Warning Signs Your Teen Is in Crisis (What Parents Miss) | Nicole Hockley, Sandy Hook Mom

What would you do if your teen told you a classmate was making threats? Most of us freeze, unsure whether to panic, dismiss it, or act.

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In this episode, I sit down with Nicole Hockley, co-founder of Sandy Hook Promise, who lost her six-year-old son Dylan in the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting. We talk about one of the most important skills a parent can build: knowing when something is wrong with your teen before it becomes a crisis.

Nicole has spent more than a decade studying the warning signs that come before school violence and teen crisis. A crisis rarely comes out of nowhere. The signs are usually quiet, easy to explain away, and easy to miss.

 

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL LEARN

• The difference between subtle and overt warning signs, and why the subtle ones are more dangerous
• Why telling your teen "you're overreacting" can make things worse
• The most powerful protective factor against teen crisis (hint: it's not monitoring)
• What to do when a peer reports something concerning about your child
• How to secure lethal means at home, and why this one step saves lives
• A tiered response plan that helps you stay calm and act at every level of concern

 

A WORD FROM NICOLE

"I would much rather be embarrassed by being wrong than be horrified by being right."

 

IF YOU OR YOUR TEEN IS IN CRISIS

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988
• Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741
• Emergency: call 911

Reaching out for help is never an overreaction.

 

EPISODE CHAPTERS

• 00:00 How Sandy Hook changed school safety
• 00:29 Nicole Hockley's story and her son Dylan
• 01:24 How Sandy Hook Promise prevents violence
• 04:22 Warning signs of violence and struggle
• 07:22 When to act on escalating behavior
• 08:38 Building trust and open communication with teens
• 11:04 Responding to concerns about potential harm
• 12:29 Common mistakes parents make
• 16:21 What to do if your teen shows threatening behavior
• 20:38 A parent's role in prevention and safety
• 25:16 Key takeaway: relationships over control
• 26:52 How to be a trusted adult for your teen

 

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Sandy Hook Promise's UnTargeting initiative and latest report with Children and Screens

 

CONNECT WITH NICOLE HOCKLEY AND SANDY HOOK PROMISE

• Website: SandyHookPromise.org
• Instagram: @sandyhookpromise
• Facebook: @SandyHookPromise
• X: @sandyhook
• TikTok: @sandyhookpromise
• YouTube: Sandy Hook Promise

 

CONNECT WITH DR. CAM CASWELL

• Website: AskDrCam.com
• Instagram: @DrCamCaswell
• Parenting Teens Academy

 

ABOUT THE SHOW

Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam is hosted by Dr. Cam Caswell, an adolescent psychologist and certified parenting coach. Each episode gives you practical strategies, expert advice, and real-world insight to build a stronger relationship with your teen.

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