If teenage patients express any of the above signs, the next step would be to talk to them about the things you have noticed. In most cases people want to feel like someone cares and it can be very helpful to have someone listen. If you suspect after chatting with a child that they may be suicidal, make sure  to speak with a professional about what step to take next.

Technology is a big factor in the lives of teenagers, and incidentally a big contributor to kids becoming depressed. There are resources available that work to assist both parents and pediatricians on how to deal with technology with children.

Depression and suicide are important topics to bring into routine checkups. Suicide is the third largest contributor to teenage death in the country, and cannot be overlooked.

Make sure to keep them close to you! For they need to feel important and worth living.