Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a free digital ARC of this book.

This book was very informative about many reasons behind teen suicide. The author provided many case stories of real teens who attempted suicide for various reasons. There is also many valuable resources for those contemplating suicide as well as programs and strategies to implement as a prevention.

A painful, but relatable read. It's something all teens should read.

Trigger warning for suicide, along mental health, bullying, abuse and all of the other issues that may result in people feeling like suicide is the answer. Suicide is not the answer. Please be safe while reading this book. If you are struggling, please seek help. You deserve it and you are not alone. There are people who will understand what you’re going through and can help you, regardless of your circumstances.

Dead Serious: Breaking the Cycle of Teen Suicide doesn’t talk down to its audience; instead speaking to teens in a down to earth way. You would imagine that a book with a focus on teen suicide would be all doom and gloom, but that’s not what this book is at all. Letting teens know that it’s brave to seek help when they need it and providing tools for people at risk of suicide along with their friends, Dead Serious provides understanding and hope.

It dispels the myths surrounding suicide, provides information about some of the issues teens face that may lead them to become suicidal, offers plenty of tools to use and hotlines to contact, and empowers teens. Information is also provided so you can recognise warning signs in other people that may indicate they are considering or planning suicide.

Sections focus on some of the experiences people have that increase the risk of suicide, including anxiety and depression, loss through death or divorce, bullying, being LGBTQIA, abuse and homelessness. There’s also strategies outlined that teens can use to help their friends talk about what’s bothering them, including using mirroring in conversations.

Usually it’s friends that first find out that a teen is suicidal, not adults, so it’s vital that teens know what they can do if they learn a friend is feeling like that. Thankfully this book emphasises that it is not the responsibility of a friend to keep their friend alive or to keep this information a secret, but to inform a trusted adult who can seek help for the friend who needs it.

While reading about people who have considered, attempted or died as a result of suicide is always going to be heart wrenching and confronting, the stories are not gratuitous. They’re provided as examples and I expect they would be powerful to read for someone who is considering suicide as there’s often nothing more comforting than learning you’re not the only one who feels a certain way or has experienced specific problems.

I loved that there were song lyrics between chapters. Songs have had such a huge impact in my own life. There are some songs that make you feel like someone understands you and you can hold onto them when life gets rough. I thought they were a great addition to the book.

Stories are also shared by people who are left behind after a friend or family member has died from suicide. These are vital as when you’re suicidal it is very easy to believe that by you dying it will make everyone else’s life easier or that no one will care that you’re gone anyway. The experiences shared by those left behind make it clear that nothing could be further from the truth.

What I Didn’t Like

The Cover Design - Sorry, but I didn’t like it. I know this is only cosmetic and I know suicide is an extremely serious topic but the cover looks bleak, depressing and uninviting. By looking exclusively at the cover design I wouldn’t have expected this book to offer the hope that it does.

In the chapter on bullying the author concedes that bullying is a risk factor that increases the chance of suicide but also includes the following sentence:

“However, what the experts don’t know is whether bullying directly causes suicide or suicidal behaviour.” (64% - please note this quote is from the ARC so may not be representative of the final text)

I found this sentence offensive (just because the experts haven’t decided something doesn’t make it any less true) and I’m sure parents who have lost their children to suicide after they were tormented by bullies would have some things to say to counter this claim. In Australia there has recently been a highly publicised story of a gorgeous 14 year old, Amy “Dolly” Everett, who died on 3 January 2018 after relentless bullying. I thought of Dolly’s family when I read that sentence and am sure they’d beg to differ with the ‘experts’.

Overall, I feel this is an extremely valuable book. One of my early childhood friends died by suicide in her early 20’s and I still think of her and her family. Even though I hadn’t been close friends with her since we were about 10 and hadn’t seen her after we attended different high schools, I still wonder if there was anything I could have personally done to make a difference in her life in the lead up to her death. I can’t even begin to imagine what those close to her must still be feeling all of these years later.

I applaud the author and the people who contributed to this book, and thank them for their openness, courage and honesty about their experiences. I believe their words will make the difference to people who are thinking of suicide and those supporting them.

It’s so hard to see around corners when you’re a teenager but please take it from someone who attempted suicide when they were a teenager. There are so many wonderful things I would have missed out on that I couldn’t have even begun to imagine at the time if I had died back when I thought my life was over. There is hope and there is good to be found in this life, even if all you’ve known until now is pain.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley (thank you so much to NetGalley and Pikko’s House for the opportunity) in exchange for honest feedback.

"Truth is there is never one reason why someone takes his/her own life. And never just one person to blame."

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an extremely hard book for me to read because it hit home for me. I have known people that have committed suicide, not as teens but as young adults, and I myself have almost gone down this dark path in the past. Reading this book was almost an eye opener for me, bringing this hard topic to light.

There were so many statistics in this book that I had no knowledge of until I read this. There are so many teens out there that either know someone who has committed suicide, have attempted suicide, or still have thoughts of suicide. So many stories in this book show that suicide affects everyone, not just the person who commits it. There is never a clear reason as to why these teens killed themselves, and no matter how much their friends or family try to find answers, there just aren't any. They now have to figure out how to heal during this dark time, and it doesn't completely go away.

"If only he had done something then, maybe Brad would be alive now."

The thought that maybe if these people who were brave enough to tell their story had done something earlier, they could have prevented it. They are so full of guilt, not understanding why their loved one could do such a thing, and beating themselves up for not seeing the signs before. Would they even know what those signs were if they had to go back? Would they be able to stop it? Would their loved one be alive today? All of those thoughts are going through their minds, and their pain and hurt of reliving these moments can't help but make you feel for them. It hurts, and all we can do hope that their loved ones are in a better place now.

As the cover of this book states, this book is for teens, adults and educators. I would say that this book is for anyone that has ever had to deal with thoughts of suicide, or someone in their life that has committed suicide. Even if they haven't done it yet, this book helps you to determine what the signs are, and how to get them the proper help before it's too late. Suicide should not be a taboo topic, and more people need to discuss it to make sure that we can help those suffering by themselves, begging for help before they do something that they can't take back.

I really do recommend this book. Keep it as a resource, and hopefully you will be able to help someone in your life get the help they need.

If I would of only read this in my teens.. but here I am. I survived. In all honesty this is an amazing read. Very informative. My heart broke whilst reading the stories throughout the book..I can relate so much. With that said, I would definitely read again. It hit hard but it was so damn good.

I believe that a copy of this book needs to be read by teenagers and vulnerable adults or generally anyone who is in a position of power/in education as it is something that needs to be made more aware of. From an education point of view you deal with so many students that have problems, and it takes time to develop trust, and not everyone wants to talk. This book helps with raising awareness and what you can do to help or spot the signs. It is a good book to have in every library available. I'm sorry for anyone who has gone through a personal loss, and have dealt with the grief and anger that comes along with it.