Talking about suicide can feel uncomfortable. It can be difficult to know what to say, what signs to look for, or what to do when someone you care about is struggling. But these are conversations worth having.
At Lotus Counseling Center, our therapists work with children, teens, adults, couples, and families throughout Florida. We see firsthand how valuable it can be to have a safe place to talk honestly about depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, overwhelming stress, and other experiences that can leave someone feeling isolated or hopeless.
We’re encouraging our Florida community to learn the warning signs, check in with the people around them, and understand where to turn when additional support is needed.
Suicide Prevention Starts With Talking About Mental Health
Someone doesn’t have to be in an obvious crisis to be struggling.
Mental health challenges can look very different from person to person. Someone may continue going to work, attending school, spending time with friends, or caring for their family while privately experiencing significant emotional pain.
That’s one reason creating space for honest conversations matters.
Asking someone how they’re really doing, listening without immediately trying to fix the problem, and taking concerns seriously can help a person feel less alone.
It is also okay to ask directly about suicide when there is a reason for concern. Asking whether someone is thinking about suicide does not put the idea into their head. Instead, a direct and compassionate question can give someone permission to talk about something they may have been afraid to say out loud.
Know the Warning Signs of Suicide
There isn’t one behavior that can predict whether someone will attempt suicide. However, certain changes or behaviors may indicate that someone needs immediate support.
Warning signs can include:
- Talking about wanting to die or not wanting to be here
- Expressing feelings of hopelessness or having no reason to live
- Talking about feeling trapped or being a burden to others
- Withdrawing from friends, family, or activities
- Significant changes in mood or behavior
- Increased use of alcohol or substances
- Giving away meaningful possessions
- Saying goodbye in ways that feel unusual or final
- Changes in sleeping or eating patterns
- Increased agitation, anxiety, anger, or reckless behavior
- Researching or making plans related to suicide
- A sudden sense of calm after a period of significant emotional distress
Sometimes the signs are obvious. Other times, they can be easy to miss.
A significant change from someone’s usual personality, habits, relationships, or behavior is worth paying attention to, particularly when several warning signs appear together.
Suicide Risk Can Look Different in Teens
Teenagers experience emotional ups and downs, which can sometimes make it difficult to tell the difference between a difficult season and something that needs more support.
Changes such as withdrawing from friends, refusing to attend school, declining grades, persistent irritability, panic attacks, major changes in sleep, loss of interest in activities, increased risk-taking, or expressions of hopelessness deserve attention.
Today’s teens are also navigating pressures that can follow them home. Bullying may continue through social media. Academic pressure can feel relentless. Friendship conflicts can unfold publicly and around the clock. Comparison, identity concerns, family conflict, and uncertainty about the future can add another layer of stress.
At Lotus Counseling Center, our teen therapy focuses on creating a personable, nonjudgmental environment where teens can build genuine trust with their therapist. Therapy can provide a place to talk about what’s happening without feeling lectured, evaluated, or pressured to have everything figured out.
What to Do When You’re Worried About Someone
It can be frightening to realize that someone you care about may be thinking about suicide. You don’t need perfect words or to be a mental health professional to take the concern seriously.
- Start with a calm, direct conversation.
- Ask how they’re doing and give them room to answer honestly. Listen more than you speak. Avoid minimizing what they’re experiencing or immediately trying to convince them that everything will be okay.
- Statements like “You have so much to be grateful for” may be well-intentioned, but they can unintentionally make someone feel more misunderstood.
- Instead, focus on letting them know that you’re there, you’re listening, and you want to help them connect with the support they need.
- If someone tells you they are thinking about suicide, take it seriously. Don’t promise to keep suicidal thoughts or plans a secret.
If there is an immediate danger or concern that someone may act on suicidal thoughts, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room.
When Therapy Can Help
Not every mental health struggle begins as a crisis.
In many cases, therapy can provide support much earlier, when someone begins experiencing persistent sadness, anxiety, isolation, emotional dysregulation, grief, trauma symptoms, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, or a sense of being overwhelmed by daily life.
Therapy provides a private space to explore what is happening underneath those feelings and begin developing healthier ways to cope.
At Lotus Counseling Center, our multidisciplinary team works with a wide range of emotional and mental health concerns. Because our therapists have different specialties, backgrounds, and areas of training, we can thoughtfully match clients with a therapist whose experience and approach align with their needs.
Depending on the individual and their treatment goals, therapy may incorporate evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), the Gottman Method, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), or EMDR, along with other therapeutic methods.
The right approach depends on the person. There is no single type of therapy that is appropriate for everyone.
Building Support Before Things Reach a Crisis Point
One of the most important messages during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month is that someone doesn’t need to wait until they’re in crisis to ask for help.
Mental health deserves attention before things become unbearable.
Therapy may be worth considering when there are ongoing changes in:
- Mood
- Sleep
- Appetite
- Relationships
- School or work performance
- Motivation
- Ability to manage stress
- Interest in activities that once felt enjoyable
- Ability to cope with difficult emotions
Support can also be valuable after a major loss, traumatic experience, breakup, divorce, family change, bullying experience, or other difficult transition.
Reaching out earlier creates an opportunity to understand what’s happening, strengthen coping skills, and build a support system before challenges become more difficult to manage.
Mental Health Support for Children, Teens & Adults
Emotional struggles don’t have an age limit, and they don’t always look the same.
A child may express distress through behavior because they don’t yet have the language to describe what they’re feeling. A teenager may withdraw or become irritable. An adult may continue meeting responsibilities while quietly feeling exhausted, anxious, or hopeless.
That’s why Lotus Counseling Center offers care across different stages of life.
Our multidisciplinary team provides child therapy, teen counseling, individual therapy, couples counseling, and other mental health services based on each client’s individual needs.
For younger clients, treatment may include age-appropriate approaches such as play-based therapy. Teens may benefit from approaches such as CBT or DBT skills for anxiety, emotional regulation, and coping. Adults may work with therapists trained in CBT, EMDR, DBT, trauma-informed approaches, and other evidence-based therapies.
Rather than expecting every person to fit into the same model, we focus on finding the therapeutic approach and relationship that makes sense for the individual.
Finding the Right Therapist Matters
Opening up about mental health can feel incredibly personal. Feeling comfortable with the therapist on the other side of the conversation matters.
At Lotus Counseling Center, clients aren’t limited to one therapeutic style or specialty. Our team can help match clients with a therapist based on factors such as their concerns, goals, preferred approach, and personality. We want therapy to feel like a place where it is possible to speak honestly and be met with compassion rather than judgment.
We offer in-person therapy at our Miami, Boca Raton, and Aventura locations, as well as telehealth throughout Florida. Both insurance and private pay options are available.
A Reminder This Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
Sometimes helping begins with something very simple: noticing.
Notice when someone seems different. Ask the extra question. Make time to listen. Take comments about suicide seriously. Encourage professional support when it is needed.
And remember that therapy doesn’t have to begin at the point of crisis.
To learn more about therapy at Lotus Counseling Center or to get matched with a therapist, call 305-915-5748 or contact our team today.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health or suicide crisis or is in immediate danger, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If there is immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
