Q&A: Talking to Kids about Mental Health, Suicide, and Suicide Loss

Q&A: Talking to Kids about Mental Health, Suicide, and Suicide Loss

In this Q&A episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson answers listener questions inspired by last week’s conversation with NBC News anchor and correspondent Kate Snow about mental health, journalism, and how suicide loss has shaped her reporting. Dr. Dave discusses how parents can talk with kids about suicide and mental health honestly and in age-appropriate ways, what changes in a child’s mood or behavior may indicate that they need support, and why asking directly about suicidal thoughts does not make those thoughts worse. He also explains how families can determine what level of care a child may need, what to look for in a treatment or residential program, and how to build emotional skills and family connection before a crisis occurs. This episode offers compassionate, practical guidance for recognizing when a child may be struggling, keeping communication open, and helping families find the right support.   In this episode, Dr. Dave covers: * How to talk with kids about suicide or a suicide loss honestly and appropriately * What changes in mood, behavior, and personality parents should take seriously * Why parents should ask direct questions about sadness and suicidal thoughts * How to understand the differences among therapy, psychiatry, school support, higher-level care, and emergency help * What to look for in a treatment, residential, or intensive-care program * How families and schools can build resilience and connection before a crisis    Further Reading Signs a Child Might Be Suicidal [https://childmind.org/article/signs-a-child-might-be-suicidal/] Reducing Suicide Risk With Safety Plans [https://childmind.org/article/what-is-a-safety-plan/] Supporting Children After the Suicide of a Classmate [https://childmind.org/article/supporting-children-after-the-suicide-of-a-classmate/] Complete Guide to Emergency Hospitalization [https://childmind.org/guide/parents-guide-to-emergency-hospitalization/]

An Expert Perspective at the Intersection of Journalism and Mental Health

In this episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson is joined by NBC News anchor and Senior National Correspondent Kate Snow for a conversation about journalism, mental health, and the power of telling stories that can reduce stigma. Kate discusses how personal loss shaped her reporting on mental health, as well as suicide prevention, substance use, access to care, and the systems that families often have to navigate during moments of crisis. In this episode, they cover: • Why journalists can play an important role in reducing stigma • What Kate has learned from reporting on teen mental health, substance use, and access to care • Why transitions or experiencing a loss of purpose can be mental health risk factors • How young people are broadening conversations about mental health Key takeaways • Sharing personal stories about mental health can help people feel less alone and make it easier for them to seek support. • Suicide loss can be traumatic for an entire family, and talking about it thoughtfully may help reduce shame and stigma. • Young people may be more open to conversations about mental health than previous generations, but they still need trusted adults and systems that can respond when they ask for help. Further reading (and viewing) NBC’s Kate Snow Shares Impact of Her Father-in-Law’s Suicide on Her Family, [https://www.today.com/video/nbc-s-kate-snow-shares-impact-of-her-father-in-law-s--on-her-family-1253755971601?v=raila&] Today Show The Link Between Smartphones and Kids' Mental Health, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzCCAZfuNuE] NBC Nightly News Opioid Crisis: Historic Cape Cod Town Experiencing Staggering Toll [https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/opioid-crisis-how-one-massachusetts-school-helps-grieving-students-1077322819799], NBC Nightly News Allegations of Abuse at Home for At-Risk Kids [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/they-told-me-it-was-going-be-good-place-allegations-n987176], NBC News Further reading from the Child Mind Institute What to Do if You’re Worried About Suicide [https://childmind.org/article/youre-worried-suicide/]

Q&A: Talking to Kids About Mental Health, Processing Current Events, and More

In this Q&A episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson answers listener questions inspired by last week’s conversation with actress and author Busy Philipps about parenting, mental health, technology, and staying actively involved in kids’ lives. Dr. Dave discusses how parents can stay connected to what kids are seeing on the internet, including how to help them think critically about influencers and what to do when they start wondering if they have ADHD, depression, or another diagnosis based on mental health content they see online. He also explores how ADHD can be missed in girls and high-achieving kids, how to talk with children about scary news and current events, and why building a parent “village” can help families better understand what’s happening socially, online, and at school. This episode offers practical guidance for staying curious, setting limits, building trust, and helping kids develop the critical thinking skills they need as they grow more independent. In this episode, Dr. Dave covers: • How to stay involved in kids’ online lives without becoming “Big Brother” • Why screen independence should grow through an “I do, we do, you do” model • How to help kids think critically about influencers and online algorithms • What to do when kids self-diagnose after seeing mental health content online • How AI and social media can be useful tools without replacing real support • Why ADHD is often missed in girls, women, and high-achieving kids • How to talk with kids about politics, school safety, traumatic upsetting news, and current events Further Reading Social Media and Self-Doubt [https://childmind.org/article/social-media-and-self-doubt/] Does Social Media Use Cause Depression? [https://childmind.org/article/is-social-media-use-causing-depression/] Not All Attention Problems Are ADHD [https://childmind.org/article/not-all-attention-problems-are-adhd/] Big Talks [https://childmind.org/bigtalks/] Don’t forget, you can now watch Thriving Kids on Apple Podcasts and our Thriving Kids YouTube channel [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnEQkAsadC1HKsZAusdF_ki0xjWRLUGp8&si=HaOMdJlFltU4u15T]!

The Challenges of Modern Parenting with Busy Philipps

Dr. Dave Anderson sits down with best-selling author, actor, and activist Busy Philipps to discuss the challenges of modern parenting. Busy talks about her adult ADHD diagnosis, helping kids navigate mental health TikTok, and how to broach tricky conversations about the “manosphere” and politics with honesty and love.    They also cover:   • Active parenting in the digital age. Busy shares why watching YouTubers and learning Roblox alongside her kids was more effective than setting blanket screen-time rules.    • TikTok, self-diagnosis, and critical thinking. Mental health TikTok can empower kids to seek earlier diagnoses, but it can also lead impressionable teens to misidentify normal traits as disorders. Dr. Dave and Busy emphasize teaching kids to think critically about online health content and come to trusted adults with questions.   • Talking to kids about politics. A recent survey found that kids want open civic discourse. Dismissing children's political views is psychologically harmful, while honest, values-driven conversations — grounded in love and critical thinking — help them thrive.     Further Reading  Teen Self-Diagnosis and How to Respond, Child Mind Institute [https://childmind.org/article/teen-self-diagnosis-and-how-to-respond/] When Parent and Child Both Have ADHD, Child Mind Institute [https://childmind.org/article/help-for-parents-with-adhd/]

Q&A: Setting Healthy Screen Limits and Supporting Kids’ Well-Being Offline

In this Q&A episode of Thriving Kids, Dr. Dave Anderson answers listener questions inspired by last week’s conversation with Dr. Candice Odgers about kids, social media, and what the research really says about screens and youth mental health. Dr. Dave discusses how parents can set healthy limits around phone use without reacting out of fear, why screens are often part of a much bigger picture, and how families can focus on the core drivers of kids’ well-being — including sleep, school, friendships, family connection, offline activities, and caregiver mental health. He also explains how to respond when kids see something upsetting online, how to manage parent anxiety around tech headlines, and how to model healthier screen habits at home. This episode offers practical guidance for helping kids use technology more intentionally, while keeping the focus on connection, communication, and the everyday habits that help children thrive.     In this episode, Dr. Dave covers: * How to tell the difference between healthy phone limits and fear-based reactions * Why screens should be considered in the context of a child’s whole life * What to focus on first when you’re worried about a child’s mental health * How to respond when kids see something upsetting online * Why parents should avoid passing tech anxiety on to kids * Why caregiver mental health is a major driver of child well-being * How to approach online risk when a child is already struggling offline   Further Reading How to Set Limits on Screen Time [https://childmind.org/article/how-to-set-limits-on-screen-time/] Media Guidelines for Kids of All Ages [https://childmind.org/article/media-guidelines-for-kids-of-all-ages/] How Phones Ruin Concentration [https://childmind.org/article/kids-shouldnt-use-phones-during-homework/] Common Sense Media [https://www.commonsensemedia.org] American Association of Pediatrics [https://www.aap.org/]