You don't have to be an expert to have this conversation with your teen. You just have to start it.
In honor of World Suicide Prevention Day, Jennifer Hargrave sits down with Dr. Kristin Kroll, founder of Little Dove Psychology in Austin, Texas, for a conversation every parent needs to hear. Dr. Kroll spent over a decade in academic medicine at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, and she brings that clinical expertise to one of the hardest topics parents face: how, when, and why to talk to kids about suicide.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why talking about suicide does not put the idea in a child's head (and what the research actually shows)
How early to start the conversation, and what age hospitals are now screening from
The warning signs that matter most, and how to tell them apart from normal teenage moodiness
What to say (and what not to say) if your teen tells you they've had these thoughts
How to talk with teens about supporting friends without taking on their burden
What "contracting for safety" means and what really happens when someone calls a crisis line
A message of hope for parents navigating this with their own teens
This conversation is also personal for Jennifer. As a family law attorney, she sees firsthand how life transitions, including divorce, can be a high risk time for teens, and why having these tools matters for every family, not just families in crisis.
If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out:
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988
The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ youth): call 1-866-803-7386 or visit thetrevorproject.org
Learn more about Dr. Kroll and Little Dove Psychology:
Kristin Kroll, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and the founder of Little Dove Psychology, a virtual practice for children, teens, and college students. She completed pediatric hospital training at Children's Wisconsin, served as Assistant Professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin, and is the author of a Cambridge University Press textbook on evidence-based treatment for children. Before the pandemic she was researching telehealth delivery of group therapy, and later helped Children's Wisconsin build its telehealth clinical procedures.
Little Dove Psychology provides therapy across the 42 PSYPACT jurisdictions, Texas included, and ADHD, autism, and dyslexia evaluations for Texas clients ages 6 through 55. The practice is in network with several major commercial plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, and Optum, for therapy and testing alike. Every family starts with a free 15-minute consultation with Dr. Kroll. littledovepsychology.com