Pediatric Nursing Q 153
The psychiatric nurse is alert to warning signs of suicide in the adolescent population. From the following list, select those behaviors that are indicative of adolescent suicidal thinking. Select all that apply.
A. Giving away prized possessions
B. Associating with friends who are substance abusers
C. Sudden withdrawal from friends and family
D. Having difficulty concentrating on one thing at a time
E. Being easily distracted by environmental events
F. Verbal hints or threats about suicide
Correct Answer: A, C, & F
These are all warning signs that an adolescent is having suicidal thoughts. The nurse should directly question any adolescent about suicide intent when these indicators are noted. Suicidal ideation sometimes referred to as suicidal thoughts, describes thoughts, fantasies, ideas, or images related to committing suicide. Contrary to common belief, depression and suicidal thoughts are not limited to adults, but symptoms and warning signs are often different in teens.
Option A: Giving away belongings when there is no other logical explanation for why this is being done is a warning sign that a teen might be suicidal. In the U.S., suicide attempts are more common in adolescent girls than boys. But boys are more likely to die by suicide than are girls.
Option B: This may indicate that the adolescent has a problem with substance use, but not necessarily suicide. They might also be unable to see that they can turn their lives around — and that suicide is a permanent response, not a solution, to a temporary problem.
Option C: Don’t dismiss suicidal talk as “typical teen drama.” If a child is making comments such as “I might as well kill myself” or “I wish I was dead,” you need to listen and acknowledge their pain.
Option D: Many teens who attempt or die by suicide have a mental health condition. As a result, they have trouble coping with the stress of being a teen, such as dealing with rejection, failure, breakups, school difficulties, and family turmoil.
Option E: These are signs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, not suicide. If a teen is thinking about suicide, he or she is likely displaying warning signs. Listen to what the child is saying and watch how he or she is acting. Never shrug off threats of suicide as teen melodrama.
Option F: Active suicidal ideation is when a teen experiences persistent thoughts of suicide and continues to feel hopeless. When the ideation is active, a teen begins to take steps to carry out a suicide attempt.