Part A:
My character is an angry, depressed 17-year-old boy. He's endured years of physical and emotion abuse at the hands of his father, and he's generally channeled his anger into sports. Unfortunately, he got hurt during a game and doesn't know if he'll be able to make a comeback. He sees an athletic scholarship as his only hope to get away from his father and have a better life, so without it, he feels completely lost.
He got himself hooked on painkillers after his injury. He drinks too much, and he almost accidentally OD'ed at a party. He also has a codependent relationship with his girlfriend who doesn't want to make a commitment to get engaged at 17. He has friends that he's been trying to push away, but his GF and best friend really do care about him. Actually, a lot of people do.
He decides to attempt suicide. Which sounds more plausible: on purpose overdose (painkillers and alcohol), crashing his truck, slashing his wrists, or something else? He doesn't have access to guns, and I can't picture him trying to hang himself. It should be a serious attempt, but an attempt nonetheless. I don't want him dead, but scarred is okay (not like he doesn't have plenty physical and emotional ones already).
Part B:
What is standard treatment protocol for a suicidal teenager? Is 72 hours observation and recommended outpatient therapy still the norm?
His mother died years ago, and his father is absent more often than not. They don't have much money, and his insurance isn't especially good.
My character is an angry, depressed 17-year-old boy. He's endured years of physical and emotion abuse at the hands of his father, and he's generally channeled his anger into sports. Unfortunately, he got hurt during a game and doesn't know if he'll be able to make a comeback. He sees an athletic scholarship as his only hope to get away from his father and have a better life, so without it, he feels completely lost.
He got himself hooked on painkillers after his injury. He drinks too much, and he almost accidentally OD'ed at a party. He also has a codependent relationship with his girlfriend who doesn't want to make a commitment to get engaged at 17. He has friends that he's been trying to push away, but his GF and best friend really do care about him. Actually, a lot of people do.
He decides to attempt suicide. Which sounds more plausible: on purpose overdose (painkillers and alcohol), crashing his truck, slashing his wrists, or something else? He doesn't have access to guns, and I can't picture him trying to hang himself. It should be a serious attempt, but an attempt nonetheless. I don't want him dead, but scarred is okay (not like he doesn't have plenty physical and emotional ones already).
Part B:
What is standard treatment protocol for a suicidal teenager? Is 72 hours observation and recommended outpatient therapy still the norm?
His mother died years ago, and his father is absent more often than not. They don't have much money, and his insurance isn't especially good.
