Resources
PODCASTS:
Important note on safety: The podcast episodes listed below discuss suicidal ideation in children, sometimes explicitly. They are intended for adults (parents, educators, counselors, clinicians), not for children to listen to independently. If reading this list brings up concerns about a child’s immediate safety, please seek local help right away. In Canada, support is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988.
- Childhood Suicidal Ideation Through a Narrative Therapy Lens
Podcast: Emerging Minds (Australia) Release date: March 17–18, 2025 Length: ~28 minutes Audience: Practitioners, parents, educators
Why it’s useful: This episode is one of the clearest, most developmentally grounded discussions focused specifically on childhood suicidal ideation, not adolescents. Narrative therapist David Newman explores how suicidal thoughts can emerge even in young children and how adults can talk about them without increasing shame, fear, or secrecy. The conversation emphasizes relational safety, listening to children’s meaning-making, and recognizing despair rather than assuming adult motivations. Age relevance: Explicitly addresses children, including those in primary-school years. Access: Free with full transcript-Emerging Minds - Identifying and Addressing Suicide Risk in Children
Podcast: Little Health (Cleveland Clinic Children’s) Release date: October 8, 2025 Length: ~30 minutes Audience: Parents and caregivers
Why it’s useful: Hosted by child psychiatrists, this episode clearly outlines warning signs of suicidal thoughts in children, including indirect language (e.g., wishing they weren’t here), behavioral withdrawal, and giving away belongings. The discussion is careful and concrete, focusing on what adults can notice and do, rather than graphic detail. Age relevance: Addresses suicide risk in children, not just teens, with examples applicable to elementary-aged kids. Access: Free via Cleveland Clinic and major podcast platforms. - Discussing Suicide with Younger Kids and Preteens
Podcast: Inside Mental Health Release date: September 14, 2023 Length: ~35 minutes Audience: Parents, caregivers, professionals
Why it’s useful: This episode directly challenges the myth that young children do not experience suicidality. A pediatrician guest discusses how suicidal thoughts can appear in children as young as 7–9 and offers age-appropriate language for conversations that prioritize safety and connection. The tone is practical and preventative. Age relevance: One of the few episodes explicitly naming children under 10. Access: Free with transcript available. - When Kids Talk of Suicide
Podcast: Shrinking It Down: Mental Health Made Simple (MGH Clay Center) Release date: September 25, 2019 Length: ~40 minutes Audience: Parents, educators, clinicians
Why it’s useful: This episode focuses on how adults should respond when a child or young person speaks about suicide. While it includes broader youth data, it devotes significant time to children and preteens, emphasizing how seriously all suicidal talk should be taken, regardless of age. Age relevance: Addresses children and adolescents, with guidance applicable to elementary-age listeners. Access: Free via Acast and other platforms. - Suicide Prevention Starts in Kindergarten
Podcast: The Sea Change Podcast Guest: Dr. Steven Karaiskos Audience: Educators, school leaders, parents
Why it’s useful: Rather than focusing on crisis response alone, this episode frames suicide prevention as beginning with social–emotional learning in early childhood. It discusses belonging, emotional vocabulary, and adult responsiveness in early elementary settings, offering a preventative lens relevant to children well under 12. Age relevance: Explicit focus on kindergarten and early school years. Access: Free via Spotify. - Jenn Robb on Supporting a Child Through Anxiety, Depression, and Suicidal Thoughts
Podcast: Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads Release date: December 16, 2025 Length: ~49 minutes Audience: Parents, caregivers
Why it’s useful: Though centered on a parent’s lived experience, this episode provides a powerful window into recognizing escalating mental health distress before adolescence and navigating systems of care when a child expresses suicidal thoughts. It highlights caregiver intuition and persistence. Age relevance: Focuses on a child approaching adolescence; useful for understanding early warning trajectories. Access: Free with clear trigger warnings. - Dear Highlights: Suicidal Thoughts (Rebroadcast)
Podcast: Dear Highlights: Release date: September 27, 2022 Length ~33 minutes Audience: Parents, caregivers
Why it is useful: This podcast addresses youth mental health, advising parents on recognizing warning signs, Experts emphasize talking openly with children about suicide to reduce risk and provide support. Encourages parents to listen for signs related to relationship conflict, loss, bullying, and intense, overwhelming emotions. Notes that contrary to common fears, discussing suicide directly with children does not increase the risk; rather, it provides an outlet for them to share their feelings and find help. The podcast highlights that parents often do not know when their children are in crisis, making proactive, early conversations crucial.
FAMILYSMART VIDEO LIBRARY
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
- Safety plan for home
https://kidshelpphone.ca/wp-content/uploads/My-Safety-Plan-Thoughts-of-Suicide.pdf - SELF toolkit for kids
https://keltymentalhealth.ca/sites/default/files/resources/SELF%20Toolkit%20for%20Kids.pdf - Self Harm
https://www.socialworkerstoolbox.com/wp-content/uploads/Free-Printable-Self-Harm-Iceberg-PDF-Poster-for-Children.pdf - School Refusal
https://www.socialworkerstoolbox.com/wp-content/uploads/school-refusal-iceberg-free-printable-pdf.pdf
CRISIS SUPPORT NUMBERS TO PHONE/TEXT:
- Crisis Centre B.C. – You can call/text 9-8-8 if experiencing thoughts of suicide, or call 310-6789 if experiencing a mental health crisis.
- KUU-US Crisis Line: For First Nations or Inuit, call 1-800-588-8717. For Metis Nation, call 1-833-638-4722
- Kids Help Phone – text 6-8-6-8-6-8
