What should you do if you think a young person's expression of suicidality is for attention?

• A. Ignore it entirely
• B. Dismiss it as attention-seeking
• C. Tell a trusted adult and talk openly
• D. Treat the expression seriously no matter what

Answer: (D)

Responding with seriousness and a safety focus is essential when a young person expresses suicidality. You can’t reliably judge intent from the outside, and the risk can be present even if it seems like the person is seeking attention. Treating the expression seriously communicates care, reduces danger, and buys time to assess what’s going on and mobilize help. In practice, that means listening openly, staying with the person, and involve a trusted adult or professional to ensure immediate safety and get appropriate support. Options that ignore or dismiss the signal miss critical risk, while the approach of taking it seriously aligns with safeguarding and seeking appropriate help.