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Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale - Screen Version

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Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale - Screen Version

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Instructions for Intervening with Suicidal Youth

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Instructions for Intervening with Suicidal Youth

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The resources and information on this page are designed to help states, territories, tribes, mental health and substance use disorder professionals, and others looking for information on understanding the background, history, funding opportunities, and implementation resources for strengthening suicide prevention and mental health crisis services.

Need Support Now?
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

In 2020, Congress designated the new 988 dialing code to be operated through the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. SAMHSA sees 988 as a first step towards a transformed crisis care system in America.

The 988 Partner Toolkit is intended to facilitate partner efforts for collaborative and aligned 988 communication planning.

In 2020, the U.S. had one death by suicide every 11 minutes. Suicide is a leading cause of death for people aged 10-34 years.

There is hope. Providing 24/7, free and confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress works. The Lifeline helps thousands of people overcome crisis situations every day.

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The resources and information on this page are designed to help states, territories, tribes, mental health and substance use disorder professionals, and others looking for information on understanding the background, history, funding opportunities, and implementation resources for strengthening suicide prevention and mental health crisis services.

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Striving for Zero: California's Strategic Plan for Suicide Prevention 2020-2025

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Striving for Zero: California's Strategic Plan for Suicide Prevention 2020-2025

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Questions to Ask about Suicidal Thoughts

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K-12 Toolkit for Mental Health Promotion & Suicide Prevention

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Contributed by The Antelope Valley Union High School District

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Below are resources for suicide prevention among children, youth, and young adults.

Crisis Lines

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. If you're thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States. You can call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or chat.

Crisis Text Line
Text Line is free, 24/7 support for those in crisis. Text 741741 from anywhere in the U.S. to text with a trained Crisis Counselor. Crisis Text Line trains volunteers to support people in crisis. With over 79 million messages processed to date, they are growing quickly, but so is the need.

Trevor Lifeline
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25. The TrevorLifeline is a crisis intervention and suicide prevention phone service available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386. TrevorText is available by texting "START" to 678678.

TrevorSpace is an online international peer-to-peer community for LGBTQ young people and their friends.

Trans Lifeline
Trans Lifeline is a national trans-led 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving the quality of trans lives by responding to the critical needs of our community with direct service, material support, advocacy, and education. Fighting the epidemic of trans suicide and improving overall life-outcomes of trans people the Trans Lifeline facilitates justice-oriented, collective community aid. Their peer support hotline is run by and for trans people. The line is available daily from 7 a.m.-1 a.m. PST / 9 a.m.-3 a.m. CST / 10 a.m.-4 a.m. EST. Volunteers may be available during off hours. Call 877-565-8860 to speak to someone now.

Veterans Crisis Line
The Veterans Crisis Line is a free, confidential resource that's available to anyone, even if you're not registered with VA or enrolled in VA health care. The caring, qualified responders at the Veterans Crisis Line are specially trained and experienced in helping veterans of all ages and circumstances; many of the responders are veterans themselves. If you're a veteran in crisis or concerned about one, there are caring, qualified VA responders standing by to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1-800-273-8255 and press 1 or text 838255.

SAMHSA Prevention Resources

SAMHSA's Suicide Prevention Resource Center
SAMHSA's SPRC provides accurate data, up-to-date research, and knowledge of effective strategies and interventions that are essential to our ability to prevent suicide. Find programs, toolkits, fact sheets, and other resources to help you take effective action.

Zero Suicide
The foundational belief of Zero Suicide is that suicide deaths for individuals under the care of health and behavioral health systems are preventable. For systems dedicated to improving patient safety, Zero Suicide presents an aspirational challenge and practical framework for system-wide transformation toward safer suicide care.

#BeThe1To
#BeThe1To is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline's message for National Suicide Prevention Month and beyond, spreading the word about actions we can all take to prevent suicide. The Lifeline network and its partners are working to change the conversation from suicide to suicide prevention, to actions that can promote healing, help and give hope. Together, we can prevent suicide by learning to help ourselves, help others, seek consultation from trained providers (hotlines and clinicians) and to seek hospital care when necessary.

National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (Action Alliance) is the nation's public-private partnership for suicide prevention. The Action Alliance works with more than 250 national partners to advance the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. Current priority areas include: transforming health systems, transforming communities, and changing the conversation.

Comprehensive Approach to Suicide Prevention
This model shows nine strategies that form a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention and mental health promotion. Each strategy is a broad goal that can be advanced through an array of possible activities (i.e., programs, policies, practices, and services).

SPRC's Effective Suicide Prevention Model
This four-minute video provides a brief overview of SPRC's Effective Suicide Prevention Model, which can help you carry out suicide prevention efforts that are most likely to be effective. It will guide you through the three elements of the model-Strategic Planning, Keys to Success, and the Comprehensive Approach.

Strategic Planning Approach to Suicide Prevention
Suicide prevention activities, programs, and other efforts are most effective when they are guided by a strategic planning process. The strategic approach can be applied to any aspect of your work-whether you are starting a new program or assessing your progress midway through a project.

Professional Resources

2012 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention: Goals and Objectives for Action (PDF | 5.1 MB)
The National Strategy is a call to action that is intended to guide suicide prevention actions in the United States over the next decade. It outlines four strategic directions with 13 goals and 60 objectives that are meant to work together in a synergistic way to prevent suicide in the nation.

AAP Suicide Prevention Resource Library for Pediatric Health Care Providers
Pediatricians and pediatric heath care providers have a role to play in reducing the risk of suicide among adolescents and young adults.

SPRC's Resources and Programs Repository
This searchable repository provides information on several types of suicide prevention programs, such as education/training, screening, treatment, and environmental change.

Sources of Strength
Sources of Strength is a strength-based comprehensive wellness program that focuses on suicide prevention but impacts other issues such as substance abuse and violence. The program is based on a relational connections model that uses teams of peer leaders mentored by adult advisors to change peer social norms about help seeking and encourages students to individually assess and develop strengths in their life.

The Relationship Between Bullying and Suicide: What We Know and What It Means (PDF | 4.9 MB)
The purpose of this document is to provide concrete, action-oriented information based on the latest science to help you improve your schools' understanding of and ability to prevent and respond to the problem of bullying and suicide-related behavior.

Think, Act, Grow in Action Webinar: Sources of Strength (40 minutes)
In this episode of the HHS Office of Adolescent Health's Successful Strategies for Improving Adolescent Health webinar series, Emily Novick discusses the application of the Sources of Strength program.

Youth and Family Resources

#Chatsafe: A Young Person's Guide for Communicating Safely Online About Suicide (PDF | 6.7 MB)
The #chatsafe guidelines have been developed in partnership with young people to provide support to those who might be responding to suicide-related content posted by others or for those who might want to share their own feelings and experiences with suicidal thoughts, feelings, or behaviors.

Help a Friend in Need: A Facebook and Instagram Guide (PDF | 524 KB)
Facebook and Instagram are proud to work with The Jed Foundation and The Clinton Foundation, nonprofits that work to promote emotional well-being and to share potential warning signs that a friend might be in emotional distress and need your help.

Seize the Awkward
Nobody likes an awkward silence. But when it comes to mental health, awkward silences don't have to be a bad thing. This campaign encourages teens and young adults to embrace the awkwardness and use this moment as an opportunity to reach out to a friend. The campaign focuses on that moment to break through the awkward silence to start a conversation about how they're feeling.

What to Do if You're Concerned About Your Teen's Mental Health: A Conversation Guide (PDF | 617 KB)
This guide is meant to help parents and families who are concerned about their teen's mental health and emotional well-being have important conversations with their child. Although parents often pick up on concerning signs that their teen is struggling, not everyone feels well-equipped to approach their child to have a conversation about how they are feeling.

Youth Mental Health First Aid
Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addiction challenge or is in crisis.

Additional Resources

Framework for Successful Messaging
This online resource provides guidance and tools that can be used by anyone who develops and disseminates suicide-related content.

National Recommendations for Depicting Suicide
These recommendations were informed by both representatives from the entertainment industry and the suicide prevention field and aim to help members of the entertainment industry-content creators, scriptwriters, producers-tell more balanced and authentic stories involving suicide and suicide prevention.

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Below are resources for suicide prevention among children, youth, and young adults. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

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Author: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC)

Publisher: Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC)

After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools assists schools in implementing a coordinated response to the suicide death of a student. Originally developed in 2011, the second edition includes new information and tools that middle and high schools can use to help the school community cope and reduce suicide risk. The toolkit was developed in collaboration with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and in consultation with national experts, including school-based administrators and staff, clinicians, researchers, and crisis response professionals. It is designed primarily for administrators and staff but can also be useful for parents and communities.

Highlights of the second edition include:

Updated information on such topics as memorialization, social media, and contagion

Updated resource lists

A new tool to help with decision-making about memorials

New examples of how different communities have addressed specific issues in responding to a suicide death

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After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools, Second Edition

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Author: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) Publisher: Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools assists schools in implementing a coordinated response to the suicide death of a student.

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Suicide is Preventable

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Crisis Lines
Humboldt Youth Services Bureau Crisis Line
707-444-2273 24/7
Humboldt County Mental Health Crisis Line
(707) 445-7715 or (888) 849-5728

24/7 crisis line
Suicide Prevention & Crisis Services (WellSpace Health)
1-800-273-8255 or (916)368-3111 or 1-800-SUICIDE
http://suicideprevention.wellspacehealth.org Institute on Aging Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention Friendship Line
(415) 752-3778 or (800) 971-0016
www.ioaging.org/services-for-elders-and-care-givers/friendship-line
Provides 24/7 crisis intervention and emotional support to older adults who are depressed, bereaved, or lonely.
Student Mental Health--University/College Services
Humboldt State University Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) for students and for faculty members or staff concerned about an HSU student CAPS offers support and crisis intervention 24/7 707-826-3236
The Trevor Project: LGBTQI suicide prevention
866-488-7386

Workgroup
Superior Region Suicide Prevention Network
This network serves counties in the Superior Region with support from the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA)(http://www.calmhsa.org). With representatives from colleges, school districts, community and faith-based groups, municipal agencies, and medical centers, the Network comes up with concrete steps to reduce the risk of suicide and shares best practices with others across the State. The Network also identifies gaps in services and populations that have been overlooked and under-served.

Programs
Grief Support
Hospice of Humboldt
707-445-8443 or www.hospiceofhumboldt.org
Heart of the Redwoods Community Hospice, Garberville
707-923-7276
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) chapter
707-444-1600 - message only
http://www.nami-humboldt.org/
NAMI Humboldt County is a grassroots, family and consumer self-help support and advocacy organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with severe mental illnesses. E-mail: [email protected]
Humboldt County Health & Human Services Suicide Prevention Program
Information, Referral, Outreach, Education Trainings: Question ~ Persuade ~ Refer Suicide Prevention Free. Can be tailored to community groups and organizations.
ASIST ~ Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training 2-Day Intensive, interactive training
Community Wellness Center 707-441-5554
Seeds of Understanding Speakers Collective
Local speakers who are ready and willing to share their stories to promote healing, help-seeking, public education, and increase understanding.
Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services 707-268-2132

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Suicide Prevention Awareness | Know the Warning Signs of Suicidal Behavior

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Although the warning signs of suicide can be subtle, they are there. By recognizing these signs, knowing how to start a conversation and where to turn for help, you have the power to make a difference - the power to save a life.

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Help students create a short film on suicide prevention

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Help students create a short film on suicide prevention

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If you are experiencing an emotional crisis, are thinking about suicide or are concerned about a friend, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (24/7)

Directing Change is part of statewide efforts to prevent suicide, reduce stigma and discrimination related to mental illness, and to promote the mental health and wellness of students. These initiatives are funded by counties through the Mental Health Services Act (Prop 63) and administered by the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA), an organization of county governments working to improve mental health outcomes for individuals, families and communities.

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﻿ If you are experiencing an emotional crisis, are thinking about suicide or are concerned about a friend, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (24/7) Directing Change is part of statewide efforts to prevent suicide, reduce stigma and discrimination related to mental illness, and to promote the mental health and wellness of students.

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2021 Award-Winning Video on Suicide Prevention

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2021 Award-Winning Video on Suicide Prevention

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In this video created by Mayo Clinic, teens provide suggestions for what to say to those who may be at risk for suicide.

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SUICIDE RISK THREAT ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE flowchart

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Questions to Ask about Suicidal Thoughts

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STUDENT SUICIDE RISK ASSESSMENT WORKSHEET

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Suicide Risk Parent Notification SPANISH

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Life-Saving Suicide Prevention Training for School Communities

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Life-Saving Suicide Prevention Training for School Communities

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A 90-minute online program that equips people to recognize when someone is struggling and take action to keep them safe.

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Suicide is death caused by injuring oneself with the intent to die. A suicide attempt is when someone harms themselves with any intent to end their life, but they do not die as a result of their actions. ¹

Many factors can increase the risk for suicide or protect against it. Suicide is connected to other forms of injury and violence. For example, people who have experienced violence, including child abuse, bullying, or sexual violence have a higher suicide risk. Being connected to family and community support and having easy access to healthcare can decrease suicidal thoughts and behaviors. ²

Suicide rates increased approximately 36% between 2000-2021. Suicide was responsible for 48,183 deaths in 2021, which is about one death every 11 minutes. ³ The number of people who think about or attempt suicide is even higher. In 2021, an estimated 12.3 million American adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.5 million planned a suicide attempt, and 1.7 million attempted suicide. ⁴

Suicide affects people of all ages. In 2021, suicide was among the top 9 leading causes of death for people ages 10-64. Suicide was the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-14 and 20-34. ³

Some groups have higher suicide rates than others. Suicide rates vary by race/ethnicity, age, and other factors, such as where someone lives. By race/ethnicity, the groups with the highest rates are non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native people followed by non-Hispanic White people. ³ Other Americans with higher-than-average rates of suicide are veterans, people who live in rural areas, and workers in certain industries and occupations like mining and construction. 5,6 Young people who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual have higher prevalence of suicidal thoughts and behavior compared to their peers who identify as heterosexual. 7 Read more about these suicide disparities and why they exist on this page.

Suicide and suicide attempts cause serious emotional, physical, and economic impacts. People who attempt suicide and survive may experience serious injuries that can have long-term effects on their health. They may also experience depression and other mental health concerns. ⁸

Suicide and suicide attempts affect the health and well-being of friends, loved ones, co-workers, and the community. When people die by suicide, their surviving family and friends may experience prolonged grief, shock, anger, guilt, symptoms of depression or anxiety, and even thoughts of suicide themselves. 8,9

The financial toll of suicide on society is also costly. In 2020, suicide and nonfatal self-harm cost the nation over $500 billion in medical costs, work loss costs, value of statistical life, and quality of life costs.

Suicidal behavior also has far-reaching impact:
There were 46,412 suicides among adults in 2021. But suicides are just the tip of the iceberg. For every suicide death*, there were about:

3 hospitalizations for self-harm**

8 emergency department visits related to suicide***

38 self-reported suicide attempts in the past year****

265 people who seriously considered suicide in the past year****

*Based on the latest year of available data for adults ages 18 and older.

**Source: HCUP National Inpatient Sample (2020)

***Source: CDC WISQARS (2020)

****Source: SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2021)

Suicide is preventable and everyone has a role to play to save lives and create healthy and strong individuals, families, and communities. Suicide prevention requires a comprehensive public health approach. CDC developed the Suicide Prevention Resource for Action (Prevention Resource), which provides information on the best available evidence for suicide prevention. States and communities can use the Prevention Resource to help make decisions about suicide prevention activities. Strategies range from those designed to support people at increased risk to a focus on the whole population, regardless of risk.

Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

Connect with a trained crisis counselor. 988 is confidential, free, and available 24/7/365.

Visit the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for more information at 988lifeline.org .

1. Crosby A, Ortega L, Melanson C. Self-directed violence surveillance: Uniform definitions and recommended data elements, version 1.0 [PDF - 1 MB] . (2011) Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.

2. CDC. Preventing multiple forms of violence: A strategic vision for connecting the dots [PDF - 775 KB] . (2016) Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.

3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Mortality 2018-2021 on CDC WONDER Online Database, released in 2023. Data are from the Multiple Cause of Death Files, 2018-2021, as compiled from data provided by the 57 vital statistics jurisdictions through the Vital Statistics Cooperative Program. Accessed at http://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd-icd10-expanded.html on Jan 11, 2023

4. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2022). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication No. PEP22-07-01-005, NSDUH Series H-57). Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2021-nsduh-annual-national-report

5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Suicide Prevention Resource for Action: A Compilation of the Best Available Evidence. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

6. Peterson C, Sussell A, Li J, Schumacher P, Yeoman K, Stone D. (2020) Suicide Rates by Industry and Occupation - National Violent Death Reporting System, 32 States, 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep; 69: 57-62. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6903a1.

7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary and Trends Report: 2011-2021. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/pdf/YRBS_Data-Summary-Trends_Report2023_508.pdf [PDF - 10 MB] .

8. Hamdan, S., Berkman, N., Lavi, N., Levy, S., Brent, D. (2020). The effect of sudden death bereavement on the risk for suicide. Crisis; 41(3):214-224. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000635.

9. Wagner, B., Hofmann, L., Grafiadeli, R. (2021). The relationship between guilt, depression, prolonged grief, and posttraumatic stress symptoms after suicide bereavement. J Clin Psychol; 77:2545-2558. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.23192.

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Suicide is a leading cause of death in the U.S. Suicide rates increased 30% between 2000-2018, declined in 2019-2020, and increased again in 2021.

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NASP Guidelines for Administrators and Crisis Teams

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NASP Guidelines for Administrators and Crisis Teams

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National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)

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If you or someone you know is suicidal, get help immediately via 911, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK or the Crisis Text Line (text "HOME" to 741741).
School personnel have a legal and ethical responsibility to recognize and respond to suicidal thinking and behavior. Schools must have clear policies and procedures for what to do, as well as trained school-employed mental health professionals and crisis response teams. Although many suicidal children and adolescents do not self-refer, most show some warning signs. Never ignore these signs. Suicide prevention should be an integral component of a multi-tiered system of mental health and safety supports.

Assembling a Crisis Team

A trained school safety and crisis response team is essential to being able to identify and intervene effectively with students who are at risk of suicidal behavior. At a minimum, the team should include an administrator, school-employed mental health professional, school security personnel, and other appropriate school personnel. Each crisis response team member needs to have clearly defined roles and responsibilities.

The crisis response team is responsible for developing and implementing suicide risk assessment, intervention and postvention policies and procedures. Sometimes these policies are developed at the district level by a district crisis response team.

The crisis response team should assign one or more individuals as a "designated reporter" to receive and act upon all reports from teachers, other staff and students about students who may be suicidal. This individual should be a school-employed mental health professional (e.g., school psychologist, counselor, nurse or social worker).

All school crisis response teams should have a representative from local law enforcement. If a student resists, becomes combative or attempts to flee, assistance from law enforcement is essential. In some jurisdictions, law enforcement can also be of help to obtain a "72-hour hold," which will place the youth in protective custody for psychiatric observation and treatment. In other jurisdictions, the community mental health center, child protective services, and/or calling 911 is required if the youth needs to be placed in protective custody and parents are unable to safely transport and/or are uncooperative. It is important to know the procedures for your jurisdiction.

All staff should receive training annually on the warning signs and referral procedures for students who display signs of suicidal thinking and behavior. Students should also receive instruction about risk factors, warning signs, and how to get help for themselves or a friend. This training can be part of the curriculum or a comprehensive suicide prevention program, but should be delivered by qualified credentialed educators.

Prevention Measure

Providing a safe, positive, and welcoming school climate; and ensuring that students have trusting relationships with adults serves is the foundation for effective suicide prevention efforts. Schools should have mental health supports that are explicitly connected to both school safety and learning outcomes. Ideally they also should implement a comprehensive empirically supported suicide prevention program [e.g., Signs of Suicide (SOS)]. Schools should make use of a well-publicized tip line for students to call or text with any concerns.

Bullying and suicide-related behaviors have a number of shared risk factors including mental health challenges (e.g., depression, hopelessness, and substance use/abuse). Thus, schools would be well served by adopting an integrated approach to violence prevention with both peer-directed and self-directed violence addressed in the design and implementation of programs, policies, and procedures. Youth who report frequently bullying others and those who report being frequently bullied are at increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behavior. Bully-victims (those who report both bullying others and being bullied) are at the highest risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Keep in mind the relationship between bullying and suicide is more complex and less direct than it might appear. While bullying may be a precipitating event, there are often many other contributing factors, including underlying mental illness.

Prevention efforts should also address non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI or "cutting"). While the behavior is typically not associated with suicidal thinking, it is a red flag that someone is distressed and does increase the risk for suicidal thinking and behaviors. It is important that school staff learn to recognize the signs of NSSI, including cuts, burns, scratches, scabs, and scrapes, especially those that are recurrent and if explanations for the injuries are not credible. Suicide risk assessment should always be a part of intervention with the student who displays NSSI.

Identification and Intervention

Early identification and intervention are critical to preventing suicidal behavior. When school staff become aware of a student exhibiting potential suicidal behavior, they should immediately and escort the child to a member of the school's crisis response team for a suicide risk assessment (i.e., the "designated reporter"). They should not "send" the student on their own. If the appropriate staff is not available, 911 should be called. Typically, it is best to inform the student what you are going to do every step of the way. Solicit the student's assistance where appropriate. Under no circumstances should the student be allowed to leave school or be alone (even in the restroom). Reassure and supervise the student until a 24/7 caregiving resource (e.g., parent, mental health professional or law enforcement representative) can assume responsibility.

Designated members of the school crisis team should conduct a suicide risk assessment. The purpose of the assessment is to determine the level of risk and to identify the most appropriate actions to ensure the immediate and long-term safety and well-being of the student. This should be done by a team that includes a school-employed mental health professional.(See NASP's handout on threat assessment for guidance on this topic.)

Caregiver notification is a vital part of suicide prevention. The appropriate caregiver(s) must always be contacted when signs of suicidal thinking and behavior are observed. Typically this is the student's parent(s); however, when child abuse is suspected protective services should be contacted. Even if a child is judged to be at low risk for suicidal behavior, schools may ask caregivers to sign a form to indicate that relevant information has been provided. Regardless, all caregiver notifications must be documented. Caregivers also provide critical information in determining level of risk. Whether a student is in imminent danger or not, it is strongly recommended that lethal means are (i.e. guns, poisons, medications, and sharp objects) are removed or made inaccessible.

Refer to community services if warranted. Suicidal thinking and behaviors can also occur outside of school hours. Thus, referral options to 24 hour community-based services should be identified in advance. It is best to obtain a release from the primary caregiver to facilitate the sharing of information between the school and community agency and it is highly recommended the school contact the agency to share critical information. School districts have an obligation to suggest agencies that are non-proprietary or offer sliding scale of fees.

Help the student to develop a safety plan. Generally speaking no-suicide contracts have been shown to be ineffective and are no longer recommended. However, helping the student to develop a written list of coping strategies and sources of support that can be of assistance when he or she is having thoughts of suicide (i.e., a safety plan) is recommended. Suicide prevention hotlines (e.g., 800-273-TALK) and the app MY3 (my3app.org) can be helpful elements of such a plan.

Schools are legally responsible for documenting every step in the assessment and intervention process. Such documentation ensures that protocols were followed. Every school district should develop a documentation form for support personnel and crisis response team members to record their suicide intervention actions and caregiver communication. Student information must be kept confidential but there are exceptions to FERPA when safety is of concern. Staff responsible for the safety and welfare of the student should be provided with the information necessary to work with the student and preserve the safety. School staff members do not need clinical information about the student or a detailed history of his or her suicidal risk or behavior. Discussion among staff should be restricted to the student's treatment and support needs.
Postvention
Keep tabs on the rumor mill (including social media). If you hear or see something credible, refer the student to a school-employed mental health professional or crisis response team member. At the same time, gossip about particular incidents and students should also be discouraged. For more information on conducting a suicide intervention, see handout " A Suicide Intervention Model."

Following a suicide, school communities must strike a delicate balance. Students should have an opportunity to grieve, but in a way that does not glorifying, romanticizing or sensationalizing suicide, which may increase suicide risk for other students.

Confirm facts. Confirm the facts related to the death with the family and/or police. Inform other schools in the district with students related or close to the deceased. Contact the family to offer condolences, ask what the school can do to help, offer resources, and to discuss communication with the school community. Protect and gather the personal effects of the deceased for the family and/or the police. Pay close attention to other students (and staff) who may also be at risk of suicidal behavior.

Resources needed. In some situations, schools may have adequate resources to handle the aftermath of a suicide. However, it is critical that schools assess the impact of the suicide on the school community to determine the level of postvention support needed. Factors to consider include how well known the student was, if the suicide was public (i.e., occurred at school), and/or if the deceased had shared his/her suicidal intentions with others (particularly to large numbers of other students via social media). These factors generally increase the impact and thus the potential postvention needs of members of the school community.

Contagion. Suicide contagion occurs when suicidal behavior is imitated. The effect is strongest among adolescents: they appear to be more susceptible to imitative suicide than adults, largely because they may identify more readily with the behavior and qualities of their peers. Guilt, identification, and modeling are each thought to play a role in contagion. Sometimes suicide contagion can result in a cluster of suicides. Studies indicate that 1-5% of all suicides within this age group are due to contagion (100-200 teenage cluster suicides per year).

Suicide postvention strategies designed to minimize contagion include avoiding sensationalism or giving unnecessary attention to the suicide, avoiding glorifying or vilifying of suicide victims, and minimizing the amount of detail about the suicide shared with students.

If there appears to be contagion, school administrators should consider taking additional steps beyond the basic crisis response, including stepping up efforts to identify other students who may be at heightened risk of suicide, collaborating with community partners in a coordinated suicide prevention effort, and possibly bringing in outside experts.

Memorials. Memorials in particular run the risk of glamorizing suicide and should thus be implemented with great care. Living memorials are recommended such as making donations to a local crisis center, participating in an event that raises awareness about suicide prevention, or providing opportunities for service activities in the school that emphasize the importance of student's taking care of each other.

Care for the caregiver. It is important that administrators and crisis team members not underestimate the potential impact that a suicide can have on school staff members. School leaders should promote a culture in which both the students and the adults in the building feel comfortable asking for help and/or to take a break. Providing contact information and encouraging staff to meet their own mental health needs is an important first step in ensuring that staff are adequately supported.

Media. In general, news media outlets will not cover suicide as a news story unless the death occurs in public or the victim is a public figure. If a suicide is reported by news media, reporters should simply inform their audience of the death without sensationalizing it. Pictures of the deceased and the use of the word suicide in the headline are discouraged. News stories should note that most people who die by suicide have mental health challenges and exhibit warning signs, and these should be included in the story or in a sidebar. Suicide should be portrayed as a public health issue and the story should offer both hope and information about available suicide prevention and mental health resources available in the community.

© 2015, National Association of School Psychologists, 4340 East West Highway, Suite 402, Bethesda, MD 20814; (301) 657-0270, Fax (301) 657-0275; www.nasponline.org

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Preventing Suicide: Guidelines for Administrators and Crisis Teams

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If you or someone you know is suicidal, get help immediately via 911, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK or the Crisis Text Line (text "HOME" to 741741). School personnel have a legal and ethical responsibility to recognize and respond to suicidal thinking and behavior.

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ASCA Position Paper on School Counselors and Suicide Risk Assessment

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ASCA Position Paper on School Counselors and Suicide Risk Assessment

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The School Counselor and Suicide Risk Assessment

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School counselors support best practice in suicide prevention to reduce suicide risk in children and adolescents and are part of a collaborative team who respond when students are identified as at-risk for suicide. When students are identified or are in crisis, school counselors support them by providing parents/guardians with appropriate information and referrals.

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The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.

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The Trevor Project | For Young LGBTQ Lives

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The Trevor Project provides 24/7 crisis support services to LGBTQ young people. Text, chat, or call anytime to reach a trained counselor. Free and confidential.

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National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) Antelope Valley

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National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) Antelope Valley

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NAMI Antelope Valley (NAMI-AV) is the Antelope Valley affiliate of the national and state-level NAMI organizations, serving the northern Los Angeles County area. NAMI-AV is a nonprofit California corporation dedicated to improving the quality of life for those living with mental illness and their families and friends through support, education, and advocacy. All involved are welcome to attend NAMI-AV meetings and classes to support those living with mental illness and to learn about and deal with issues that concern them.

Affiliate Contact Information:

Email: nami-av@nami-av.org

Basics

Peer to Peer

Connection

In Our Own Voices

FaithNet

Hearts and Minds

First Aid

Provider Education

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NAMI Antelope Valley (NAMI-AV) is the Antelope Valley affiliate of the national and state-level NAMI organizations, serving the northern Los Angeles County area. NAMI-AV is a nonprofit California corporation dedicated to improving the quality of life for those living with mental illness and their families and friends through support, education, and advocacy.

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Content for youth and parents

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NO ONE WANTS TO LOSE A YOUNG
PERSON TO SUICIDE

There is hope
and there is help.

For more information on the warning signs of suicide and what you can do to help, click on the image that best describes you.

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NO ONE WANTS TO LOSE A YOUNG PERSON TO SUICIDE There is hope and there is help. For more information on the warning signs of suicide and what you can do to help, click on the image that best describes you.

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CDC Uniform Classification of Suicide & Suicidal Behavior

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CDC Uniform Classification of Suicide & Suicidal Behavior

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CDC Classification and Definitions Chart

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Text, Call, Email, Board contact options

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TEEN LINE is a non-profit, community based organization that provides emotional support to youth. It is our mission to provide peer based education and support before problems become a crisis, using a national hotline, community outreach and online support.

NEW! Try the free TEEN TALK APP to vent, share and get support from a trained teen.
DOWNLOAD | READ MORE

Do you need help working something out? Do you want to talk to someone who understands, like another teen? We're here to help! Call (310) 855-HOPE or (800) TLC-TEEN (nationwide toll-free) from 6pm to 10pm PST.

Text "TEEN" to 839863 between 6:00pm-9:00pm PST to speak with one of our teens (Text STOP to opt out. Standard msg and data rates may apply - click here for terms and conditions).

TEEN LINE answers emails every evening. You can send us a question, and we will answer you as quickly as possible.

You can ask other teens questions on our message boards. Read through the disscusions and login or register to join the conversation.

Donate

Are you concerned about bullying, teen suicide, and depression? Donate to TEEN LINE to make a difference! Your support keeps outreach events in schools, the hotline open, and directly helps teens. TEEN LINE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, donations are tax deductible.

see more ways to donate

Volunteer

TEEN LINE is more than just a hotline. Our teens and adult volunteers gain invaluable knowledge in helping others, they work in a team-orientated environment, attend outreach opportunities, and they make a difference: in some cases even a life-saving one.

how you can help

Outreach

Our Outreach program reaches over 38,000 people each year providing presentations on various topics pertinent to adolescence. Outreach services are tailored to fit any schedule or population. Schedule an outreach event today to help educate the community.

learn more about outreach

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TEEN LINE | Teens Helping Teens - Connect, talk, get help!

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TEEN LINE is a non-profit, community based organization that provides emotional support to youth. It is our mission to provide peer based education and support before problems become a crisis, using a national hotline, community outreach and online support. NEW! Try the free TEEN TALK APP to vent, share and get support from a trained teen.

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Get up-to-date facts and statistics.

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The American Association of Suicidology makes available a summary of national suicide statistics as soon as they become available from the National Center for Health Statistics. The most current statistics are from the year 2019. All documents below are in PDF format. (Updated January 2021)

[DOWNLOAD PDF FACTSHEET NOW] - 2017 Data - Rates, numbers, and Rankings of Each State

[DOWNLOAD PDF FACTSHEET NOW] - 2018 Data - Rates, numbers, and Rankings of Each State

[DOWNLOAD PDF FACTSHEET NOW] - 2019 Data - Rates, numbers, and Rankings of Each State
2019 States by Past Year Suicide Ideation Percentage Estimates 2018 Male/Female Statistics 2017 Male/Female Statistics
2017 Age-Specific Statistics
2017 Regional Statistics
Number of Suicides, USA Divisions, 1990 - 2017
Regional Suicide Data, 1990 - 2017
Annual Numbers of Suicides in States, 1990 - 2017
Annual Ranking of States by Crude Suicide Rate, 1990 - 2017
Annual Crude Suicide Rates in States, 1990 - 2017
USA State Suicide: All Suicides vs. Firearm Suicides, 2017
2018 Age-Specific Statistics
2018 Regional Statistics
2018 Rates and Rankings for Older Adults and Young 2018 Suicides by Firearms for USA States
Suicide in Census Divisions 1990 - 2018
Suicide in Census Regions 1990 - 2018
Number of Suicides Each State 1990 - 2018
Suicide Rates Each State 1990 - 2018
Rankings of States for Suicide Rates 1990 - 2018
2019 Annual Ranking of States by Past Year Suicide Ideation
2019 Statistics By Health Region
2019 State Suicide Rates: Crude vs. Age-Adjusted Rates
2019 Suicide Rates and Rankings by Sex
2019 Suicide Rates and Rankings - Older adults and young
2019 All Suicides vs. Firearm Suicides
2019 Suicides by Census Divisions
2019 Suicides By Census Regions
2019 Regional Suicide Data
Annual Number of Suicides 1990 - 2019
Annual State Rankings 1990 - 2019
Annual Crude Suicide Rates 1990 - 2019

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DOWNLOAD PDF FACTSHEET NOW] - 2017 Data - Rates, numbers, and Rankings of Each State [DOWNLOAD PDF FACTSHEET NOW] - 2018 Data - Rates, numbers, and Rankings of Each State [DOWNLOAD PDF FACTSHEET NOW] - 2019 Data - Rates, numbers, and Rankings of Each State 2019 States by Past Year

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A Guide to Understanding Non-Suicidal Self-Injury

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Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents & Educators (English)

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Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents & Educators (English)

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Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents & Educators (Spanish)

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Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents & Educators (Spanish)

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Suicide Prevention and Ongoing Resiliency Training (SPORT2) for Crisis Teams

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Suicide Prevention and Ongoing Resiliency Training (SPORT2) for Crisis Teams

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Google Slides Presentation

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SPORT2 Presentation for Crisis Team 2019.pptx

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NASP Helping Handout: Non-Suicidal Self-Injury

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NASP Helping Handout: Non-Suicidal Self-Injury

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Suicide Prevention and Ongoing Resiliency Training (SPORT2) for Staff 

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Suicide Prevention and Ongoing Resiliency Training (SPORT2) for Staff 

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Google Slides Presentation

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Conducting a Suicide Risk Assessment in a Time of Distance Learning

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Conducting a Suicide Risk Assessment in a Time of Distance Learning

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NASP Publication

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Center for Distance and Online Learning (CDOL) at Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE)

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Los Angeles County Youth Suicide Prevention Project

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Information and materials on youth suicide prevention for districts, schools, parents, and high-risk populations in Los Angeles County.

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tel:1-800-273-8255

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Skip to main content

We can all help prevent suicide. The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.

988

¡Los servicios de texto y chat de 988 Lifeline ya están disponibles en español!
Haga clic aquí para obtener información sobre cómo acceder a todos los servicios en español.

Conocer más

Stock photo by iStock.

The 988 Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. We're committed to improving crisis services and advancing suicide prevention by empowering individuals, advancing professional best practices, and building awareness.

About The Lifeline

Anyone could be struggling with suicide. Find more specific resources below.

I'm Struggling With Individuals with Neurodivergence

We understand that every struggle is different. Experience the stories of people like you, and how they overcame crisis to find hope and recovery.
read stories of hope & recovery

First, you'll hear an automated message featuring additional options while your call is routed to your local 988 Lifeline network crisis center.

We'll play you a little music while we connect you to a skilled, trained crisis worker.

A trained crisis worker at your local center will answer the phone.

This person will listen to you, understand how your problem is affecting you, provide support, and get you the help you need.

988 Lifeline Center calls are free and confidential, and we're available 24/7.

Show What Happens When You Call The Lifeline

Everyone Plays A Role In Suicide Prevention

Get in touch

Call the Lifeline

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Skip to main content We can all help prevent suicide. The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. 988 ¡Los servicios de texto y chat de 988 Lifeline ya están disponibles en español!

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Suicide Prevention and Ongoing Resiliency Training (SPORT2) Training for Parents

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Suicide Prevention and Ongoing Resiliency Training (SPORT2) Training for Parents

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Four 15-minute video segments

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First and foremost, CDOL hopes you, your family, and loved ones continue to remain resilient and healthy amidst the uncertainty of these trying times.

In recognition of the school closures and the inability to hold any in-person training sessions, we have a 4-part series as resource to help your team provide SPORT2 training for parents, guardians, and caretakers.

We are happy to share the SPORT2 Suicide Prevention & Awareness for Parent training video series. Each segment is approximately 15 minutes in length.
Important Note regarding the SPORT2 Parent Training
As you may or may not be aware, there is a section in this training that talks about the referral process if a parent is concerned that their child may be suicidal, or demonstrate some concerning signs. Due to the countywide school dismissals, because of the Covid-19 Pandemic, this referral process likely has changed for your district, so in that section, we ask parent participants to please refer to the referral process outlined by the school district, so when you send this out, it is highly recommended that you include some way for the parent to access that referral process that is specific to your school district.

Also, please note these are not stand-alone segments, this is a four-part series broken up into manageable pieces, as parents these days may not have a big block of time to view this training all at once, they are more digestible pieces. They are meant to be viewed in order, and in entirety, but at the convenience of the viewer.

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Center for Distance and Online Learning (CDOL) at Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE)

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Los Angeles County Youth Suicide Prevention Project

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First and foremost, CDOL hopes you, your family, and loved ones continue to remain resilient and healthy amidst the uncertainty of these trying times. In recognition of the school closures and the inability to hold any in-person training sessions, we have a 4-part series as resource to help your team provide SPORT2 training for parents, guardians, and caretakers.

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Care for the Caregiver-Parents and Teachers_Final

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Suicide Prevention and Ongoing Resiliency (SPORT2) for Staff

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Suicide Prevention and Ongoing Resiliency (SPORT2) for Staff

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Experts in the field share information related to suicide prevention interventions that will be helpful to administrators and staff in developing training events. there are numerous videos which address a range of topics related to suicide prevention and response.

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Center for Distance and Online Learning (CDOL) at Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE)

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Los Angeles County Youth Suicide Prevention Project

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Information and materials on youth suicide prevention for districts, schools, parents, and high-risk populations in Los Angeles County.