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

In this episode, Dr. Cam sits down with Nicole Hockley, co-founder of Sandy Hook Promise and mother who lost her six-year-old son Dylan in the 2012 Sandy Hook tragedy, to talk about one of the most important skills a parent can develop: knowing when something is wrong with your teen before it becomes a crisis.

Nicole has spent over a decade studying the warning signs that precede school violence and teen crisis — and what she shares might surprise you. The signs are rarely dramatic. They're quiet. Easy to explain away. And most parents miss them.

In this episode, you'll learn:

  • The difference between subtle and overt warning signs — and why the subtle ones are more dangerous
  • Why dismissing your teen's feelings ("you're overreacting") actually makes things worse
  • The single 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
  • The tiered response framework that helps you stay calm and act appropriately at every level of concern

A word from Nicole that every parent needs to hear:

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

Connect with Nicole Hockley & Sandy Hook Promise:

  • 🌐 sandyhookpromise.org
  • 📘 facebook.com/SandyHookPromise
  • 📸 instagram.com/sandyhookpromise
  • 🐦 twitter.com/sandyhook
  • 🎵 tiktok.com/@sandyhookpromise
  • ▶️ youtube.com/channel/UCl5MxshIyRwoFNsFut6UZdA

Resources mentioned:

  • Sandy Hook Promise's UnTargeting initiative & latest report with Children and Screens: sandyhookpromise.org

If you or your teen is in crisis:

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

Your instinct to reach out for help is never an overreaction. This episode could change how you see your teen — and how they see you.

 

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