[Victoria'smom]

My son asked me this last night after therapy. He said all his problem are normal. So is it normal to be suicidal? I told him no but didn't know what else to say. I feel so bad he's in that head space and refuses medication. I don't want to bring up meds yet again. He says they don't help. I still need to buy a med container for him. How do I help?

The group I'm in taught me not to ask "is this normal?" But to ask "is this healthy?"
Among the group you're asking (a bunch of people with mood disorders), suicidality is pretty common and I'd say isn't particularly abnormal, but does that really matter? It's unhealthy, that's for sure, and any unhealthy habits (for lack of a better word) need to be addressed.
I'm sorry to hear your son is struggling and I hope he feels better soon.

Excellent way to think about it.

[Aliceiw]

I agree with escapeartist.

I would reassure him that he is not a freak, many people go through the struggle (I think this may be what was intended for him to understand). However, suicidal thinking is not something you want to simply accept, it's something you want to change.

[Victoria'smom]

I'll bring this up next time he talks to me. His stress level these next couple of weeks are high because of finals and the SAT test.