A Parent's Guide for Suicidal and Depressed Teens

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Authors: Kate Williams

Tags: #Family & Relationships, #Life Stages, #Teenagers, #Self-Help, #Depression, #test

BOOK: A Parent's Guide for Suicidal and Depressed Teens
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title
:
A Parent's Guide for Suicidal and Depressed Teens : Help for Recognizing If a Child Is in Crisis and What to Do About It
author
:
Williams, Kate.
publisher
:
Hazelden Publishing
isbn10 | asin
:
1568380402
print isbn13
:
9781568380407
ebook isbn13
:
9780585150086
language
:
English
subject
 
Youth--Suicidal behavior, Parent and teenager, Suicide--Prevention, Adolescent psychology.
publication date
:
1995
lcc
:
HV6546.W55 1995eb
ddc
:
362.28/0835
subject
:
Youth--Suicidal behavior, Parent and teenager, Suicide--Prevention, Adolescent psychology.
Page iii
A Parent's Guide For Suicidal and Depressed Teens
Help for Recognizing if a Child is in Crisis and What to Do About It
Kate Williams
HAZELDEN®
 
Page iv
Hazelden
Center City, Minnesota 55012-0176
©1995 by Hazelden Foundation
All rights reserved. Published 1995
Printed in the United States of America
No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publisher
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Williams, Kate.
A parent's guide for suicidal and depressed teens : help for recogniz-
ing if a child is in crisis and what to do about / Kate Williams.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 1-56838-040-2: $11.95 ($17.95 Can.)
1. YouthSuicidal behavior. 2. Parent and teenager. 3.
SuicidePrevention. 4. Adolescent psychology. I. Title.
HV6546.W55 1995
362.28'0835dc20                                            94-46390
CIP
Editor's note
Hazelden offers a variety of information on chemical dependency and related areas. Our publications do not necessarily represent Hazelden's programs, nor do they officially speak for any Twelve Step organization.
The writings of Jill Breckenridge, Rachel Firchow, Mary B. Kahle, Bernie Schemmler, Richard Solly, Rachel W, Cary Waterman, and Linda Wing are published by the generous permission of the authors.
Adult Children of Alcoholics,
also known as
The Laundry List,
by Tony A., was previously published in
The Laundry List: The ACOA Experience.
Reprinted by the generous permission of Tony A.
A Message to Teenagers . . . How to tell when drinking is becoming a problem
is reprinted with permission of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. Permission to reprint these questions does not mean that AA has reviewed or approved the contents of this publication nor that AA agrees with the views expressed herein.
Your Lifestyle Profile
was developed for community service by the Allstate Insurance Companies and reprinted with their kind permission.
The author wishes to express her gratitude to all the writers whose words have supported her recovery and her work.
 
Page v
If suffering alone taught, all the world would be wise, 
since everyone suffers. To suffering must be added 
mourning, understanding, patience, love, openness, 
and the willingness to remain vulnerable
ANNE MORROW LINDBERGH
 
Page vii
CONTENTS
Dedication
v
Foreword
By Denise M. D'aurora, M.Ed.
xi
Introduction
1
Part One: Recognizing the Crisis
1. The Downward Spiral: Recognizing A Cry for Help
9
2. The Grim Reaper: Looking at Your Own Feelings
19
3. The Last Taboo: Talking Directly about Death
29
Part Two: Taking Action
4. Help Is There for the Asking
37
5. Dial 911: Taking Action
43
6. Inside the Heart of Despair: Asking for Support
45
7. Courage: Giving Your Child Support
53
8. Drowning in the Romance of Death: Fighting Back
59
9. Chemical Balance: Learning about Drugs
63
10. Tough Love: Preparing for New Behaviors
67
11. Honest Eyes: Making a Commitment to Family Therapy
75
12. Hope. Breaking the Negative Cycle
91
13. It's a Jungle Out There: Looking at Other Issues
99
14. It Takes Life to Love Life: Self-Care for Parents
107
 
Page viii
Part Three: Dealing with Adolescent Issues
15. The Family Community: Coming of Age
115
16. Changes: Adolescent Loss and Grief
119
17. Tied Up in Knots: Stress
133
18. Fiery Zits and Sudden Outbursts: Anger
139
19. Depression: The Heavy Cloud
143
20. Just to See You Smile: Caretaking
149
21. Fast Cars and Designer Jeans. Gender Pressures
155
Part Four: Facing Difficult Life Situations
22. The Two Fires: Divorce
167
23. Choices: Sexuality and Self-Acceptance
185
24. A Puzzle with a Missing Piece: Adoption
189
25. Waters Closing Over: Birth Secrets
195
Part Five: Accepting Recovery as a Reality
26. A New Picture: Creating a Manageable Family Life
201
Appendix A: Suicide Warning Signs
211
Appendix B: Your Lifestyle Profile
213
Appendix C: How to Tell When Drinking Is Becoming A Problem
223
Endnotes
225
Recommended Reading
229
Index
231
 
Page ix
FOREWORD
By Denise M. D'Aurora, M.Ed.
When I was approached about writing the foreword to
A Parent's Guide for Suicidal and Depressed Teens
I did not know that the book was written from Ms. Williams' experience as a parent whose child was both depressed and suicidal. As a family therapist, I was increasingly gratified to find as I read the book that the author offered genuine insight into the treatment of depressed adolescents and practical help for families in crisis.
I was interested in reading the book for many reasons. Chief among these is that I encourage and suggest reading to my clients as an adjunct to therapy and am always looking for quality books to recommend. Although there is no dearth of personal growth literature available, much of it is unremarkable. Kate Williams' book is an enormous exception to this.
As Ms. Williams states, "Books about depression and suicide . . . tend to be clinical and descriptive. They tend to talk about 'clients'. . . the advice tends to be unusually vague, like 'Listen."' Her own needs as a parent were for support, for information offered at a level sensitive to her feelings, and for

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