Suicide Prevention
On the Blog
Suicide Prevention
At the Mala Child and Family Institute, our mission is deeply personal and profoundly urgent. We were founded in memory of our founder's brother, who tragically died by suicide at the age of 17. He was a brilliant, neurodivergent individual diagnosed with ADHD and giftedness. His loss has shaped every aspect of our work, driving us to prevent such tragedies from occurring in other families.
We know that neurodivergent individuals—whether youth or adults—face unique challenges that require a specialized and compassionate approach to care. Suicide prevention for these individuals is not just about addressing the immediate crisis; it’s about creating a supportive environment where they can thrive.
A Multidisciplinary & Integrative Approach
1. Comprehensive Psychological Evaluations
Understanding the full scope of an individual’s strengths, challenges, and needs is the foundation of effective care. Our comprehensive psychological evaluations provide a deep and nuanced understanding of neurodivergent individuals, allowing us to tailor interventions that truly support their well-being.
2. Trauma-Informed Occupational Therapy
Our occupational therapy services are designed to empower neurodivergent individuals by helping them develop essential life skills, improve sensory regulation, and build confidence in their abilities. This trauma-informed approach ensures that individuals can navigate daily life with greater ease and less stress, reducing the risk of mental health crises.
3. Strength-Based School Advocacy Services
We believe that every child deserves an educational environment that understands and supports their unique needs. Our strength-based school advocacy services work to ensure that neurodivergent students receive the accommodations and understanding they need to succeed academically and socially, which is critical for their overall mental health.
4. Neurodiversity-Affirming Individual Therapy
Our individual therapy services are rooted in a neurodiversity-affirming approach that celebrates and respects each person's unique brain and way of experiencing the world. By focusing on strengths and providing tools for emotional regulation and executive function, we help individuals build resilience and reduce feelings of isolation and despair.
5. Group Therapy: DBT, RO-DBT, and TTRP for Teens and Middle Schoolers
Our group therapy offerings, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Radically Open DBT (RO-DBT), and Therapeutic Role-Playing are specifically designed for teens and middle schoolers. These evidence-based groups provide a supportive environment where young people can learn skills for managing emotions, building healthy relationships, and coping with the challenges of being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world.
6. Medication Management (Coming Fall 2024!)
We are excited to soon offer medication management services that are both neurodiversity-affirming and trauma-informed. This will allow us to provide a full spectrum of care, ensuring that individuals have access to all the tools they need to maintain their mental health.The Power of Community
Beyond our immediate relationships, we all need a village of adults who are eager to help us with the simple things in life—like chores and house errands—to the bigger things, like holding us when we need to cry and showing us that our needs matter. Parenting is hard, and it’s okay to need help. It’s okay to lean on others, to admit that we can’t do it all on our own. When we have a community that cheers us on, that understand us for who we authentically are, that loves us and helps us on this journey of life, it makes all the difference.
We need to feel like we’re worthy, that we belong in this world, just as much as our children do. Because here’s the truth: our kids are watching. They’re learning from us—not just from what we say, but from how we live our lives. They see how we handle stress, how we treat ourselves, how we navigate our own journeys of figuring out who we are, what we need, and how we choose to live.
Addressing Suicide as a Systemic Issue
At Mala, we approach suicide prevention as a systemic issue that extends beyond the individual. We believe that to truly prevent suicide, we must work to change the systems in which neurodivergent individuals live—particularly within their families and schools.
Family Systems: We work closely with families to create supportive, understanding environments where neurodivergent individuals can feel safe, valued, and connected. By providing education, counseling, and support, we help families navigate the challenges of neurodiversity and build stronger, healthier relationships.
Academic Systems: We advocate for systemic change in schools to create environments that are inclusive, accommodating, and affirming of neurodivergent students. This includes working with educators to implement strategies that reduce stress and anxiety, which are often precursors to mental health crises.
Honoring a Legacy
The memory of our founder's brother is at the heart of everything we do. His life and struggles remind us daily of the importance of our work.
Our commitment to preventing suicide among neurodivergent youth and adults is more than just a professional responsibility—it is a personal mission to ensure that no other family has to experience the pain of losing a loved one to suicide.
Join Us In Our Mission
We invite you to join us in this vital work. Whether you are a parent, educator, mental health professional, or community member, there are ways you can support our mission to create a world where neurodivergent individuals are not only safe but also celebrated.
If you or someone you know could benefit from our services, please reach out to us. Together, we can make a difference.
