Preventing Youth Suicide
Suicide is a serious public health problem that can have lasting, significant effects on youth, families, peers, and communities. The causes of suicide among youth are complex and involve many factors. Reducing risk factors and increasing protective factors and resilience is critical.1
Knowing the warning signs is also critical. Warning signs for those at risk of suicide include: talking about wanting to die, feeling hopeless, having no reason to live, feeling trapped or in unbearable pain, seeking revenge, and being a burden on others; looking for methods and making plans such as searching online or buying a gun; increasing use of alcohol or drugs; acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly; sleeping too little or too much; withdrawal or isolation; and displaying rage and extreme mood swings.2 The risk of suicide is greater if a behavior is new or has increased and if it seems related to a painful event, loss, or change.3 Paying attention to warning signs for mental health challenges that can be associated with increased risk for suicide is also important.
No one person (parent, teacher, counselor, administrator, mentor, etc.) can implement suicide prevention efforts on their own. The participation, support, and active involvement of families, schools, and communities are essential. Youth focused suicide prevention strategies are available. Promotion and prevention services are also available to address mental health issues. Schools, where youth spend the majority of their time, are a natural setting to support mental health.
Resources
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
The 988 Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. When you call 988, you are connected to the nearest crisis center in a national network that provide crisis counseling and mental health referrals day and night. ¡Los servicios de texto y chat de 988 Lifeline ya están disponibles en español! Translators speaking approximately 150 languages are available. The network of crisis centers also offers services for people who are deaf and hard of hearing, including veterans.
2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: Goals and Objectives for Action (PDF, 184 pages)
The National Strategy is a call to action from the U.S. Surgeon General and the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention intended to guide suicide prevention in the United States. The National Strategy includes 13 goals and 60 objectives that reflect advances in suicide prevention knowledge, research, and practice, as well as broader changes in society and health care delivery.
Suicide Prevention: Resources and New Publications from SAMHSA
The goal of this list of resources from SAMHSA is to provide youth, families, professionals, and organizations with information about how to seek help, provide assistance, and implement suicide prevention programs.
Suicide: A Major, Preventable Mental Health Problem—FAQs
Some common questions and answers about suicide among children and youth from the National Institute of Mental Health.
My Child’s Academic Success: Problems—Helping Your Child Through Early Adolescence (PDF, 49 pages)
This resource from the U.S. Department of Education discusses how parents can tell if their child is having a serious problem and what they can do—includes information on suicide, depression, and other challenges.
The Role of High School Mental Health Providers in Preventing Suicide (PDF, 8 pages)
This information sheet from the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC)—funded by SAMHSA—is for school staff responsible for handling student mental health crises.
Addressing Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Substance Abuse Treatment
This manual from SAMHSA offers guidelines for working with suicidal persons living with substance use disorders. It covers risk factors and warning signs for suicide, core competencies, and clinical vignettes.
What to Avoid
This webpage from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ StopBullying.gov website documents the dangers of suggesting that bullying causes suicide.
Misdirections in Bullying Prevention and Response Video
The video from StopBullying.gov features Dr. Catherine Bradshaw, a national expert in bullying prevention, who discusses approaches to avoid in bullying prevention and response. "Misdirection #4: Overstating or Simplifying the Relationship Between Bullying & Suicide" begins at 3:08,
Bullying Prevention Community Action Toolkit (PDF, 58 pages)
This toolkit from StopBullying.gov includes the section, "Bullying and Suicide: Cautionary Notes" (pp. 25-28).
Research Brief: Suicide and Bullying
This research brief from StopBullying.gov presents data and information on suicide and bullying.
Bullying and Suicide: What’s the Connection?
This blog post from StopBullying.gov discusses what is known and unknown about the relationship between bullying and suicide.
References
1 CDC, n.d.
2 SAMHSA, n.d.
3 SAMHSA, n.d.