Being with: child and youth care professionals’ practice with suicidal adolescents.

Suicide is a leading cause of death for adolescents and as such, a relevant practice concern for child and youth care (CYC) professionals. CYC professionals’ mental health literacy practices realized during encounters with suicidal adolescents was the focus of this constructivist grounded theory study. Based on data analysis of documents pertaining to suicide (e.g., agency protocols), interviews with CYC professionals, supervisors, and educators, Being With emerged as a mental health literacy practice taken up by CYC professionals when encountering suicidal adolescents. Being With was comprised of attending behaviours, awareness of adolescent’s needs, functioning in-between other professionals, and building relationship. Deepened understanding of how CYC professionals respond to suicidal adolescents can enhance current practice, suicide education, and delineate the role of CYC in the provision of suicide care.