Stepson had a major meltdown today...

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My stepson was at his mother's house today - he's 18 - and my husband informed me that he was on his way home with him as things really got out of control. I'm sure my husband somewhat sugar-coated what went on.

My question is this: my stepson told his mom and dad that tonight he would just end his life. How serious do you take him and what should be done at this point. He is not welcomed at his mother's house and is currently on Christmas break and will basically be home alone the next couple of days...

Thanks in advance...

these stuff should always be taken serious..i success you try to talk his psychiatric if he got one
i think he needs to talk to professional since he sounds depressed i hope he gets better soon

You haven't told us very much, but saying that you are going to end your life is very serious. He shouldn't be left alone. He needs to talk, and to feel that he is one of us, and that he will come to understand what is going on here. He needs to feel that he is not abandoned and that he will have to figure out everything on his own. He needs to believe that some people are really on his side.

Why is he going to be alone?

There is some chance that this is serious. If you treat it as not serious, then the results could be bad--a suicide attempt at worst, untreated depression at best.

There is some chance that this is not serious. If you treat it as serious, then the results could be annoying at worst--an unneeded evaluation, time spent that did not have to be spent.

Whatever the odds actually are, the smart gamble is to treat all suicidal ideation as though it were serious, even if most of the time it is not, because when it is serious, ignoring it can be tragic; while, when it's not serious, responding to it still won't hurt anything.

You should take his threat seriously.

Thank you to all that replied. My husband had a long serious discussion with him on their way home (45 minute commute). My husband has been a great support system for his son and has basically been very non-confrontational towards him...except for yesterday. He let him know how concerned we both are for him but will not allow him to "rule" us anymore and play the games he's been playing. We will continue to be a support system, will try and guide him in the right direction, but now that he's 18 he will have to be responsible for his own actions and choices.

We are going to schedule him an appointment with his counsellor...hopefully being able to get him in soon. I don't think at this point he would do anything to harm himself after hearing about their talk on the way home. Although I did think it a good idea if he threatens again to follow up with admitting him and hopefully nipping it.

One of the questions asked was: why is he going to be home alone? The answer to that is: my husband and I both work and cannot be at home with him. We have bills just like everyone else and with the holidays barely behind us, we need to keep up our work schedules. I know that if either one of us felt he was truly suicidal, we would've admitted him on the spot...but again, after all the discussion last night, we didn't think it necessary.

Thank you again for all your replies.

Ah. I assumed he was to be left alone overnight as well. My bad.

Leaving him overnight sure would've been a concern no doubt. No, we would never leave him home alone overnight. His maturity level is not that of a typical 18 year old so he has never been left alone overnight.

Until he gains back our trust, I'm guessing it won't happen in the near future - which puts strain and stress on all involved with having to find someone that would and could handle him for long periods of time.

He has an appointment set up with his counsellor.

i just hope he could get help with possible depression