage difficult times in their life. Perhaps you listen to a particular musical artist to unwind after a long day. Maybe you cook a new recipe to focus all your energy on something positive. But what coping skills can help your teenager if they’re experiencing mental health challenges, such as suicidal thoughts?

When your teen shares suicidal thoughts, or they’re showing signs of suicidal ideation, such as talking about death or isolating away from others, it can be highly concerning. However, by developing the right coping skills, they can learn how to manage their suicidal thoughts and work toward a fulfilling future.

If your teen is in danger to themselves, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.

5 coping skills that your teen can use to deal with suicidal thoughts

Coping skills or mechanisms are strategies that can help your teen navigate difficult situations or complicated emotions. The goal of coping skills is to help alleviate negative emotional and thought patterns in distressing times. Developing these skills is a pivotal part of mental health treatment for conditions that may lead to suicidal thoughts. Coping skills can help teens deal with major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Coping skills can reduce the risk of passive suicidal thoughts escalating to active suicidal thoughts. Active suicidal thoughts mean they have a plan or intent to kill themselves. Passive thoughts don’t have intention behind them.

Here are five coping skills for teenagers managing suicidal thoughts:

1. Find a distraction — It’s important that teens don’t mask their mental health struggles as “no big deal.” They also shouldn’t pretend they aren’t happening at all. But when a teen has a suicidal thought pop into their head, distracting their minds can prevent them from hyperfixating on it. Effective distractions can be a YouTube video about a niche topic or a puzzle that requires focus.
2. Plan for a goal — When a teen is having suicidal thoughts, it can be difficult for them to feel optimistic about the future. However, setting a goal for the future and creating a plan to achieve it can help them see what they’re capable of. It can also give them something to look forward to achieving. It can be small goals, such as beating a high score on a video game or finishing a craft they’ve been working on. They can also set big, long-term goals, such as making honor roll for the semester or getting on a sports team at school.
3. Journal — It’s not easy to open up to others about mental health struggles, especially when a person is having suicidal thoughts that they don’t plan to act on. That’s why journaling is a coping mechanism that’s often endorsed by mental health professionals. When your teen is experiencing challenges that are causing suicidal thoughts, encourage them to journal their emotions and day-to-day experiences that are affecting their mental health. Journaling can help them identify negative thought patterns and adjust their perspective.
4. Create a playlist — There are many mental health benefits that can come from listening to music. It can provide stress reduction, mood improvement and a sense of community with other fans. Collaborate with your teen to make a playlist that they can turn on when they’re having suicidal thoughts. The songs can remind them of happy memories, put them in a good mood or make them feel motivated for the future.
5. Practice breathing exercises — A teen may have suicidal thoughts during times of high stress and anxiety. When it seems like their anxiety is becoming all-encompassing, and they can’t stop their mind from racing with negative or dangerous thoughts, a breathing exercise can provide some relief. Common breathing exercises that can help reduce anxiety include box breathing, belly breathing and lion’s breath. You can even learn them yourself so you can do the exercises together.

Lightfully Teen can help teenagers deal with suicidal thoughts

While coping skills are effective for helping teens on a day-to-day basis when they’re trying to manage their suicidal thoughts, it’s also essential that they are supervised as much as possible to reduce the risk of harming themselves. Further support may be required to address their underlying conditions.

With the right levels of care through Lightfully Teen, such as an Intensive Outpatient Program or Partial Hospitalization Program, a teen can gain a deeper understanding of the roots of their suicidal thoughts. We can help them move along their mental health journey.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step for your teen, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of them.