Supporting your child through difficult times
As parents or carers, one of our deepest fears is sensing that the young people we love may be overwhelmed by emotional pain, especially when thoughts of suicide are involved. You’re not alone in that fear, and there are compassionate, practical resources designed specifically to support you in those moments of overwhelming worry and uncertainty.
This guidance is grounded in evidence and experience from families who have walked this challenging path, as well as suicide prevention experts who know that help, hope and understanding matter deeply.
A guide created with parents, for parents
One of the best resources available is PAPYRUS UK’s parent and carer guide, Supporting Your Child: A Parent’s Guide to Self-Harm and Suicide. It was developed following real conversations with parents who’ve navigated their young person’s mental health crisis. The aim is to:
- Help you understand what self-harm and suicidal thoughts look like in young people.
- Equip you with practical ways to talk about difficult feelings and ask about suicidal thoughts safely and sensitively.
- Offer guidance on what to do if your child says “yes” – that they are struggling with thoughts of suicide.
- Support you to look after yourself while caring for your child.
- Most importantly: reassure you that you are not alone and that there is hope. Papyrus UK | Suicide Prevention Charity
Download the full parent guide here:
👉 Supporting Your Child: A Parent’s Guide to Self-Harm and Suicide
You can also read the official guide launch announcement and overview on the Papyrus UK website here:
👉 Papyrus Launch New Guide for Parents
Real talk: starting conversations that matter
It can feel impossible to know how to ask your child if they’re thinking about suicide, but research and experience show that open, direct, calm questions can create safety, not harm. The guide helps with exactly that by walking you through:
- How to raise the subject with empathy,
- Why keeping your emotional reactions in check matters,
- What to say — and what to avoid — in these conversations,
- And where to turn next for support if your child shares their thoughts. Papyrus UK | Suicide Prevention Charity
Remember this: asking about suicide does not plant the idea in someone’s head, it communicates love and concern.
Learn more: free suicide awareness training (20–30 Minutes)
You don’t have to be an expert to support your child, and you don’t have to wait days or weeks for training. There’s a free, online suicide awareness training course you can complete in about 20–30 minutes, offered by the Zero Suicide Alliance.
This training helps you:
- Understand what suicide is and what it isn’t.
- Recognise possible warning signs.
- Learn how to talk about suicide in an empathetic, non-judgmental way.
- Feel more confident in reaching out, whether to your child or someone else you care about.
👉 Try the free suicide awareness training here:
https://www.zerosuicidealliance.com/suicide-awareness-training
Having this kind of knowledge, even in a short session, can make a big difference in how you feel equipped to respond and support.
Where to turn right now
If you ever feel unsafe, or if you believe your child’s life might be at immediate risk, please contact emergency services right away, in the UK this means calling 999.
For non-emergency support, PAPYRUS UK’s HOPELINE247 offers confidential support for parents and carers and young people under age 35 who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide:
📞 HOPELINE247 – Freephone: 0800 068 4141
✉️ (Also available by text or email via the PAPYRUS site)
👉 https://www.papyrus-uk.org (scroll to “Parent’s guide”) Papyrus UK | Suicide Prevention Charity
You might also find listening support from services like Samaritans, CALM, YoungMinds (there are many others), these can help you process emotions and feel less alone in the moment.
How Tute supports families
At Tute, the wellbeing and safety of young people is deeply important to us. Our Safeguarding Team has completed PAPYRUS suicide prevention training and the Zero Suicide Alliance suicide awareness training, ensuring concerns are met with care, understanding and professionalism.
We work in close partnership with parents and carers, listening carefully and offering support wherever we can. While we cannot replace specialist services, we are here to help, to guide, and to support families in every way possible.
You are not alone
Caring for a young person with suicidal thoughts is one of the hardest things a parent or carer can face. It can leave you feeling scared, guilty, helpless or all at once. That’s understandable. You deserve support too.
Helping a child through emotional distress takes patience, presence, and courage. By accessing resources like the PAPYRUS parent guide and the free Zero Suicide Alliance training, you’re taking brave, meaningful steps toward connection, safety and hope.
If you ever feel unsure or overwhelmed, please reach out for help. There are people who truly want to support you and your family.
Thank you for reading
Written by Natalie Hollins,
Parent Support Associate
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