Sandy,

Your son needs more than prayers. He needs help. And not the wait and see help of a mother who is fighting her OWN mental illnesses....but the help of professionally trained persons to assess his condition.

Walking to a bridge to jump after seeing other kids make out IS NOT NORMAL adolescent behaviour. It is not a healthy way to handle feeling lonely. He needs HELP WITH THIS!!!

I do not think your job is to be your son's friend but instead to protect him. And yes in the USA in many states a parent would be found neglectful for not seeking help for a minor who expresses suicidal ideation. I would hope that provincial laws provide similar protection for children in CA.

I am not sorry to be blunt here but your own experiences imnsho are clouding your approach to handling this situation.

Please seek outside help. As angry as I am about the time I spent locked up in a psych ward as a suicidal teen it kept me alive. ALIVE Sandy. I can guarantee you if I hadn't been in those locked facilities but instead in the care of my mother I would have been successful in dying. My depression at that age was severe. As for how depressed your son is be it mild or severe..........it isn't up to you to dx him or gauge the severity of it.........get a professional involved here!