It is common for children and adolescents to think about killing themselves. Around 15 to 18 percent of teenagers in high school admit to having had some thoughts about suicide. The growing problem facing parents, teachers, doctors, and other adults responsible for those children is preventing suicidal thoughts from escalating into an attempt on their lives. 

This can be a difficult task. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in children, claiming more young lives each year than cancer, diabetes, asthma, or heart disease. According to a recent study by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the number of teenagers in the U.S. admitted to a hospital for attempted suicide or for suicidal thoughts has doubled in the last 10 years. 

Meanwhile, the threat of suicide remains widely unrecognized. Many mental health practitioners lack clear strategies for dealing with suicidal teens, and around 30 percent of suicide attempts become repeat attempts.

At the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dr. Betsy Kennard is changing that. 

The clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychiatry has seen these statistics reflected firsthand in the uptick in hospital visits related to teen suicide at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, where she serves as Director of the Suicide Prevention and Resilience in Children (SPARC) program at Children’s Health. This intensive outpatient program for treating suicidal teens has shown positive results in reducing the rates of repeat suicide attempts. The program involves individualized cognitive behavioral therapy developed for suicide prevention that’s adaptive to group settings; an evidence-based treatment called dialectical behavior therapy, which emphasizes mindfulness, tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness; and a background of previously tested relapse-prevention work — all combined in most cases with a progressive medication program. 

Her secret is treating suicide the way a doctor would treat any other illness: with science.