During Sunday's discussion on teenage suicide, Gina MacArthur from Kippens, N.L., phoned Checkup to share the story of her late son, Ian. At 19 years old, Ian took his own life without displaying many of the typical warning signs that accompany suicide. MacArthur advised parents to be closely involved in their child's life and not wait for a sign to show that they are struggling – as it may not come.

Listen to her discussion with host Duncan McCue:

I have some very personal experience with this because my son Ian, who was 19, took his own life about a year and a half ago. One of your earlier callers summed it up very nicely when he said: 'It's just as raw today as it was 21 years ago and it continues to be.' You just learn how to deal with it. I really hate the expression that someone has completed suicide because suicide is never really complete as far as I can tell. Ian's family and friends are still suffering today and will suffer for a long, long time because of the actions that he took that day. So I don't really believe there is such a thing as completing suicide.

I share the concerns of the Canadian Mental Health Association. I have been watching it. I struggled with deciding whether or not I should watch it, but I decided that I needed to because I've been really looking for a way to contribute to these conversations about teen suicide. I didn't feel that I would have license to do so if I hadn't seen the show. I really do believe there is value in the show. I agree that the show has done some things very poorly, but I do think there's some value in starting conversations and this conversation is one of them. I tend to disagree with those who argue that you shouldn't talk about it too much.

On the lionization of suicide victims:

After Ian died, there were a lot of wonderful things said about him, how he was a great friend, he was a good boyfriend, he was supportive and kind. He was lionized in a lot of ways and it has always bothered me that people did that because I didn't want people to make him a hero for what he did. I struggle with that, with finding ways to tell his story without making him sound like a hero. He was an absolutely wonderful person.

There were absolutely no signs for us. We had no idea what was going on. Even in hindsight, many of the things that you might say were signs, were just typical teenage things. If you're concerned about your child, but you're waiting for them to show you a sign, that may not come. Ian didn't have any of the typical signs - giving away their favourite things, saying goodbye to people, changing their appearance, not doing the things they love. He didn't do any of it. I caution people everyday: 'don't wonder what's going on with your child, ask them what's going on.' Be more involved in your children's lives. Ian had the tools to cope with mental illness, he had talked friends out of suicide, but he couldn't do it for himself. And I will always wonder why and if it was because we were not tuned into what he was going through.

I think talking about it is the most important thing we can do. There are resources in the community, we just need to know how to tap into them. We never had connections to any of those resources because we didn't realize that we needed them. It's all about being in tune with your kids. They're young adults, they're finding their own way in the world, but for God's sake, be involved enough to see where they're going and be with them on that journey.