Join Lonnie Renteria, LHMC, psychotherapist as he answers questions about how the pandemic has affected teens and young adults, including an increase in suicidal thoughts and attempted and completed suicides; warning signs to look for, and steps you can take to help someone.
There are many resources about how parents and adults may help children and teens experiencing suicidal thoughts, but this interview was conducted to help those of us with friends or peers who are struggling. In this interview we answer the following questions:
- How has the pandemic affected teens and young adults? What are we seeing in our public health statistics?
- What have you seen in your experience as a psychotherapist and in the community with those you work with?
- What factors with the COVID pandemic are causing more people to be more suicidal or having thoughts or hurting themselves?
- What about differences of those from different backgrounds?
- What are some warning signs that someone might be suicidal especially now where you might now only being talking through texting or video chat, and you can’t be with them in person?
- As a friend how can you help them?
View the interview in English:
View the interview in Spanish:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: This website has a multitude of resources for suicide prevention. If you are thinking about suicide and need to talk to someone NOW, please call the hotline at 1.800.273.TALK (8255). For Spanish speakers please call: 1.888.628.9454.
Thanks Lonnie. Good work!