Dead Serious

Dead Serious

Breaking the Cycle of Teen Suicide

My brother took his own life on his thirtieth birthday. My life has never been the same.

Written for teens, adults and educators, Dead Serious: Breaking the Cycle of Teen Suicide explores the current cultural and social landscape and how the pressure-filled lives of teens today can lead to anxiety, depression—suicide.

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Thirty plus years after publishing the first edition of Dead Serious, this second completely revised and updated edition covers new ground: bullying, social media, LGBTQ teens, suicide prevention programs, and more. Scores of teens share their stories that are often filled with hurt, disappointment, shame—yet often hope. Leder’s own journey of discovery after her brother’s suicide informs her goal of helping to prevent teen suicide by empowering teens who are suffering and teens who can serve as peer leaders and connectors to trusted adults. The skyrocketing number of teens who take their own lives makes Dead Serious: Breaking the Cycle of Teen Suicide more relevant and important than ever.

Praise for Dead Serious

VERDICT Leder has been there and is trained to prevent others from having to suffer suicide’s consequences. An excellent book for our time.

Deborah Bigelow

–Library Journal, Starred Review

This updated edition is as fresh as it is urgently needed–a life-giving essential resource.

– Foreword Reviews

Candid, compelling, sensitive, informative, deftly written, timeless and timely, Dead Serious: Breaking the Cycle of Teen Suicide is an extraordinary read from cover to cover.

– Midwest Book Review

. . . A must-read for anyone who loves a teen or works with one.

Deborah Serani, Psy.D.

– author of Living with Depression

Candid, compelling, sensitive, informative, deftly written, timeless and timely, Dead Serious: Breaking the Cycle of Teen Suicide Dead is an extraordinary read from cover to cover.

- Reviewer's Bookwatch

A straight-forward and honest look at the most important issue facing our teens today. The variety of real-life stories in Dead Serious: Breaking the Cycle of Teen Suicide helps to bring key information to life.

Dr. Lisa Boesky

– Author of When to Worry: How to Tell if Your Teen Needs Help--and What to Do About It

Dead Serious is an important read for teens, their loved ones, educators, and health care professionals . . . Weaving together statistics and compelling real-world stories, Leder dispels the myths and illustrates the warning signals for how we can all prevent such human tragedies. With wide open heart, she shares the loss of her brother through suicide in the hope to spare other families this devastating experience.

Joan M. Cook, Ph.D.

– Associate Professor, Yale School of Medicine

A necessary read for everyone who works with kids, including kids. Insightful, concise, timely, and has tools and resources for everyone.

Charles Schallhorn

– Psychology Teacher, Mountain House High School, Mountain House, CA

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. 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.

Charlotte Render

– Educator, NetGalley Reader