'Conversations With Sydney' Episode 1: Should I Talk to My Teen About Suicide?

This podcast episode discusses themes of suicide and self-harm that may be upsetting to some listeners.

Teen suicide is real and impacting young people in all of our communities. Ten percent of all high school students attempted suicide in 2021, according to the CDC’s most recent report, with the rate rising to twenty percent of LGBTQ+ students. This initial episode asks, can talking about suicide with your children be dangerous? Tracy Klingener, Director of Suicide Prevention at the Mental Health Association, debunks this myth by explaining why parents should talk to their kids about suicide.

To support educators and parents in engaging with the podcast and its themes, the Pulitzer Center Education Team has developed a listening guide resource for each episode. Access the listening guide and listen to the podcast series:

The program is distributed by WBGO Studios, the podcasting arm of WBGO, the Public Radio Station in Newark, New Jersey, and is available for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the NPR app, Amazon Music and Overcast.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.