Adolescent death by suicide has reportedly grown from 5,000 to 6,120 American children—a nearly 20% increase over the past four years. 1.2 million children each year are brought to emergency rooms after suicide attempts or ideations annually. 

We must equip our girls in the fight against mental health struggles. Some parents fear that talking to kids about suicide will make the attempt more likely, but the opposite is the reality. The NIH instructs that having a pointed conversation about suicide is the first step in prevention, followed by limiting access to lethal items or places, and connection to a support system. 

Sit with your daughter and program the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number into her phone. It’s a concrete prevention step you can take together, today. 

Listen to the Raising Godly Girls Minute with Patti Garibay: