Parenting is one of the toughest jobs we take on, even in the best of times. Throw in a pandemic with isolation from peers and 24/7 social media, we have a recipe for mental health challenges.
According to the CDC, youths aged 10 to 24 years account for around 14% of all suicides. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for ages 15-24 years and the second leading cause of death among ages 10-14 years. Between 2010 and 2020, suicide attempts among children 10-to 12-years old have increased fivefold.
Faceless statistics are one thing but what happens when your child becomes part of the stats? Podcast guest, Justin Kruger, shares the story of his daughter’s suicide attempts. He looks back at the signs, the actions, and the aftermath of both attempts. Justin describes what it was like as a parent and the long journey to healing as a family. He talks about the lessons learned that came from it, a quote him and his daughter always come back to, and his advice for other parents going through something similar.