Suicidal Thought Help for Children and Adolescents in Pittsburgh, PA

If your child is struggling with suicidal thoughts we are here to help. Located near Pittsburgh, PA, Southwood offers leading suicidal ideation treatment for children and adolescents.

Learn More About Suicidal Ideation Treatment

Learn more about treatment for suicidal thoughts at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital Pittsburgh, PA

An unfortunate symptom of many mental health disorders is suicidal ideation. In conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, and trauma-related disorders, thoughts of suicide tend to develop when symptoms are not alleviated, which in turn causes an individual to become fixated on how he or she would end his or her own life. Young people who struggle with mental illness are not absolved from experiencing suicidal ideation because of their age and require treatment in order to eliminate these dangerous thought processes. And because children and adolescents experience these thoughts within their own minds, it is necessary for parents and caregivers to pay attention to the behavioral and emotional warning signs that their child is battling such intrusive thoughts. Southwood Psychiatric Hospital recognizes the distress that is often caused by suicidal ideation. We also understand the potential consequences that could occur if a youth grapples with such thoughts for a long period of time. In response to these realizations, we are pleased to offer superior mental health services for those young people who are plagued by overwhelming thoughts about death and dying. At Southwood Psychiatric Hospital, we want your child to become well again, be free from thoughts of suicide, and find relief from any additional symptoms of an existing mental health condition.

How to Help a Loved One

Find suicidal thought help for family members and loved ones

Being aware that your child is feeling suicidal can be heart-breaking for parents and caregivers. As a parent or caregiver, you want to do all that you can to help your child, but may be confused as to how you can be the most help to your child during this difficult time. You may wonder what is causing your child to think about his or her own demise when you envision and wish for a bright and happy future for your child. Rest assured, there are things you can do to assist your child in overcoming these intrusive and disruptive thoughts.

If you are unsure how to go about seeking treatment for your child, you can contact a local mental health provider to learn about the various options for care that are available. When choosing a treatment provider, it is important that you select one that is designed to meet the unique needs of children and adolescents, as the professionals employed at these providers are trained and qualified to care for young people in manner that produces successful treatment outcomes. Once you have selected a treatment provider, it is a good idea to contact them to learn more about the programs they offer and their process of admissions.

After selecting a provider and gathering as much information as possible, the next step would be to schedule an evaluation with your provider so that treatment can begin as soon as possible. Once the admissions process is complete and your child is engaged in care, you, as the parent or caregiver, should be part of your child’s treatment from start to finish. By participating in your child’s treatment, not only will your child receive care that will ultimately better his or her life, but you can also gain new information and tools for supporting your child once he or she has completed treatment.

Finally, it is important that you remain patient throughout the therapeutic process and convey your unwavering support to your child. Parents and caregivers who are supportive during treatment ultimately help their child or adolescent be more successful when trying to overcome ideations of suicide and any mental health conditions that could be present.

Why Consider Treatment

Why consider treatment for suicidal ideation

The presence of suicidal ideation signifies that an individual is struggling with a mental illness. Allowing these types of thoughts to remain present in a person’s life runs the risk of suicide. Those who experience intense, overwhelming, and intrusive thoughts about death and dying have a greater chance for attempting suicide at some point. Additionally, the mental illness that is likely causing the presence of suicidal ideations will develop worsening symptoms if mental health care is not sought. Children and adolescents who experience these thoughts will also experience difficulty at school, as preoccupations with death could prevent effective learning. Furthermore, those who think about death on a regular basis are likely to engage in risky behaviors that could put their lives in jeopardy. Examples of such risky behaviors could include substance abuse, risky undertakings, and engaging in activities without much forethought about the consequences. Fortunately, there are treatment options for youth who are experiencing thoughts of suicide so that a happy and healthy life can be realized.

Types of Treatment

Types of treatment for suicidal thoughts offered at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital

As a foremost provider of child and adolescent mental healthcare, Southwood Psychiatric Hospital is devoted to providing the most effective mental health treatment, education, and assisted living services to youth who are battling emotional, behavioral, and cognitive concerns that are unique to young people. We believe that it is necessary to address and care for every need for each of our patients so that the most favorable treatment outcomes are the result. We believe all people are capable of change and possess the capacity to learn new skills and abilities that can serve well for a lifetime. Based on this belief, we facilitate a therapeutic environment that is conducive to healing and change so that each youth entrusted into our care has the opportunity to gain insight about his or her own life and develop positive skills for healthy functioning.

The methods for care utilized at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital include cognitive-behavioral approaches that implement crisis and reality theories. We believe that these approaches, coupled with a structured setting, produce lasting healing and promote interpersonal growth. Cornerstone to the care supplied by Southwood Psychiatric Hospital is individualized treatment planning within a therapeutic milieu that incorporates these approaches within several therapeutic methods. We also encourage each patient’s family to be involved in the therapeutic process so that every child and adolescent reaps the benefits of having ample support network while bettering him or herself.

The following treatment methods are those that are featured within the programming offered at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital, methods that are proven to improve the lives of the population we serve:

Medication management: When symptoms of a mental health condition, such as ideations of suicide, or other co-occurring conditions require the use of pharmaceutical intervention in order to alleviate said symptoms, the use of medication may be incorporated into a youth’s treatment plan. The need for medication is assessed by a psychiatrist who can then prescribe, monitor, and adjust medication(s) if it is deemed necessary for a youth’s care. Additionally, medical personnel, such as nurse practitioners and nurses, assist in the supervision of medication management so that the most effective dosage of a given medication produces the most favorable results. These professionals have contact with patients on a daily basis.

Individual therapy: Held every other day on the child and adolescent inpatient units, individual therapy sessions are afforded to patients so that one-on-one time with a mental health professional can be had in order to help each youth process emotions and monitor treatment goals while in our care. This is a time in which a young person can talk about his or her successes and explore areas for improvement.

Family therapy: The involvement of each patient’s family is integral to the treatment at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital. We facilitate family therapy sessions at least one to two times over the course of a youth’s treatment. During family sessions, youth, caregivers, and other loved ones can work through familial conflicts, improve communication, and learn how to work as a team in ensuring lasting recovery from mental health concerns that trigger the onset of suicidal ideations. Additionally, we put forth every effort to make sure each young person in our care is able to have contact with his or her family at least once a day.

Group therapy: A myriad of groups are part of the treatment feature in our inpatient programming. Groups allow patients to practice new skills that have been learned, receive additional support from our staff as well as peers, and learn new methods for managing emotions, behaviors, and thoughts. Groups are held four times a day and are led by Master’s level clinicians, nurses, and other experienced professionals. Topics covered within these groups include the following and are based on the cognitive-behavioral therapeutic approach:

  • The importance of and how to follow directions
  • Recreation groups
  • Anger management
  • Diagnosis education
  • Medication education
  • Stress management techniques
  • Social skill development
  • Effective methods for coping
  • Teamwork and team building skills

Experiential therapy: In order to encourage creative expression and stress the benefits of physical activity, Southwood Psychiatric Hospital incorporates numerous experiential therapies into its inpatient programming. The following are examples of the experiential therapies patients are able to participate in during the course of treatment:

  • Gym
  • Opportunities for recreation outside
  • Music
  • Yoga
  • Art

Continuing Care

Continuing care and levels of treatment for suicidal ideation

While the programming offered within Southwood Psychiatric Hospital is focused on patients being able to achieve their treatment goals, we remain dedicated to helping those who come to our hospital for care in succeeding once they have completed their treatment. From the moment a youth is admitted into one of our programs, our staff begins formulating aftercare recommendations that will meet the child or adolescent’s needs. Inpatient treatment, by nature, is designed to stabilize a youth so that the therapeutic process can continue at a lower level of care. Therefore, we conduct an ongoing assessment of needs in order to ensure that referrals to another treatment provider will help a patient continue his or her success long after leaving Southwood Psychiatric Hospital.

Our staff of compassionate and caring professionals will work in collaboration with each youth and his or her family to establish how the youth will retain skills learned and which services in the community will refine and build upon those skills.

Whatever your child or adolescent’s mental health needs may be, let Southwood Psychiatric Hospital be your treatment provider of choice when trying to help your child achieve the life that he or she deserves.

I learned a lot during my stay here which helped me in my longer journey.

– Former client