Teen FAQ
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Navigate: FAQ Home Page > Suicide > Help with abusive grandmother
Posted on: 08/12/2008
Question
My son won't ask for help so I'm asking it for him. He's 16 years old and being verbally abused by his grandmother. We've tried keeping him away from her but it only escalates to the point where now she is threatening to take him away from his step-father and me. She bad mouths us to our son, she has told him to go to hell, fabricates lies, basically uses him as a pawn (like a husband/wife do in a divorce situation). We don't know what to do. We've gone to counseling and it only goes so far until they say unless his grandmother wants to be involed in the therapy nothing will help. He's attempted suicide three times in the last 5 years because of this crap. We are aggravated, disappointed and disgusted because we can't seem to find anyone who can help or make her stop it. WHAT DO WE DO?
Answer
Dear Mom,
The way you describe this grandmother she sounds mentally ill and unless she wants help there is nothing you or anyone else can do to change her. You need to cut off any contact with her for you and your son as it is obviously very damaging. His history of 3 suicide attempts is alarming and means he needs psychotherapy and possibly medication. Offer him the best medical treatment you can find and support him to work through these family issues. He may need to live away from home if this destructive pattern with grandmother does not stop.
The way you describe this grandmother she sounds mentally ill and unless she wants help there is nothing you or anyone else can do to change her. You need to cut off any contact with her for you and your son as it is obviously very damaging. His history of 3 suicide attempts is alarming and means he needs psychotherapy and possibly medication. Offer him the best medical treatment you can find and support him to work through these family issues. He may need to live away from home if this destructive pattern with grandmother does not stop.