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Finding the Words - How to Support Someone who has been bereaved and affected by Suicide

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Finding the Words - How to Support Someone who has been bereaved and affected by Suicide

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Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)

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Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)

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CDE Model Youth Suicide Prevention Policy

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CDE Model Youth Suicide Prevention Policy

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NASP Model School District Suicide Prevention Policy and Webinar

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NASP Model School District Suicide Prevention Policy and Webinar

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The National Association of School Psychology provides resources and training to support schools in the development and implementation of suicide prevention policies.

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National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)

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In order to reduce youth suicide, we must craft effective policies that support the mental health and wellness of all students. Effective suicide prevention policies are essential to meeting the critical role and responsibility that schools have in identifying and providing interventions for at risk students.

NASP partnered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the American School Counselor Association, and the Trevor Project to update the Model School Policy, a comprehensive guidebook for school administrators and policymakers. The guidebook contains best practices in suicide prevention, intervention and postvention policies for K-12 schools. It can be used for the development of suicide prevention plans at the district level and implementation at the school level, and includes best practices relating to parental notification and engagement, re-entry procedure after an attempt, in-school suicide attempts, out-of-school suicide attempts, suicide postvention, and sample language for a student handbook.

Read the full Model School Suicide Prevention Policy press release here.

Model School District Suicide Prevention Policy Webinar

Model School District Suicide Prevention Policy Webinar, brought to you by ASCA, NASP, AFSP & The Trevor Projec from AFSP on Vimeo.

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Model School District Suicide Prevention Policy

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In order to reduce youth suicide, we must craft effective policies that support the mental health and wellness of all students. Effective suicide prevention policies are essential to meeting the critical role and responsibility that schools have in identifying and providing interventions for at risk students.

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Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Primary Care Practices. A Guide for Primary Care Providers and Medical Practice Managers

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Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Primary Care Practices. A Guide for Primary Care Providers and Medical Practice Managers

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ASIST- Living Works Suicide Prevention Training

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ASIST- Living Works Suicide Prevention Training

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Livingworks provides this training to teach anyone to recognize the signs of suicide and take life-saving action by connecting someone to hope and support.

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A continuum of safety skills

LivingWorks programs are designed to span a continuum of safety skills. With a common language, philosophy, and approach, they give each trainee a clear role to play and enable these roles to seamlessly come together, creating safety networks for those in need. To learn more, download our program overview.

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Training Programs for Suicide Prevention | LivingWorks

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LivingWorks programs are designed to span a continuum of safety skills. With a common language, philosophy, and approach, they give each trainee a clear role to play and enable these roles to seamlessly come together, creating safety networks for those in need. To learn more, download our program overview .

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The QPR Institute offers training to equip individuals with the tools to conduct a suicide risk inquiry.

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Three steps anyone can learn
to help prevent suicide.

The world is experiencing a global mental health crisis.

People across the age span need help.

QPR and Hope Squad® partner to prevent suicide
Read More

Free download of Paul Quinnett's book
Download PDF

We can all save lives

The QPR mission is to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training. The signs of crisis are all around us. We believe that quality education empowers all people, regardless of their background, to make a positive difference in the life of someone they know.

But professionals must do more...

Surveys show that most healthcare providers, including mental health professionals, do not receive specific or adequate training in how to help those at risk of suicide. Unless you are a psychiatrist, or an exception, the odds are you did not receive adequate and specific suicide intervention or treatment training as part of your professional academic experience.

Your patients assume that you are competent to help them or their loved ones survive a suicide crisis.

Are you? Check Now

Don't know which course to enroll in?

To select the best course for you and for your profession, answer a couple questions to be recommended a course! Go

Just like CPR, QPR is an emergency response to someone in crisis and can save lives. QPR is the most widely taught Gatekeeper training in the world.

Start Now

Interested in getting your entire organization trained in the life saving techniques of QPR? We offer QPR Online Gatekeeper Training for organizations that need to train large numbers of staff or students.

Start Now

Take QPR's industry-leading suicide prevention to the next level with courses designed to teach professionals how to reduce the immediate risk of suicide and provide longer-term care for those at risk.

Start Now

Becoming a certified trainer of QPR's industry-leading approach to suicide prevention is an excellent way for individuals and organizations to help empower their communities to effectively intervene on behalf of suicidal and in-crisis people.

Start Now

Are you already an instructor? Login here.

Students are eligible for a special discount on our courses! Tell us a little about yourself and a discount code will be sent to the school email address you provided.

Get Now

Student Discount Available

If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat 988Lifeline.org. 988 connects you with a trained crisis counselor who can help.

Go

What People Are Saying About QPR

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QPR Institute | Practical and Proven Suicide Prevention Training

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Question, persuade, refer: our mission is to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training.

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Provided to your school site at no charge, the CDE offers YMHFA training for staff to become certified in mental health first aid to support students when experiencing a crisis including when suicidal thoughts are expressed.

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Student Safety and Well-Being
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Virtual Training

Sometimes, first aid isn't a bandage, or CPR, or the Heimlich or calling 911.
Sometimes, first aid is YOU!
A child or young person you know could be experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis. YMHFA teaches you skills to help them.
You are more likely to encounter a child or young person-friend, family member, student, neighbor, or member of the community-in an emotional or mental crisis than someone having a heart attack. Learning how to help them is critical.

Training Content

Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders in youth. This training gives adults the skills they need to reach out and provide initial support to children and adolescents (ages 6-18) who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care.

Intended Audience

Anyone can take the YMHFA course, but it is ideally designed for adults who work with young people, ages 6-18: teachers, nurses, counselors, coaches, secretaries, campus monitors, yard supervisors, registrars, lunch staff, bus drivers, leaders of faith communities, law enforcement, parents, youth employers, and other caring citizens.
This training will be provided VIRTUALLY.
Participants will be required to complete 2 hours of self-paced instruction prior to the instructor-led learning.
Content from this training supports Local Control and Accountability Plan-Priority Area: Student Engagement and School Climate.
Space is limited to 30 participants per training. Multiple trainings can be delivered simultaneously. For more information or to schedule a training, please send a message to YMHFA@CDE.CA.GOV
Mental health professionals who wish to participate should know this course is basic and will give them common language to share with their colleagues.
This training is sponsored by the California Department of Education and is made possible through funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) through the Project Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education State Educational Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice's Stop School Violence Act Program. California's Project AWARE-SEA (Project Cal-Well) is a consortium of the CDE and three grantee LEAs: Humboldt County Office of Education and Del Norte Unified School District; Sacramento County Office of Education and Paradise Unified School District; and Stanislaus County Office of Education. Participant manuals generously donated by the local chapters of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and instructor stipends generously donated by Blue Shield of California.

Last Reviewed: Friday, March 11, 2022

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Sometimes, first aid isn't a bandage, or CPR, or the Heimlich or calling 911. Sometimes, first aid is YOU! A child or young person you know could be experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis. YMHFA teaches you skills to help them.

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988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (previously the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline)

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988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (previously the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline)

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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 in the United States.

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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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211 is a free information and referral service that connects people to health and human services in their community 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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211 connects you to expert, caring help. Every call is completely confidential.

What are you looking for today?

This phone call has given me more hope than I ever thought possible. I have been beaten down for so long and told that I could never be anything. Just talking with you meant even more than all the resources you gave me.

United Way of Central Maryland 211 Client

Referrals to help and resources were made by the 211 network in 2022.

If it were not for your help, I don't know what I would have done without food. It's been too dangerous to go out and I can't afford to be at risk.

211 Miami Client

Average increase in 211 call volume throughout 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic.

211 saved my life. It was below freezing, and I had nowhere to sleep. They helped me find a place to stay and create a plan to get my life back.

Cleveland 211 Client

People call 211 for assistance with housing, homelessness, and utility bills every year.

Partner with Us

Whether you provide local services, operate a national non-profit, or represent a company that wants to help more people, 211 can help. Across the country, 211s are vital partners to hundreds of organizations, businesses, and government agencies.

Learn more about our work with partners like the Ad Council, IBM, Lyft, SingleCare, and join us today.

Not sure where to start? We can help. Call 211

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Get help paying bills, finding food, and locating other resources near you. Call 211 now for confidential help from a caring expert.

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PDF: Tips and Tools for Working with the Media (Extracted from After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools)

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PDF: Tips and Tools for Working with the Media (Extracted from After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools)

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PDF: Considerations for Social Media (Extracted from After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools)

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PDF: Considerations for Social Media (Extracted from After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools)

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PDF: Tips for Memorialization (Extracted from After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools)

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PDF: Tips for Memorialization (Extracted from After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools)

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After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools (Full Document)

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After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools (Full Document)

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Form: Volunteer Crisis Counselor Sign-In Sheet

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Form: Volunteer Crisis Counselor Sign-In Sheet

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Volunteer Crisis Counselor Sign-In Sheet

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Form: Initial Counseling Referral Summary

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Form: Initial Counseling Referral Summary

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Form: Verification of Emergency Conference

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Form: Verification of Emergency Conference

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Following a suicide attempt, it is recommended that school staff obtain a written Release of Information signed by the parents. This makes it possible for confidential information to be shared between school personnel and treatment providers.

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PDF: Supporting Staff in High-Risk Environments During Crisis

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PDF: Supporting Staff in High-Risk Environments During Crisis

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PDF: After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools, Tools and Templates

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PDF: After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools, Tools and Templates

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After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools (Full Document)

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After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools (Full Document)

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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.

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PDF: Administrator's Checklist for Initial Response

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PDF: Administrator's Checklist for Initial Response

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Following a suicide attempt, it is recommended that school staff obtain a written Release of Information signed by the parents. This makes it possible for confidential information to be shared between school personnel and treatment providers.

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Following a suicide attempt, it is recommended that school staff obtain a written Release of Information signed by the parents. This makes it possible for confidential information to be shared between school personnel and treatment providers.

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PDF: Helping Students Cope (Extracted from After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools)

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PDF: Helping Students Cope (Extracted from After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools)

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After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools (Full Document)

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After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools (Full Document)

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FREE training included for clinicians.

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The Model School District Policy on Suicide Prevention

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The Model School District Policy on Suicide Prevention

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The Model School District Policy on Suicide Prevention provides a thorough plan for school districts to implement suicide prevention policies in their community. In collaboration with the American School Counselor Association, the National Association of School Psychologists, and The Trevor Project, the program is research-based and easily adaptable for middle and high schools.

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American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

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Model School District Policy on Suicide Prevention

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The Model School District Policy on Suicide Prevention provides a thorough plan for school districts to implement suicide prevention policies in their community.

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Extracted from the Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention and Response Toolkit

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PDF: EDCOE Geographic SELPA ERMHS Guidelines

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PDF: EDCOE Geographic SELPA ERMHS Guidelines

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PDF: EDCOE Charter SELPA ERMHS Guidelines 

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PDF: EDCOE Charter SELPA ERMHS Guidelines 

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PDF: EDCOE Geographic SELPA NPS/RTC Guidelines

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PDF: EDCOE Geographic SELPA NPS/RTC Guidelines

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The SIQ assesses the frequency of suicidal ideation and serves as a valuable component in a comprehensive assessment of adolescent mental health.

Features and benefits

The SIQ consists of 30 items and is appropriate for students in Grades 10-12.

The SIQ-JR consists of 15 items and is designed for students in Grades 7-9.

Reliability coefficients are .97 for the SIQ and .93 to .94 for the SIQ-JR.

For many adolescents, the SIQ and the SIQ-JR provide a mechanism for informing adults/professionals of their level of distress and suicidal intent, serving as a cry for help that doesn't involve self-injurious behavior. Adolescents who are thinking about suicide may respond to these measures with the expectation that, in telling others of their suicidal thoughts, people will take notice of their distress and act to assist them. It is therefore vital that professionals act quickly once critical SIQ or SIQ-JR scores are obtained.

Kits

Manuals, books, and equipment

Forms and booklets

Available on PARiConnect

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The SIQ assesses the frequency of suicidal ideation and serves as a valuable component in a comprehensive assessment of adolescent mental health. The SIQ consists of 30 items and is appropriate for students in Grades 10-12. The SIQ-JR consists of 15 items and is designed for students in Grades 7-9.

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Suicide Assessment Five-Step Evaluation and Triage

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Suicide Assessment Five-Step Evaluation and Triage

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Website: Hope Squad Peer-to-Peer Prevention Program (Elementary, Middle and High Schools)

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Website: Hope Squad Peer-to-Peer Prevention Program (Elementary, Middle and High Schools)

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Hope Squad is a peer-to-peer suicide prevention program. Hope Squad members are nominated by their classmates as trustworthy peers and trained by advisors. The program reduces youth suicide through education, training, and peer intervention.

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TRUSTED BY LEADING SUICIDE PREVENTION EXPERTS

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Hope Squad | Youth Suicide Prevention for Schools

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Hope Squad is a student-led, peer-to-peer support program that harnesses school connectedness to reduce the risk of suicide in elementary and secondary schools. We train trusted adults on campus (Advisors) who then empower students (Members) to recognize warning signs and connect their peers to a trusted adult.

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Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) Promise Club is the student leadership initiative of Sandy Hook Promise. Led by our Youth Advisory Board, the aim is to empower student leaders to take an active role in increasing school safety and preventing different forms of violence in schools and communities.

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Student-led organizations that encourage young people to take charge of keeping their friends, schools, and communities safe.

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Website: Directing Change, Resources for Youth

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Website: Directing Change, Resources for Youth

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Directing Change is an evaluated program that engages youth to learn about mental health, suicide prevention and other critical health and social justice topics through film and art. Their website also includes comprehensive resource lists to support peers in suicide prevention and response.

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This page has 3 sections: 1) Support and Crisis Resources, 2) Educational Information and Resources about suicide prevention and mental health, and 3) Technical resources for creating your film.
Support and Crisis Resources

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.

Teen Line:Teen Line is a confidential hotline for teenagers which operates every evening from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm PST. If you have a problem or just want to talk with another teen who understands, then this is the right place for you! The Teen Line volunteers who answer the calls, emails, and texts are Southern California teenagers who have received specialized training. They won't judge you or give advice - their job is to listen to your feelings and help you to clarify your concerns, define the options available to you, and help you make positive decisions. No problem is too small, too large, or too shocking for the Teen Line volunteers.

Call: 800-TLC-TEEN (852-8336) from 6-10 PM PST

Text "TEEN" to 839863

Talk via their app: https://teenlineonline.org/talk-now/

Teen Line also offers message boards, resources, and information.

The Trevor Project: The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24. All services below are available 24/7.

The Trevor Lifeline: 1-866-488-7386

TrevorChat - Confidential online instant messaging

TrevorText - Text "START" to 678-678

Educational Information and Resources

Educational Videos: The educational videos are films produced by some of the Directing Change Team that discuss various mental health and suicide prevention topics.

Bring Change to Mind: Bring Change to Mind High School is a national anti-stigma campaign aimed at removing misconceptions about mental illness.

Learn how to save a life in 90 minutes. The California Dept. of Education, in collaboration with LivingWorks and the San Diego County Office of Education, is launching a free online suicide prevention training program, LivingWorks Start, to teachers, staff, and middle and high school students in the State.

LivingWorks Start is an easy, online, four-step program that teaches anyone, 13 years and older, how to recognize the signs of someone who is struggling and connect them to help. No prior training is necessary. LivingWorks is a global leader in suicide prevention training, with over 35 years of evidence-based programming to its credit.

If you are a middle and high school student, you can claim your free LivingWorks Start program here: https://www.lwyouthsummit.com/access. This link is just for student access. Together, we can save lives from suicide. Start now!

Steps and Resources for Creating your Film!

The following is a list of resources covering various components of film production. Many of these resources have been adapted from other media festival websites.
Check out our PDF with a list of tips and resources about how you can create a film on your smartphone at home. Online Film School
Created by Military Veteran and Filmmaker Trent Duncan, the Online Film School is an educational resource for aspiring filmmakers looking to begin a career in the Film and Video industry. It's a great overview of filmmaking to help you as you develop your film. Check out the video here.
Kids' Guide to Making Movies
This webpage is a great resource for those who have never created a film before. It comes with tutorials about storyboarding, tips for editing films, and even talks about stop motion animation!

Review the submission categories and guidelines for content. To get inspired you can also check out some examples of existing films. Some of these examples have been produced by professional advertising agencies, and some are winners from other student film contests. Be aware that although the following films may be well made, the content and criteria may not be applicable to the Directing Change Program and Film Contest.
Professional Examples: Bring Change to Mind High School Star Wars Anti‐Smoking It's Up To Us Eliminating Stigma and Suicide Prevention Spots Student Examples:
Check out the winners from last year's contest.

Step Two: Script and Storyboard

Once you have your idea you will need to write a script and storyboard for your film. The script gives you a roadmap to your production and all the content that you will cover. In addition to a script, the storyboard allows you to visually plan your film on paper.
Storyboard Resources Plan out your Film with a Successful Storyboard" by Don Goble
Step Three: Permissions and Releases

Before filming your film, be sure you have all appropriate forms and releases signed. For more information and useful links, visit the Forms and Copyright section.

Location Contract: The location contract protects both the property owner and the film production team. Getting permission is also a courtesy that can prevent you from being ejected from a location.

Copyrights: When creating a film youth should be aware of intellectual property and copyright rules especially if they plan on using elements that someone else has created. See Songs and Sounds Effects Resources below for links to free music and sounds.

Step Four: Shooting your Film

Before you start filming you will want to plan each of the shots. If possible, you may want to use two cameras to provide different angles for the same scene when editing. Take time to look at the area you in which you will be filming, paying attention to the background. Also, it is very important to make sure you keep your video tapes or video files in a safe place so it doesn't get lost. The following sections offer links to the various aspects of video production.
Filming

This link contains information about the basics of "shot types" and offers insight to consider when filming.

This article explains "the rule of thirds", an important principle in photography.
Lighting Tutorials - Media College

This site offers various information sheets about lighting in film production.
Sound

This tutorial offers information about the use of microphones.

Songs and Sound Effects Resources

Unfortunately you can't just go to iTunes and download your favorite song. The following resources offer free music and sound effects that you can use in your film! Although some sites offer "free" music, note that you may still have to request licensing for permission to use it in your film. You can also create all the music and sounds yourself, or obtain written permission from the copyright holder for copyrighted songs and materials you would like to use in your film. For more information about how to obtain permission, visit the "Copyright Requirements" section on this page. Note: We have added some new resources this year - be sure to check them out for new possible tracks!

A database of downloadable, copyright-free music and sounds that can be used in your film. You will still need to credit Ben Sound. For instructions on how to give credit in your film check out the site's FAQ.

Free tracks, searchable by mood and instrument. You will need to credit the artist - the specific credit needed is shown when you download the track. The artist has a handy page that creates the exact credit to use based on which track you decide to incorporate in your film.
FreeSoundtrackMusic.com

This link will lead you to a page of music, organized by keywords (emotion, genre, lead instrument, etc.). Any of the songs listed as "FREE" can be used for your film, provided that you include a credit at the end of your film. Info on the credits process can be accessed here.

A composer who has a range of his tracks posted, free for use under Creative Commons. Make sure to credit the creator and the track name at the end of your film!

Similar to the above links; you can download and use these songs for free as long as you include this credit at the end of your film: "Music by www.pacdv.com/sounds/"

A community music site featuring remixes licensed under Creative Commons where you can listen to, sample, mash-up, or interact with music in whatever way you want.

Offers free 'film music', and is intended for independent and non-profit filmmakers, film students, and anyone in need of free music for their independent, non-profit film, video, or short.

A collaborative database of audio snippets, samples, and recordings released under Creative Commons licenses that allow their reuse.
Purple Planet

Free tracks to use for your film. Make sure to credit as written on this page.

This is a non-profit organization that has classical and other (mostly instrumental) pieces available for free download and use. You have to sign up as a member (do the "Lite" membership for free downloads), and then navigate to the "Recordings" link for a given piece in order to download the song. Just like many of the other resources shown here, you will need to include a credit at the end of your film if you use a track from this website.

Step 5: Editing your Film

Editing is important to the film making process. You may spend more time editing than filming. These links will help guide you in editing your film. There are various programs for editing that you may have on your computer at home, or ones that may be available through your school, or local library. Tutorials specific to the program you use should also be available online. Remember, entries are limited to 60 seconds in length.
Video Editing Tutorials-Media College

This side offers tutorials on various aspects of editing.
Top 10 Rules for Video Editing

This article offers tips to consider when editing your film.
Media Composer First

Recommnended by advisor Sara Hills from Claremont High School, this website offers a free version of video editing software that can be run on a Mac or PC.

Step 6: Submitting Your Film

Entries must be either 30-seconds or 60-seconds in length depending on the submission category. Vimeo is our video services partner and all technical specifications need to be in line with their requirements. You will be asked to upload your film as part of the entry form.By uploading your film to Vimeo you will automatically agree to their terms and conditions. Vimeo recommends that when preparing your video for upload, it's best to maintain the video's native frame rate when compressing your video. If your footage exceeds 60 FPS, they will automatically reduce the frame rate. Vimeo recommends a constant frame rate throughout your entire video. Always choose "constant" frame rate instead of "variable" frame rate. A codec is the format in which your video is encoded. Vimeo accept most major codecs, but for best results they recommend H.264 or Apple ProRes 422.
Academy of Motion Pictures-Teachers Guide Cyber College Other Film Festivals
Entries can be submitted to other film festivals after the March 1, 2022 submission deadline. Special note to students in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, and Tulare Counties - Directing Change is partnering with the SlickRock Student Film Festival. We strongly encourage you to also submit to this festival if your entry is in the Suicide Prevention category, as the entry description and judging guidelines for both contests are aligned. If you are in San Diego County, we also suggest you submit your entry to the iVIE film festival. Students throughout the state of California are encouraged to also submit their films to Art With Impact's monthly video contest. Here are a few other film festivals we encourage you to enter as well:
California Student Media Festival Student Educational Video Awards (SEVA) 48 Hour Film Project
Picture the Valley - Fresno County contest open to Juniors and Seniors

Thank you!

Much of the information found on this page was adapted from the Student Educational Video Awards video and many of the resources and links were adapted from the other film festival websites listed here.

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This page has 3 sections: 1) Support and Crisis Resources, 2) Educational Information and Resources about suicide prevention and mental health, and 3) Technical resources for creating your film. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.

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Website: LivingWorks Youth Summit (Ages 13+)

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Website: LivingWorks Youth Summit (Ages 13+)

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Visit this website to learn more about upcoming LivingWorks Youth Summit events and to access free suicide prevention training for students ages 13+ and staff.

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WHAT IS LIVINGWORKS START?

In just 90 minutes online, LivingWorks Start teaches trainees to recognize when someone is thinking about suicide and connect them to help and support.

​

When you sign up for LivingWorks Start training, you'll learn a powerful four-step model to keep someone safe from suicide, and you'll have a chance to practice it with impactful simulations.

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LivingWorks Start teaches valuable skills to everyone 13 and older and requires no formal training or prior experience in suicide prevention.

Safety resources and support are available throughout the program.

ABOUT THE LIVINGWORKS

YOUTH SUMMIT

ABOUT LIVINGWORKS

LivingWorks was founded in 1983 with a vision of building a suicide-safer world. We focus on the community at large in the belief that everyone-no matter their role-can be part of the solution. Nearly two million people worldwide have attended our programs, including Start, safeTALK, ASIST, and suicide to Hope.

From identifying when people have thoughts of suicide to carrying out an intervention and facilitating their recovery after the experience, our programs offer skills for everyone. People trained in different programs can seamlessly come together to create a network of safety for those in need.

LivingWorks training is used in schools, hospitals, businesses, military installations, government agencies, crisis centers, universities, neighborhoods, faith organizations, and many others. Supported by 16 peer-reviewed studies and government reports, our programs are evidence-based with more studies coming out each year.

Together, we can build a suicide-safer world.

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WHAT IS LIVINGWORKS START? In just 90 minutes online, LivingWorks Start teaches trainees to recognize when someone is thinking about suicide and connect them to help and support. ​ When you sign up for LivingWorks Start training, you'll learn a powerful four-step model to keep someone safe from suicide, and you'll have a chance to practice it with impactful simulations.

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Resources for students including the "A Friend Asks" app

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You can make a difference and help us fight the "Silent Epidemic" of youth suicide.
Below is a list of things you can do in your own community to make a difference.

Educate yourself about the magnitude of the problem, the signs of concern and the tools of prevention. You can educate yourself by visiting our Rascal Flatts B1 Project and take the pledge at www.rascalflattsb1.com. Encourage your friends to take the pledge and B1 too.

Take the #IWONTBESILENT challenge and get your friends talking about the problem of youth suicide. Share iwontbesilent.com or wewontbesilent.com. Use the #iwontbesilent or #wewontbesilent on all of your social media accounts.

Be there for a friend by being observant, asking questions, listening, responding and get help for your friend.

Never keep a friends suicidal thoughts to yourself. Know who you can turn to for help and guidance such as a parent, teacher, coach or a trusted adult to seek professional help.

Encourage your school to hold a suicide prevention week.

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You can make a difference and help us fight the "Silent Epidemic" of youth suicide. Below is a list of things you can do in your own community to make a difference. Educate yourself about the magnitude of the problem, the signs of concern and the tools of prevention.

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Website: CDE Youth Suicide Prevention and Programs

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Website: CDE Youth Suicide Prevention and Programs

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A current listing of resources to help school districts address the need for youth suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention, including a model youth suicide prevention policy for local educational agencies (LEAs).

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Building a Network of Safety for School Communities Suicide Prevention Webinar Series
The Student Mental Health Policy's Suicide Prevention Committee is excited to announce the Building A Network of Safety for School Communities Suicide Prevention Webinar Series which will address topics within the spectrum of suicide prevention to help educators and school staff gain skills and resources for supporting students, at a distance.

Help for Students in Crisis
Resources for addressing mental health and wellness during school closures.

Parents, educators, mental health professionals, and legislators are making a concerted effort to address the critical need to prevent youth suicides in California.

Statewide Suicide Postvention Response Team
The Statewide Suicide Postvention Response Team (SSPRT) is a prong of the SMHPW's Suicide Prevention Committee. The SSPRT was formed to support districts in navigating the journey after a youth or staff suicide. The primary goal of the SSPRT is to offer support and guide a district affected by a suicide through this difficult and confusing period. The SSPRT will serve as a support with whom districts can talk about the process of postvention. The team will ensure affected local educational agencies (LEAs) receive accurate and timely information, resources to fill in gaps identified; assistance with messaging to staff, parents, students, and the media; and help them find ways to support staff, parents, and students. Our mission is to help LEAs build their capacity and connect them to their local resources, connect them to their COE, county behavioral health department, and community mental health and suicide prevention/postvention resources.

Assembly Bill 2246 (O'Donnell) addressed this issue by requiring LEAs to adopt suicide prevention policies before the beginning of the 2017-18 school year. Chaptered as California Education Code ( EC) Section 215, AB 2246 mandates that the Governing Board of any LEA that serves pupils in grades seven to twelve, inclusive, adopt a policy on pupil suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. The policy shall specifically address the needs of high-risk groups, include consideration of suicide awareness and prevention training for teachers, and ensure that a school employee acts only within the authorization and scope of the employee's credential or license.

While the mandate does not apply to private schools or schools with students below grade seven, we encourage private schools and schools with students below seventh grade to consider adopting a suicide prevention policy as a safety net for all of their students. This is particularly important since suicide is now the second leading cause of death for youth ages thirteen to eighteen and also is a leading cause of death among ten- to-twelve-year olds. Students in earlier grades also are known to consider, attempt, and die by suicide. Research demonstrates that ideation may start as early as pre-school (however, suicide deaths are very rare among children age nine years or younger).

The board policy must be developed in consultation with school and community stakeholders, school-employed mental health professionals, and suicide prevention experts. At a minimum, the board policy must address procedures relating to suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention.

To help LEAs develop their own model policies, the California Department of Education (CDE) has collaborated with mental health professionals, including the Student Mental Health Policy Workgroup, to provide a model. The model policy can be accessed at the link below:
Model Youth Suicide Prevention Policy (DOCX)
To assist school districts with the concerns about youth suicide, the following resources and publications are available for dealing with suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention (sometimes referred to as "aftermath"). Some sites provide factual data and others contain programs. For more Web information, contact the coordinator for pupil services in your school district or county office of education. Counseling and student support specialists (school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, and school nurses) and local mental health specialists should be consulted for individual student referrals.

Publications

Policy to Practice: Suicide Intervention Toolkit (PDF)Created by the San Diego County Office of Education Student Wellness and School Culture Department, this toolkit aims to share protocols, templates, and resources that align with best practices in suicide intervention.

Resources

Last Reviewed: Friday, October 20, 2023

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A listing of resources to help school districts address the need for youth suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention, including a model youth suicide prevention policy for local educational agencies (LEAs).

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The Directing Change website provides a comprehensive list of resources, trainings, and lesson plans to support suicide prevention in the schools. Resources are available for youth, school staff and parents.

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This page is intended to offer a comprehensive overview of suicide prevention resources for schools. If you have any questions about the above resources or about mental health and suicide prevention on your campus or in your community, please contact us. If you or one of your students or colleagues is in need of emotional support or in crisis, please contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.

Information about 988

The 988 dialing code operates through what was formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL). It is a network of over 200 locally operated and funded crisis centers around the country. The number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL) will remain operationally as well, so you can continue to promote the NSPL or switch over to promoting 988 when it makes sense for your organization. For example, if you have printed materials that promote the NSPL, there is no need to reprint them.

988 offers 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress. That could be: Thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotion distress

People can call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for themselves or if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

988 serves as a universal entry point so that no matter where you live in the United States, you can reach a trained crisis counselor who can help.

More information, branding guidelines, pre-written messages and graphics can be found on the SAMHSA 988 Suicide & Crisis Line Resource Pages:
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988/partner-toolkit
https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/988-presentation-deck.pptx

Lesson Plans

Suicide Prevention Lesson Plan Guide: "Recognizing Warning Signs and Offering Help" This lesson plan can be used with a class or group of youth and includes optional interactive activities.

Suicide Prevention Lesson Plan PowerPoint Presentation This presentation can be used in conjunction with the above Lesson Plan Guide.

Mental Health PowerPoint Presentation This presentation is meant to be an introduction to mental health and should be supplemented with other activities, lessons, and/or educational videos. Can be used with the Suicide Prevention PowerPoint or on its own. Covers an introduction to mental health, stigma, and content for creating films in the Mental Health, Through the Lens of Culture: Mental Health, and Walk in Our Shoes categories.

Mental Health Lesson Plan: "Mental Health" This lesson plan can be used with a class or group of youth. We recommend using this lesson if youth are planning on creating a film for the following categories: Mental Health, Through the Lens of Culture: Mental Health, and Walk in Our Shoes (mental health focus).

Mental Health Lesson Plan: "Mental Illness and Stigma" This lesson plan can be used with a class or group of youth. We recommend using this lesson if youth are planning on creating a film for the following categories: Mental Health, Through the Lens of Culture: Mental Health, and Walk in Our Shoes (mental health focus).

Mental Health Lesson Plan: "Language and the Words We Use" This lesson plan can be used with a class or group of youth. We recommend using this lesson if youth are planning on creating a film for the following categories: Mental Health, Through the Lens of Culture: Mental Health, and Walk in Our Shoes (mental health focus).

Middle School: Suicide Prevention Lesson Plan: "Superheroes and Purpose" This lesson plan is specifically for middle school students and to help youth create films for the Walk in Our Shoes category (for films covering suicide prevention).
Hope & Justice Category Mini Lesson Plans
September Prompt Mini Lesson Plan: "What This Election Means to Me" This lesson plan can be used with a class or group of youth. What does the 2020 election mean to you? Young people face unique challenges that result in lower participation and voting rates and a lack of representation in our democracy. This lesson plan covers facts about voting and the 2020 Census.

October Prompt Mini Lesson Plan: "Creative Ways to Measure 6 Feet Social Distancing" This lesson plan can be used with a class or group of youth. Youth will learn and discuss why it is important to stay at least 6 feet away from other people and wear a mask and brainstorm creative ways for measuring 6 feet social distancing.

November Prompt Mini Lesson Plan: "My Reason for Wearing a Face Covering" This lesson plan can be used with a class or group of youth. Youth will learn the facts behind the importance of wearing a face covering and are encouraged to explore their own personal reasons for wearing a face covering to crush the curve to slow and stop the spread of COVID-19 in partnership with Crushing The Curve.

January Prompt Mini Lesson Plan: "My Beautiful Brain" Through a partnership with My Grey Matterz, this lesson plan can be used with a class or group of youth. Youth will learn about the connection between brain health and our physical, emotional and social well-being, and are encouraged to explore the beauty of their own brain in a creative way.

February Prompt Mini Lesson Plan: "Substance Use and Healthy Coping" Through a partnership with the Trauma Research and Education Foundation (TREF), this lesson plan can be used with a class or group of youth. Youth will learn about the effect of substance use on the teen brain and how to develop healthy coping techniques when dealing with stress.

February Prompt Mini Lesson Plan: "Self-Esteem" Through a partnership with the Trauma Research and Education Foundation (TREF), this lesson plan can be used with a class or group of youth. Youth will discuss the impact of social media on self-concept and ways to promote positive self-esteem.

April Prompt Mini Lesson Plans: "Cannabis Decoded" - Through a partnership with Cannabis Decoded, a Youth Marijuana Education Initiative from the County of San Mateo. The lesson plans provided are a collaboration between Cannabis Decoded and Directing Change. Lesson plans encourage youth to explore factual information about the impacts of cannabis and substance use, so they have the tools they need to make informed decisions that impact their health and futures.

AB 2246 Resources and Trainings

AB 2246 r equired all schools that serve pupils in grades 7-12 to implement suicide prevention policies (including prevention, intervention and postvention) by the start of the 2017-18 school year. The Directing Change Team can support California school districts and schools with trainings and one-on-one support with developing or improving existing policies and programs to meet the requirements of this new legislation.

Key Links:

CDE Model Policy: The California Department of Education recently issued their model suicide prevention policy to assist districts in complying with AB2246. Stan Collins from the Directing Change was part of the workgroup that helped inform the model policy and is available to offer districts and schools technical assistance.

Everything You Need to Implement AB 2246: This guide provides a comprehensive overview of resources to assist schools and districts with implementing the requirements of AB 2246 including staff trainings, accessing data, risk assessment tools, youth engagement programs, postvention planning and general suicide prevention resources.

Suicide Prevention: A Toolkit for Schools: This publication from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) was created to assist high schools and school districts in designing and implementing strategies to prevent suicide and promote behavioral health. It includes tools to implement a multi-faceted suicide prevention program that responds to the needs and cultures of students.

Preparing for Policy Change: A Hands-on Workshop for Districts: This full day workshop will familiarize attendees with the requirements for suicide prevention policies established by AB2246, and assist attendees with strategic planning for how to meet the requirements in the areas of staff training, assessment and intervention, postvention and youth engagement. During the workshop attendees will be introduced to the key principles of comprehensive school-based suicide prevention and have a chance to work together in teams to and receive one-on-one support by training facilitators. The training is for district and school staff including administrators, Student/Pupil Support Services, Counseling and Psychological Service, Child Welfare and Attendance. Participation recommended for 3 to 4 representatives per district. Recommended for up to 50 people. Contact Us to request a training.

Printable Resources

This tent card provides information about youth suicide warning signs, resources and information about how to get involved with the Directing Change program.

This Activity Tip Sheet provides ideas for organizing suicide prevention and mental health activities for young people.

Take some time for journaling, coloring and deep breathing activities with our Mental Health Thrival Kit. Share the journal electronically or download the individual pages! To request or purchase kits please contact us.

Resources for Teachers to Help Students with Films

Directing Change PowerPoint Presentation (Download here): This brief presentation is intended to be reviewed by an adult advisor on campus and then shared with students. It is not intended to take the place of a comprehensive suicide prevention or mental health program; instead, it offers a brief overview of suicide prevention and mental health as well as details about the contest.

Classroom Presentation about Suicide Prevention: This PowerPoint presentation can be taught directly to students interested in creating a film about suicide prevention, including films with a focus on culture or animated shorts. This presentation includes examples of winning suicide prevention films, discussion sections about suicide warning signs, and a short storyboarding activity.

Suicide Prevention 101 Prezi Presentation: This suicide prevention 101 presentation is intended to cover the basics of suicide prevention and provide background for films entered into the suicide prevention category.

Educational Videos: The educational videos are films produced by some of the Directing Change Team that discuss various mental health and suicide prevention topics. Its purpose is to provide more information to students and teachers that will help inspire the filmmaking process.

Tips and Resouces for creating a film on your smartphone and/or at home: With most students working on their films at home, here is a list of free filmmaking and editing apps that can be used to create films on a smartphone while at home.

Staff Trainings and Prevention Resources

Staff Trainings (in person)

Trevor Ally Trainings
The Trevor Ally Program help adults learn about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth people, the specific risks and challenges they face and how they can become an "ally" by knowing valuable resources and strategies.

Trevor CARE Trainings
The Trevor CARE Trainings help adults who work with youth learn to "Connect, Accept, Respond and Empower" (CARE) young people in crisis. This training discusses LGBTQ-specific risk factors for suicide, explores protective factors that can lower these risks and how to help youth get the support they need.

If you are interested in having Trevor provide one of these trainings for your staff, please email Chris Bright for scheduling details (chris.bright@thetrevorproject.org)

Staff Trainings (online)

Question Persuade Refer (QPR) Online:
Registry: SAMHSA National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices
Cost: Varies (Individual: $30, Institutional Licenses also available)
A one-hour online gatekeeper course that covers the following components:
* How to Question, Persuade and Refer someone who may be suicidal
* How to get help for yourself or learn more about preventing suicide
* The common causes of suicidal behavior
* The warning signs of suicide
* How to get help for someone in crisis
Website: www.qprinstitute.com/individual-training

LivingWorks Start is an easy, online, four-step program that teaches anyone, 13 years and older, how to recognize the signs of someone who is struggling and connect them to help. No prior training is necessary. LivingWorks is a global leader in suicide prevention training, with over 35 years of evidence-based programming to its credit.

If you are a middle and high school student, staff, or teacher with the CDE, you can claim your free LivingWorks Start program through your county's Office of Education. If you are a member of the public interested in taking LivingWorks Start, you can access the program for a nominal fee here: https://www.livingworks.net/start

Together, we can save lives from suicide. Start now!

Intervention

Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale
The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) is a series of simple language questions that anyone can ask. This risk assessment tool helps users identify whether someone is at risk for suicide, assess the severity and immediacy of that risk, and gauge the level of support ht person need.

Users of the C-SSRS tool ask people:

Whether and when they have thought about suicide (ideation)

What actions they have taken - and when - to prepare for suicide

Whether and when they attempted suicide or began a suicide attempt that was either interrupted by another person or stopped of their own volition

Website: www.cssrs.columbia.edu/the-columbia-scale-c-ssrs/about-the-scale/
Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk Training
Registry: SPRC, Best Practice Registry
Cost: $115 per participant
Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk (AMSR) Training is a one-day workshop for behavioral health professionals that is based on the latest research and designed to help participants provide safe suicide care.
Website: www.sprc.org/training-events/amsr

Connect Project
Connect provides customized training and interaction with experts in the field of suicide prevention and postvention. Website: www.theconnectprogram.org

MY3
MY3 App is a free app that lets people identify their network and plan to stay safe. MY3 prepares people to help themselves and reach out to others-three (3) people they feel they could talk to when they are having thoughts of suicide.
Website: www.my3app.org

Virtual Hope Box
The Virtual Hope Box (VHB) is a smartphone application designed for use by patients and their behavioral health providers as an accesory to teatment. Tools to help patients with coping, relaxation, distraction, and postive thinking is provided on the VHB.
Website: t2health.dcoe.mil/apps/virtual-hope-box

Suicide Survivor Speakers Bureau
The Suicide Survivor Speakers Bureau consists of people who have lost a loved one to suicide and have been trained to speak safely and effectively about their loss to the public, and to use their story of loss to deliver a message of prevention. The Bureau's goal is to prevent suicide through the telling of their members' stories.
Website: www.namimaine.org/?page=SpeakersBureau

Recognizing & Responding to Suicide Risk: Essential Skills for Clinicians
Cost: Varies ($80 person, additional event fees may apply)
The American Association of Suicidology offers the Recognizing and Responding to Suicide Risk: Essential Skills for Clinicians (RRSR) training. The advanced, interactive training is based on established core competencies that mental health professionals need in order to effectively assess and manage suicide risk.
Website: www.suicidology.org/training-accreditation/rrsr

"Preventing Suicide: A Toolkit for High Schools" (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
This publication from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) was created to assist high schools and school districts in designing and implementing strategies to prevent suicide and promote behavioral health. It includes tools to implement a multi-faceted suicide prevention program that responds to the needs and cultures of students.
Website: store.samhsa.gov/product/Preventing-Suicide-A-Toolkit-for-High-Schools/SMA12-4669

Accessing Data

California Healthy Kids Survey
The California Health Kids Survey collects data on from students in grades 5, 7,9 and 11 about attitudes, behaviors, and experiences related to school and learning. The survey was developed in 1999 and administered on a voluntary basis by schools across California. Some questions in this section include the following:
* Seriously considered attempting suicide in the past 12 months.
* Depression Related Feelings (student reported)

Aggregated state and county data is available online from 2011 to 2013. To access state and county data go to http://chks.wested.org

Reports CHKS (http://chks.wested.org/)
Step 1: Select "Reports" from top menu
Step 2: Identify County and/or District

Query CHKS (http://chks.wested.org/query-chks/)
Step 1: Choose one of the survey topics and then type of subcategory. Four subcategories are available : 1) grade level, 2)race/ethnicity, 3) gender and grade level and 4) level of connectedness to school.

Step 2: A new page will appear in table format listing all counties and respective data. To view only a specific county, choose "customize table" and select desired county. Data can also be viewed in bar, map and pie format and downloaded (see download icon). Prior year data is available through WestEd. Please contact them at 88.841.7536. Website: http://chks.wested.org/

Youth Risk Behavior Survey
The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) monitors six types of health-risk behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death and disability among youth and adults. Data is available from 1991 to 2015 for high schools and middle schools. Six health topics are covered in the survey including behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries and violence. Questions in this section include:
* Felt sad or hopeless (almost every day or 2 or more weeks in a row so that they stopped doing some unusual activities during the 12 months before the survey
* Seriously considered attempting suicide (during the 12 months before the survey)
* Made a plan about how they would attempt suicide (during the 12 months before the survey)
* Attempted suicide (one or more times during the 12 months before the survey)
* Attempted suicide that resulted in an injury, poisoning, or overdose that had to be treated by a doctor or nurse (during the 12 months before the survey)

To access local data go to http://nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline/App/
Step 1: Select High School or Middle School status

Step 2: Select location and scroll down to "Local" and choose a city and press "GO" icon. Only information for five California cities is available: Oakland, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco.

Step 3: A new page will appear where data is displayed by all health topics surveyed. The left side bars allows for display by selected health topics and demographic criteria. Data can also be viewed in graph format (see Tab-Graph) and printed (see print icon).
Note: The YRBS data can also be downloaded for further analysis. Visit https://chronicdata.cdc.gov/health-area/youth-risk-behaviors for instructions and to download data.

Postvention

"After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools" (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center)
This toolkit is designed to assist schools in the aftermath of a suicide (or other death) in the school community. It is meant to serve as a practical resource for schools facing real-time crises to help them determine what to do, when, and how. The toolkit reflects consensus recommendations developed in consultation with a diverse group of national experts, including school-based personnel, clinicians, researchers, and crisis response professionals. It incorporates relevant existing material and research findings as well as references, templates, and links to additional information and assistance.
Website: www.sprc.org/sites/default/files/migrate/library/AfteraSuicideToolkitforSchools.pdf

Postvention Checklist: A Guide for Schools (from SAMHSA's Preventing Suicide A Toolkit for High Schools

Suggested for: Administrators, school mental health professionals, counselors, student support staff, nurses

A death by suicide in the school community can have a tremendous impact on your students, teachers and staff. Have you considered what to do with the empty chair in the classroom? How to handle memorials? How to work with the media? And how to provide immediate and long term emotional support to students? This training will provide an overview of best practices on "Suicide Postvention" and assist your district or school in developing a plan to respond to deaths by suicide in the school community including a review of current protocols, and assistance with creation of a "Postvention" plan to respond effectively and support students.

Length: 3 hours to full day

The Directing Chang Team is available to provide a shorter 3-hour training on "Postvention", or a full-day workshop where attendees leave with a draft "Postvention Suicide Response Plan" for their district or school. Please contact us for more information.

Postvention: Responding to Deaths by Suicide
Suggested for: Administrators, school mental health professionals, counselors, student support staff, nurses

A death by suicide in the school community can have a tremendous impact on your students, teachers and staff. Have you considered what to do with the empty chair in the classroom? How to handle memorials? How to work with the media? And how to provide immediate and long term emotional support to students? This training will provide an overview of best practices on "Suicide Postvention" and assist your district or school in developing a plan to respond to deaths by suicide in the school community including a review of current protocols, and assistance with creation of a "Postvention" plan to respond effectively and support students.

Length: 3 hours to full day

The Directing Chang Team is available to provide a shorter 3-hour training on "Postvention", or a full-day workshop where attendees leave with a draft "Postvention Suicide Response Plan" for their district or school. Please contact us for more information.

Youth Engagement

Not sure where to start in engaging the youth on your campus? Check out our tip sheet for suicide prevention programming activities as a jumping off point.
NAMI California (www.NAMICA.org): A grassroots organization of families and individuals whose lives have been affected by serious mental illness. They advocate for lives of quality and respect, without discrimination and stigma, for all our constituents. They provide leadership in advocacy, legislation, policy development, education and support throughout California. There are people all over this state who care about you and want to help those experiencing symptoms of mental illness. Go to namica.org to look for an affiliate in your community.

Ending the Silence Program: Ending the Silence (ETS) is a mental health education and stigma reduction program designed specifically for high school and young adult audiences. ETS provides accurate information on mental illness and discusses the mental health continuum as something we all experience. The trained two person team provided education and personal testimony from a young person living well with a mental health condition. For more information, contact Kelly Boyles using the contact us link or 916-567-0163

Parents and Teachers as Allies is a free, one to two hour in‐service program that focuses on helping school professionals and families within the school community better understand the early warning signs of mental illnesses in children and adolescents. For more information, contact Kelly Boyles using the contact us link or 916-567-0163

NAMI on Campus is a peer-led club for college students to raise awareness of mental health and wellness in order to empower them to take action on their college campuses. For more information, contact Kelly Boyles using the contact us link or 916-567-0163

NAMI on Campus High School (NCHS) is an adaptation of the college program and is being pilot-tested in 2014 through a partnership with the California Department of Education (CDE) and the Placer County Office of Education (PCOE). NCHS is a peer-led club for college students to raise awareness of mental health and wellness in order to empower them to take action on their high school campuses. For more information, contact Kelly Boyles using the contact us link or 916-567-0163

Walk in Our Shoes
Cost: Free
Walk in Our Shoes utilizes real stories from teens and young adults to teach youth about mental health challenges and mental wellness. The website includes lesson plans and activities. Similar to its sister campaign in English, Ponte en Mis Zapatos (Walk In Our Shoes) reduces stigma associated with mental illnesses by educating 9-13 year-olds about mental wellness.
Websites: www.walkinourshoes.org (or) www.ponteenmiszapatos.org

Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program
Registry: SPRC, Best Practice Registry
Cost: Varies
Ask 4 Help! is a one-hour high school-based curriculum that provides students with knowledge that may increase help-seeking for themselves or on the behalf of others was developed by Yellow Ribbon. The Ask 4 Help! wallet card list how: to seek help, including a three-step action plan for helping others-staying with the person, listening to the person and getting help for the person.
Instructional materials include the PowerPoint presentation (provided on a CD), a teacher's manual that includes talking points for each of the PowerPoint slides, a program overview and outline, an FAQ, a preparation worksheet, and links to additional resources.
Website: www.yellowribbon.org

Parent Engagement

What I Wish My Parents Knew: What I Wish My Parents Knew events have proven to be a successful way to engage parents and the entire community around mental health and related topics. The goal of these events is to promote mental health and reduce risk, including risk of suicide, among youth by providing parents with knowledge and skills around a variety of mental health-related topics, hand-picked by youth in these communities. This toolbox covers how to plan and implement this series of events.

Suicide Prevention: A Resource for Parents Brochure: This e-brochure includes questions parents can ask themselves to assess if their teen might be at risk of suicide and actions to take. Tips on raising resilient teens as well as resources are provided. Also available in a printable brochure and a Spanish version below.

Prevención del Suicidio: Un Recurso Para Padres: Este folleto electrónico incluye preguntas que los padres pueden hacerse para evaluar si su hijo/a adolescente podría estar en riesgo de suicidio y las acciones que debe tomar. Se ofrecen recursos tanto como consejos sobre cómo criar adolescentes con capacidad de recuperación. También esta disponible un folleto imprimible.

For Higher Education

Postvention: A Guide For Response to Suicide on College Campuses : The Higher Education Mental Health Alliance (HEMHA), a partnership of organizations dedicated to providing leadership to advance college mental health, created this guide as an answer to the imperative need for strategies to help colleges and universities effectively and sensitively respond to campus deaths, should they occur.

ULifeline : An anonymous, confidential, online resource center, where college students can be comfortable searching for the information they need and want regarding mental health and suicide prevention. ULifeline features campus-specific information like counseling center locations and hours, and an anonymous mental health self-evaluator.

Halfof Us : Through online, on-air and live events, the JED Foundation and MTV raise awareness about mental health issues and connect people to the appropriate resources to get help. Half of Us features a library of videos of public service announcements, students and celebrities talking about important issues like prescription drug abuse, depression, student veterans, anxiety and eating disorders.

Love is Louder : Love is Louder was started by the JED Foundation, MTV and Brittany Snow to support anyone feeling mistreated, misunderstood or alone. It is a movement of all types of people who have come together to raise the volume around the message that love and support are louder than any internal or external voice that brings us down. Individuals, communities, schools and organizations have embraced Love is Louder as a way to address with issues like bullying, negative self-image, discrimination, loneliness and depression.

The JED Foundation (jedfoundation.org): The Jed Foundation's mission is to promote emotional health and prevent suicide among college and university students. Listed below are some of the valuable resources available from the JED Foundation:

Help a Friend in Need: "Help A Friend In Need" is a community guide for Facebook and Instagram users to help college students and young adults identify potential warning signs that a friend might be in emotional distress and how to find help.

Transition Year: The JED Foundation and the American Psychiatric Foundation partnered on an online resource aimed at helping to ensure the smooth, safe and healthy transition of teenagers from high school to college.

JED and Clinton Health Matters Campus Program: The JED and Clinton Health Matters Campus Program (Campus Program) was created to help colleges and universities create healthier and safer campus environments to help prevent the two leading causes of death in young adults' unintentional injuries, including those caused by prescription drug overdoses or alcohol poisoning, and suicide.

CampusMHAP: This free resource guide helps college and university professionals develop a comprehensive plan to promote the mental health of their campus communities and support students who are struggling emotionally or distressed.

Campus Teams Resource: The Jed Foundation and HEMHA (Higher Education Mental Health Alliance) developed a single resource to help colleges in the development and maintenance of 'campus teams'.

Featured Programs

Kognito: The California Department of Education recently issued their model suicide prevention policy to assist districts in complying with AB2246. Kognito's evidence-based professional learning simulations have been listed as a recommended resource to satisfy the training portion of the legislation. Simulations include:

The At-Risk for PK-12 Educators suite of products (for High School, MiddleSchool and Elementary School) is a turnkey solution to educate PK-12 educators and staff about mental health and suicide prevention which supports improved student wellness and school safety. They rapidly build the capacity of educators to lead real-life conversations that change lives.

Friend2Friend is a game-based simulation for adolescents that builds awareness, knowledge, and skills about mental health while reducing stigma. It prepares youth to recognize signs of distress, reach out to a friend they are concerned about, and help identify a trusted adult for support.

Step In, Speak Up! is an interactive role-play simulation for educators that builds understanding and appreciation for the challenges faced by LGBTQ youth, and prepares users to lead real-life conversations with students to curtail harassment and support those who may be struggling as a result of bullying or isolation.

Kognito is the only company with health simulations listed in the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP). View a free demo.

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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This page is intended to offer a comprehensive overview of suicide prevention resources for schools. If you have any questions about the above resources or about mental health and suicide prevention on your campus or in your community, please contact us.

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Website: Know the Signs, Each Mind Matters Resource Center

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Website: Know the Signs, Each Mind Matters Resource Center

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Know the Signs is a statewide suicide prevention social marketing campaign built on three key messages: Know the signs. Find the words. Reach out. This campaign is intended to educate Californians how to recognize the warning signs of suicide, how to find the words to have a direct conversation with someone in crisis and where to find professional help and resources.

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Pain isn't always obvious. Suicide is preventable.

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Website: Preventing Youth Suicide, National Association of School Psychologists

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Website: Preventing Youth Suicide, National Association of School Psychologists

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Provides a variety of resources related to preventing youth suicide.

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National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)

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Youth suicide is a serious problem, but is preventable if the right people know the warning signs and how to get help.

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Website: Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide

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Website: Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide

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Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide is dedicated to increasing awareness, saving lives and reducing the stigma of suicide through specialized training programs and resources that empower teens, parents and educational leaders with the skills needed to help youth build a life of resiliency.

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Website: Suicide Prevention Resource Center

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Website: Suicide Prevention Resource Center

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The Suicide Prevention Resource Center at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center is supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), under Grant No. 1H79SM083028-03

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Together We Can Save Lives!

Suicide is one of the leading causes of preventable death in our nation today. We lose an average of more than 125 young people each week to this tragedy that can be prevented.

How can it be prevented you may ask? The Jason Foundation, Inc. believes that education is the key to prevention. The Jason Foundation's programs and services are in response to this belief. Our nation should be familiar with the warning signs associated with suicide, suicide facts & statistics, and how to find help for at-risk youth. Together, we can save lives!

Remember: Never be reluctant to get involved and always take any child/adolescent's desire or intent to harm themselves seriously. If you suspect a young person of suicidal ideation, get them to professional help immediately. Suicide is Preventable.

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Youth Suicide | The Jason Foundation, Inc.

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Together We Can Save Lives! Suicide is one of the leading causes of preventable death in our nation today. We lose an average of more than 125 young people each week to this tragedy that can be prevented. How can it be prevented you may ask? The Jason Foundation, Inc.

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Website: 50 Resources to Support the Mental Health of Teachers and School Staff

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Website: 50 Resources to Support the Mental Health of Teachers and School Staff

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50 Resources to Support the Mental Health of Teachers and School Staff

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K-12 teachers are busy supporting others and may overlook their own well being. We collected mental health resources for teachers and school staff.

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Website: Self-Care and Re-Energizing (CASEL)

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Website: Self-Care and Re-Energizing (CASEL)

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Includes a list of activities and resources to enhance staff self-care

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Educators work hard to bring their best selves to the classroom every day while they juggle individual student needs, set ambitious goals, and often work long hours. Many teachers also face escalating job demands with few resources and, at times, work with students who face complex trauma, behavioral difficulties, and learning challenges. These stressors combine to make teaching one of the most stressful occupations in the U.S. (Gallup, 2014).

Teacher stress has been found to affect teachers' health and well-being, job satisfaction, turnover, and even student outcomes (Greenberg, Brown, & Abenavoli, 2016). For this reason, it's essential that educators take time to prevent burnout, promote health, and protect themselves from the negative effects of stress.

Activity: Self-Care Give One/Get Eight
Activity courtesy of Chicago Public Schools
By sharing and considering new self-care strategies, participants will practice social and emotional skills of relationship building and self-awareness. Once the activity concludes, participants will have nine self-care ideas to choose from and can commit to using one or more strategies as part of a self-care plan.

1. Pass out the handout and give participants a moment to write their favorite self-care activity in one of the boxes in the grid. Explain that if they don't currently have a self-care practice they rely on, they can write something they would like to do to practice self-care.

2. Ask participants to stand and move around the room, introducing themselves to partners as necessary and sharing their self-care practice. Each time they get an idea from a partner, they should write it down on their grid until all nine boxes are filled.

3. Once participants have several ideas to choose from, ask them to commit to using one or more of these strategies this week and report back to your peers on how it's going.

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Educators work hard to bring their best selves to the classroom every day while they juggle individual student needs, set ambitious goals, and often work long hours. Many teachers also face escalating job demands with few resources and, at times, work with students who face complex trauma, behavioral difficulties, and learning challenges.

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Website: Mindful Teachers Self-Care Resources 

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Website: Mindful Teachers Self-Care Resources 

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Includes a variety of tip sheets and easy-to-access resources related to staff self-care.

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Self-Care Resources for Educators and Other Helping Professionals — Mindful Teachers

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Tips, links, reflections, and mindfulness practices to help you cope with the common challenges faced by educators and other helping professionals.

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Website: Developing Your Self-Care Plan 

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Website: Developing Your Self-Care Plan 

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To develop your self-care plan, you will identify what you value and need as part of your day-to-day life ( maintenance self-care) and the strategies you can employ when or if you face a crisis along the way ( emergency self-care).

There is no "one-size-fits-all" self-care plan, but there is a common thread to all self-care plans: making a commitment to attend to all the domains of your life, including your physical and psychological health, emotional and spiritual needs, and relationships.

Steps to guide you...

Don't be overwhelmed by the steps in this process! They are simple and straightforward and will help to guide you on your path.

1. How do you cope now?

Identify what you do now to manage the stress in your life. The Lifestyle Behaviors (pdf) ( Transcript of Lifestyle Behaviors) ("Is your life causing you stress?") assessment can help you to identify the coping strategies you currently use and whether they are likely to be good (or not so good) for your well-being.

Decreasing or eliminating at least one "negative" coping strategy can be one of the goals of your maintenance self-care; employing more "positive" strategies can be another.

2. What do you do for self-care now?

The Self-Care Assessment (pdf) will help you highlight the good things you are already doing for yourself and whether there is an imbalance in the areas in which you practice self-care.

The items in this assessment can also give you some ideas for additional things you may want to do in the future to help prevent stress and burnout and to maintain and enhance your well-being. Make a note of the items that you would like to add (or add more of) to your self-care practice. In considering this, try to be sure that each domain of self-care is well represented. If you think of things that are not included in this list, just add them at the end.

3. Maintenance self-care: Adding self-care practices and eliminating obstacles

"Maintenance self-care" refers to the activities that you have identified as important to your well-being and that you have committed to engage in on a regular basis to take care of yourself.

My Maintenance Self-Care Worksheet (pdf) ( Transcript of My Maintenance Self-Care Worksheet) provides an opportunity for you to identify the activities you would like to add to your self-care practice in each self-care domain ("new practice").

It is also useful to identify possible barriers or obstacles that could get in the way of implementing and/or maintaining these new activities. Think about what you anticipate these barriers/obstacles to be (try to list at least 3 or 4 in the spaces provided), how you can address them, and how you can remind yourself to follow your plan. Write these solutions on the last page of the My Maintenance Self-Care Worksheet. If you have chosen to limit or eliminate a negative coping strategy that you currently use, note this as well.

You can revisit this topic and revise your list as the demands of your personal and professional life change.

4. Emergency self-care: Be prepared

So far we have focused on maintenance self-care: the kinds of things one does regularly to reduce stress and maintain and enhance well-being. But planning out what you would do under extremely trying circumstances, even though they are rare, is also important. To do this, develop a framework using your Emergency Self-Care worksheet (pdf) before you are faced with a crisis or feel overwhelmed. This is not to suggest that you will invariably face such a situation; the idea is to be prepared just in case.

Think of developing your emergency self-care plan in the way you would think about preparing for other possible emergency situations: it is important to figure out your plan in advance when you have the time, wherewithal, and concentration to do so effectively!

5. Make a commitment to yourself

Remember: Just like the flight attendant says, you need to put on your own oxygen mask first before you can be of help to others. So, take a moment, think it over, and then make your personal commitment to your own self-care. You deserve it!

If you find making a commitment to be a challenge, then take some time to explore your reservations. Do you have a tendency to put the needs of others first? The truth is that your self-care is not only essential to your well-being, but it is also a necessary element for you to be effective and successful in honoring your professional and personal commitments.

Preparing a plan is important; it identifies your goals and the strategies to achieve them. However your success in implementing your plan is ultimately based on the level of commitment you make to your self-care.

6. Share your plan

Once you have developed your plan and made your commitment, remember that friends, family, peers, and/or colleagues may be good additional resources for exchanging new self-care ideas/strategies and to provide support and encouragement.

Consider taking your commitment a step further by joining or starting a support or discussion group (see Tips for Starting a Support or Discussion Group).

7. Follow your plan

Now that you have completed the assessments and worksheets described above, you have identified the core elements of your personal Self-Care Plan. The final step is to implement your plan and keep track of how you are doing. Keeping track of your progress will help you recognize your successes and identify and address any difficulties you may not have anticipated. Don't forget that you can revise your plan as needed. Remember, also, to employ your emergency plan should emotionally difficult circumstances arise.

Remember that self-care is always a work in progress!

(Prepared by Lisa D. Butler, PhD, based in part on materials provided by Sandra A. Lopez, LCSW, ACSW, University of Houston, Graduate School of Social Work)

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Fact Sheet: Self-Care for School Staff Following a Suicide

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Fact Sheet: Self-Care for School Staff Following a Suicide

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Fact Sheet: Self-Care for School Staff Following a Suicide

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Fact Sheet: Self-Care for School Staff Following a Suicide

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PDF: EDCOE Charter SELPA NPS/RTC Guidelines

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PDF: EDCOE Charter SELPA NPS/RTC Guidelines

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Webinar: Suicide Prevention 101, Tools for Parents

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Webinar: Suicide Prevention 101, Tools for Parents

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Suicide Prevention 101: Tools for Parents

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Webinar (Spanish): Suicide Prevention 101, Recognizing Signs and What to Do 

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Webinar (Spanish): Suicide Prevention 101, Recognizing Signs and What to Do 

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Suicide Prevention 101 for Parents: Recognizing Signs and What to Do (Spanish)

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Brochure: Suicide Prevention, A Resource for Parents

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Brochure: Suicide Prevention, A Resource for Parents

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This brochure includes questions parents can ask themselves to assess if their teen might be at risk of suicide and actions to take.  Tips on raising resilient teens as well as resources are provided. This brochure can be access electronically in the Parent Engagement section of this webpage: https://directingchangeca.org/schools/

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Brochure (Spanish): Suicide Prevention, A Resource for Parents

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Brochure (Spanish): Suicide Prevention, A Resource for Parents

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This brochure includes questions parents can ask themselves to assess if their teen might be at risk of suicide and actions to take.  Tips on raising resilient teens as well as resources are provided. This brochure can be access electronically in the Parent Engagement section of this webpage: https://directingchangeca.org/schools/

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Website: Directing Change, Resource List for Parents

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Website: Directing Change, Resource List for Parents

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The Directing Change website provides comprehensive resource lists to support parents in suicide prevention and response.

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Suicide Prevention 101 Webinar for Parents
This Facebook Live recording provides information about suicide prevention for parents, including warning signs for suicide, how to have a conversation with their teen, actions to take if their teen is having suicidal thoughts, and resources.

View the recording here.
Módulo 1-Prevención del Suicidio para Padres: Las Señales y Qué Hacer
Este seminario web gratuito proporcionará información sobre prevención del suicidio para los padres que incluye: reconocer las señales de advertencia de suicidio, cómo tener una conversación con tu hijo sobre tus inquietudes, acciones para tomar si tu hijo tiene pensamientos suicidas, consejos y recursos para apoyar la salud mental y emocional durante COVID-19, e información sobre como criar adolescentes resilientes.

Vea la grabación aquí.

Support and Crisis Resources

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.

Teen Line:Teen Line is a confidential hotline for teenagers which operates every evening from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm PST. The Teen Line volunteers who answer the calls, emails, and texts are Southern California teenagers who have received specialized training. They don't provide advice, but instead listen to the caller or texter's feelings, help them to clarify their concerns, define the options available to them, and help them make positive decisions. No problem is too small, too large, or too shocking for the Teen Line volunteers.

Call: 800-TLC-TEEN (852-8336) from 6-10 PM PST

Text "TEEN" to 839863

Talk via their app: https://teenlineonline.org/talk-now/

Teen Line also offers message boards, resources, and information.

The Trevor Project: The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24. All services below are available 24/7.

The Trevor Lifeline: 1-866-488-7386

TrevorChat- Confidential online instant messaging

TrevorText - Text "START" to 678-678

Parental Stress Line: A confidential, 24/7 hotline for parents who would like to speak to a trained volunteer counselor about issues related to their children. Counselors provide non-judgmental support, referrals, and crisis intervention.

Parental Stress Line: 1-800-632-8188

Directing Change Resources for Parents

Teaching Resilient Students and Raising Healthy Teens Newsletter: This monthly newsletter provides a list of curated resources and activities to support social emotional development, healthy coping as well as crisis support for educators, students, and parents. Subscribe here.

Suicide Prevention: A Resource for Parents Brochure: This e-brochure includes questions parents can ask themselves to assess if their teen might be at risk of suicide and actions to take. Tips on raising resilient teens as well as resources are provided. Also available in a printable brochure and a Spanish version below.

Prevención del Suicidio: Un Recurso Para Padres: Este folleto electrónico incluye preguntas que los padres pueden hacerse para evaluar si su hijo/a adolescente podría estar en riesgo de suicidio y las acciones que debe tomar. Se ofrecen recursos tanto como consejos sobre cómo criar adolescentes con capacidad de recuperación. También esta disponible un folleto imprimible.

What I Wish My Parents Knew: What I Wish My Parents Knew events have proven to be a successful way to engage parents and the entire community around mental health and related topics. The goal of these events is to promote mental health and reduce risk, including risk of suicide, among youth by providing parents with knowledge and skills around a variety of mental health-related topics, hand-picked by youth in these communities. This toolbox covers how to plan and implement this series of events.

Further Resources

Raising Healthy Teens - Parent Resource Guide: This Parent Resource Guide offers facts, tips, and conversation starters for parents to have conversations about substance use with their teens. Additional resources can be found on the website www.RaisingHealthyTeens.org, including family agreements, tip sheets and activities to engage young people.

Talk + Play = Connect Toolkit for Families: Available in English, Spanish, Farsi and Russian. Yolo County Children's Alliance has developed this Talk + Play Toolkit with tip sheets for every stage of child development, from infancy to the teen years. The toolkit includes helpful suggestions from engaging in play and conversation with your toddlers and school age kids, to bonding with your teenager.

Directing Change Films Featuring Parents

Dad's Best Friend: A heartfelt film about a father who starts a conversation with his daughter to show his support and connect her to help.

Keep an Eye Out: This film portrays a mom who reaches out to her daughter after she notices her showing some of the warning signs for suicide, including loss of interest.

Legacy: A mother and son reflect on their experiences with mental health after the son shares a letter about how he is struggling. (Language: Mandarin with English captions)

Bridge the Generations: A film that encourages young people to start conversations about mental health with different generations. (Language: Mandarin and Vietnamese with English captions)

When I Was Your Age: A film that explores the generational and cultural differences in the way families perceive mental health. (Language: Chinese, Hindi, and English with English captions)

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Suicide Prevention 101 Webinar for Parents This Facebook Live recording provides information about suicide prevention for parents, including warning signs for suicide, how to have a conversation with their teen, actions to take if their teen is having suicidal thoughts, and resources. View the recording here.

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Free Online Suicide Prevention Training for Staff and Students: LivingWorks' Start (SDCOE)

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Free Online Suicide Prevention Training for Staff and Students: LivingWorks' Start (SDCOE)

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LivingWorks' Start is an online training program available at no cost to local educational agencies (LEAs) to voluntarily use as part of their youth suicide prevention policy. It has been selected by the CDE and is hosted by the San Diego County Office of Education.

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PDF Flyer: Youth Mental Health First Aid 

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PDF Flyer: Youth Mental Health First Aid 

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Youth Mental Health First Aid teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among children and adolescents ages 6-18. For more information, please visit: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/population-focused-modules/youth/

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Free Online Training: Suicide Prevention Resource Center 

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Free Online Training: Suicide Prevention Resource Center 

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Improve your knowledge and skills in suicide prevention with these self-paced online courses. They are designed for clinicians and other service providers, educators, health professionals, public officials, and members of community-based coalitions who develop and implement suicide prevention programs and policies. In addition to the link above, information can also be found by visiting: https://training.sprc.org/

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Effectively preventing suicide requires an understanding of who is attempting and dying by suicide, where the problem is most severe, and under what circumstances attempts and suicide deaths occur. But how do you find the data you need to answer these questions and others?

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Website: Mind Out Loud Student Rep Program and Events (High School)

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Website: Mind Out Loud Student Rep Program and Events (High School)

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Visit the Mind Out Loud website to learn more about their Student Reps program as well as to access resources and information about upcoming student events. Student Reps are high school students who work towards raising mental health awareness, ending stigma, educating peers about suicide prevention, and advocating for the mental health and wellness of students.

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Website: Bring Change to Mind (High School)

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Website: Bring Change to Mind (High School)

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Bring Change to Mind’s High School Program gives teens a platform to share their voices and raise awareness around mental health. Their goal is to empower students to educate one another, and their communities, and to create a culture of peer support within their schools.

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High School Program - Bring Change to Mind

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Through this student-led club initiative, we help to erase the stigma around mental illness by increasing awareness and education, fostering student empowerment, building mentoring opportunities, and encouraging youth to challenge the misconceptions that so commonly surround mental health conditions. This is a big responsibility, but one that helps accelerate positive change within your community!

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Website: NAMI on Campus Clubs (High School)

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Website: NAMI on Campus Clubs (High School)

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NAMI On Campus Clubs are student-led clubs that tackle mental health issues at high schools (within California) and on college campuses by raising mental health awareness, educating the community, supporting students, promoting services, and advocating for more support.

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Overview

NAMI On Campus Clubs are student-led clubs that tackle mental health issues at high schools (within California) and on college campuses by raising mental health awareness, educating the community, supporting students, promoting services, and advocating for more support. These clubs are open to all students, whether they live with a mental health condition, are a family member or friend, or have a general interest in mental health. NAMI on Campus clubs aim to address the mental health needs of all students so they have positive, successful and fun college experiences.

Open to all students within California high schools

Collaborate with NAMI California and local NAMI affiliate to bring NAMI programs to high school and campuses

Why NAMI On Campus?

Nearly three-quarters of mental health conditions emerge by age 24, so we need to make sure students are educated about mental health. Many students facing mental health concerns for the first time and may not know where to go for support, and their peers may not know the warning signs or how to help.

NAMI knows that some of the best support a student can receive is from peers. When students connect with one another, they can share common experiences and support each other through the transitions. NAMI on Campus helps make those connections happen.

NAMI on Campus clubs work to end the stigma that makes it hard for students to talk about mental health and get the help they need. Clubs hold creative meetings, hold innovative awareness events, and offer signature NAMI programs through partnerships with NAMI California and affiliates.

NAMI On Campus - High School

NAMI On Campus High School (NCHS) Clubs are student-led clubs that raise mental health awareness and reduce stigma on campus through peer-led activities and education. Student Leaders will be empowered with toolkits, materials, templates, and resources to make running the club a fun and educational process. The Club is open to all students - those with mental health conditions, those with family members with a condition, or students who are interested in the field or in advocacy. It is not a support or therapy group.

The purpose of NCHS Clubs is to:

Be supportive of students who are living with mental illness

Provide information on school and community resources

Encourage people to recognize early signs of mental illness

Encourage students who are having mental health issues to get help

Work to end the stigma that surrounds mental illness

Create an inclusive, safe, and supportive school environment

Let students know there is help available if they need it

If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call at 916-567-0163 or email us at nchs@namica.org

NAMI on Campus - College

College is an exciting time. From being away from home and finding independence to meeting new people and trying new things, every day brings new experiences. There is also a new level of academic responsibility. Classes are harder and there is always a due date on the horizon. Balancing all of the changes that happen in college can be stressful and challenging.

Those challenges are even more difficult for the 1 in 5 students who also face a mental health condition. Nearly three-quarters of mental health conditions emerge by age 24, so many college students are facing mental health concerns for the first time, and may not know where to go for support.

NAMI on Campus clubs are student-led, student-run mental health organizations on college campuses. NAMI on Campus clubs:

Raise mental health awareness with fairs, walks and candlelit vigils.

Educate the campus with presentations, guest speakers and student panels.

Advocate for improved mental health services and policies on campus.

Support peers with signature NAMI programs and training from NAMI State Organizations and Affiliates.

As a member of a NAMI on Campus club, you will belong to the largest grassroots mental health organization in America. Club leaders have access to the staff, resources, opportunities and support that comes with being part of this national movement, including opportunities beyond your college years.

Have questions or want to learn more? Contact NAMI National at namioncampus@nami.org

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NAMI CA Conference Session on NCHS

NAMI California's 2020 Conference included a session on our NAMI on Campus High School (NCHS) program.

Youth Symposium 2021 NCHS and ETS Workshop

NAMI California's Youth Symposium in April 2021 included a special section on NCHS where they highlighted the perspective of a student member of a NCHS Club.

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NAMI On Campus Clubs are student-led clubs that tackle mental health issues at high schools (within California) and on college campuses by raising mental health awareness, educating the community, supporting students, promoting services, and advocating for more support.

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Free Film and Curriculum Download: A Trusted Space 

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Free Film and Curriculum Download: A Trusted Space 

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A Trusted Space is foundational training for educators on how to help mitigate the effects of the grief, trauma, anxiety and other emotional stressors that so many students, families, and even they themselves, are feeling as they walk – or video conference – into school. In partnership with CalHOPE and the California Department of Education,  ALL California Educators now have free access to A Trusted Space, a 20 minute professional development session, and more.

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Everyone Else, Continue Here:

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Conceived on June 3, 2020, and launched on September 15, 2020, "A Trusted Space" emerged during the summer of 2020 following a pivotal text from client Chris Fitzgerald, Director of Curriculum and Instructor at Westside Union School District in California to Lori Woodley, Founder of All It Takes. In a heartfelt plea, she implored, "Can we create a trauma-focused film? Our teachers can't afford workshops, and the need is more urgent than ever." Those words, as true then as they are today, spurred the 2020 production of, "A Trusted Space: Redirecting Grief to Growth," which came together without any funding, thanks to the dedication and generosity of film and education experts. Over the past two years, this film and its accompanying resources have reached a remarkable milestone, touching the lives of over 15 million students globally through the efforts of their educators. While the film's content remains pertinent, it originally revolved around the pandemic, which we are now beyond. However, what persists is the mounting socio-emotional and academic consequences that continue to impact our children, youth, and those who support them. To address the ongoing needs of our youth and education system in real time, A Trusted Space, The Series, was developed in 2023 with support from CalHOPE and the California Department of Health Care Services.

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What People Are Saying A bout A Trusted Spac e ®

Amplifying The Voices of
The Education Ecosystem

A FEW OF OUR FEATURED EXPERTS

Alan Arkatov

SENIOR ADVISOR, ASU PRESIDENT MICHAEL CROW, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LEARNING TRANSFORMATION STUDIOS AND CENTER EDGE, PROFESSOR, COLLEGE OF GLOBAL FUTURES AND MARY LOU FULTON TEACHERS COLLEGE

Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, EdD

NEUROSCIENTIST, HUMAN DEVELOPMENT PSYCHOLOGIST, USC ROSSIER SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

Marcy Melvin, MA

SPEAKER, MENTAL HEALTH AND EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT

Pedro A. Noguera, PhD

SOCIOLOGIST AND DEAN USC ROSSIER SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

Lori Woodley-Langendorff

FOUNDER OF ALL IT TAKES, SCHOOL COUNSELOR, WRITER, EDUCATION CONSULTANT

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A Trusted Space | All It Takes | California

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A Trusted Space is foundational SEL curriculum and training for educators on how to help mitigate the effects of the grief, trauma, anxiety and other emotional stressors that so many students, families, and even they themselves, are feeling as they walk - or video conference - into school.

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Text HOME 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor (FREE 24/7 support)

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What is Self-Harm?

For some people, when depression and anxiety lead to a tornado of emotions, they turn to self-harm looking for a release. Self-harm and self-injury are any forms of hurting oneself on purpose. Usually, when people self-harm, they do not do so as a suicide attempt. Rather, they self-harm as a way to release painful emotions.

Types of Self-Harm

Self-harm can manifest differently for everyone. And, the ways people may self-harm extend far beyond the usual references to cutting in media. Simply, self-harm is anything and everything someone can do to purposely hurt their body.

Here are some of the most common types of self-injury:

Cutting

Scratching

Burning

Carving words or symbols into the skin

Hitting or punching oneself (including banging one's head or other body parts against another surface)

Piercing the skin with sharp objects such as hairpins

Pulling out hair

Picking at existing wounds

Symptoms of Self-Harm

Stigma creates shame and embarrassment, making it hard for people who self-harm to get help. So, look out for yourself and for your pals. If you suspect that someone in your life is self-harming, here are some warning signs to keep top of mind:

Scars

Fresh cuts, burns, scratches, or bruises

Rubbing an area excessively to create a burn

Having sharp objects on hand

Wearing long sleeves or long pants, even in hot weather

Difficulties with interpersonal relationships

Persistent questions about personal identity

Behavioral and emotional instability, impulsiveness, or unpredictability

Saying that they feel helpless, hopeless, or worthless

Crisis Text Line can help you deal with self-harm. Text a Crisis Counselor at 741741, or use the mobile text button below.

How to Deal With Self-Harm

Emotions can be really painful sometimes. It's totally normal to need ways to cope with and process the hard things in your life. If you are using self-harm to manage your emotions, we're here for you. And, we want to help keep you safe.

Here are some ways to push through, process, and cope with your emotions.

Text to cool down. If you're dealing with painful emotions, we're here to help. Shoot us a text to connect with a real human and strategize healthy coping mechanisms to manage your emotions. Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a real human.

Get creative. Studies show that diving into making art can help people process emotions. So, next time you're feeling like self-harming, grab your sharpie and doodle your worries away. A bonus: you can totally suck at it and still reap the same rewards.

Find your zen. Keeping yourself safe from self-harming is all about finding healthy alternatives to work through the hard stuff. Researchers found taking time to re-center through meditation to be a powerful way to find your cool and calm. Try using an app like Headspace to get on the meditation bandwagon.

Talk to a pro. Self-harm is serious. And, while the intention behind self-harm usually is not death, it can still be dangerous-both physically and emotionally. Talking to someone who can help you find alternatives is incredibly important. Of course, you can start by texting us. Also, consider telling someone you know who can help you connect with a professional.

Why Do People Self-Harm?

Let's start with this: everyone needs a way to cope with their emotions. People who self-harm have turned to hurting themselves as their coping mechanism to manage their emotions.

So, people might self-harm to:

Process their negative feelings

Distract themselves from their negative feelings

Feel something physical, particularly if they are feeling numb

Develop a sense of control over their lives

Punish themselves for things they think they've done wrong

Express emotions that they are otherwise embarrassed to show

Effects of Self-Harm

Self-harm can be seriously dangerous-physically, emotionally, socially, all of it.
Physical Effects of Self-Harm

Permanent scars

Uncontrolled bleeding

Infection

Emotional Effects of Self-Harm

Guilt or shame

A diminished sense of self, including feeling helpless or worthless

Addiction to the behavior

Social Effects of Self-Harm

Avoiding friends and loved ones

Becoming ostracized from loved ones who may not understand

Interpersonal difficulty from lying to others about injuries

Recovering from Self-Harm

A lot of people who self-harm do so because they are dealing with painful emotions. If this applies to you, hi-we believe in you and recognize your pain. Because painful emotions are at the root of self-harm, quite often recovering from self-harm involves addressing emotions.

Breaking away from the cycle of self-harm can feel like a huge climb. It involves breaking a habit that has once brought comfort from pain. But, it is not impossible. Here are some steps to set you up for success:

Name your reason for hurting yourself and your reason for quitting. Ask yourself: "What do I feel before, during, and after self-injury? Which of those emotions do I actively seek out, and which are harmful?"

Identify other ways of achieving the same result. For example, if you self-harm for the physical sensation, seek other ways of releasing endorphins, like exercise. For real, try throwing a few punches at a kickboxing class or tapping it back in a spin class with the *perfect* playlist. If you self-harm to express your emotions, practice expressing them in words by writing them down. Grab a pen and your favorite notebook, or start typing away in your notes app.

Tackle the underlying emotions. Explore the feelings that lead you to want to hurt yourself. If it's guilt, where is that guilt coming from? Maybe try finding a therapist-there are pros trained specifically to help with this.

Tell someone you trust. Let a friend, family member, or trusted adult know what you're going through and that you need their support. Opening up to people can be easier said than done. Here's a place to start: "I'm having a hard time processing some painful emotions and I could use your support right now."

Getting healthy-both in your brain and in your body-takes hard work. You got this. And, we believe in you.

Text a Crisis Counselor at 741471 or use the mobile click to text button below. You're not alone.

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For some people, when depression and anxiety lead to a tornado of emotions, they turn to self-harm looking for a release. Self-harm and self-injury are any forms of hurting oneself on purpose. Usually, when people self-harm, they do not do so as a suicide attempt. Rather, they self-harm as a way to release painful emotions.

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S.A.F.E. Alternatives is a nationally recognized treatment approach, professional network, and educational resource base.

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Even though self-injury may be an attempt to manage emotional pain, it often creates its own chaos, shame, and relational conflict. The compulsion to use self-harming behaviors, such as cutting, picking, or burning, is often confusing to those who engage in the behavior and those who love them.

At S.A.F.E. Alternatives, we provide specialized treatment for those who self-injure (also known as self-harm, self-abuse, self-mutilation, non-suicidal self-injury) and provide a nationally recognized treatment approach designed to end self-injurious behavior.

Our St. Louis-based individual, family and group therapies are led by compassionate, knowledgeable, experts, with over 30 years of experience, committed to helping you find healthier, more effective alternatives to coping with life. Together we can help end self-injury and begin life again. Quality of Life is a Choice!

The S.A.F.E. Clinic provides outpatient services to adolescents and adults who engage in self-destructive, impulsive behaviors and have a desire to stop.

Individual and Family Therapy

Weekly Group Psychotherapy

Family Education

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Ending Self-Injury. Beginning Life Again.

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Individual and group counseling for self-harm/self-injury (cutting, picking, burning, etc.) in St. Louis, MO. Get help today. 630-819-9505.

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NSSI Developing & Implementing School Protocol

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NSSI Developing & Implementing School Protocol

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Overview

Nonsuicidal self-injury, often simply called self-injury, is the act of deliberately harming your own body, such as cutting or burning yourself. It's typically not meant as a suicide attempt. Rather, this type of self-injury is a harmful way to cope with emotional pain, intense anger and frustration.

While self-injury may bring a momentary sense of calm and a release of tension, it's usually followed by guilt and shame and the return of painful emotions. Although life-threatening injuries are usually not intended, with self-injury comes the possibility of more-serious and even fatal self-aggressive actions.

Getting appropriate treatment can help you learn healthier ways to cope.

Products & Services

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of self-injury may include:

Scars, often in patterns

Fresh cuts, scratches, bruises, bite marks or other wounds

Excessive rubbing of an area to create a burn

Keeping sharp objects on hand

Wearing long sleeves or long pants, even in hot weather

Frequent reports of accidental injury

Difficulties in interpersonal relationships

Behavioral and emotional instability, impulsivity and unpredictability

Statements of helplessness, hopelessness or worthlessness

Forms of self-injury

Self-injury usually occurs in private and is done in a controlled or ritualistic manner that often leaves a pattern on the skin. Examples of self-harm include:

Cutting (cuts or severe scratches with a sharp object)

Scratching

Burning (with lit matches, cigarettes or heated, sharp objects such as knives)

Carving words or symbols on the skin

Self-hitting, punching or head banging

Piercing the skin with sharp objects

Inserting objects under the skin

Most frequently, the arms, legs and front of the torso are the targets of self-injury, but any area of the body may be used for self-injury. People who self-injure may use more than one method to harm themselves.

Becoming upset can trigger an urge to self-injure. Many people self-injure only a few times and then stop. But for others, self-injury can become a long-term, repetitive behavior.

When to see a doctor

If you're injuring yourself, even in a minor way, or if you have thoughts of harming yourself, reach out for help. Any form of self-injury is a sign of bigger issues that need to be addressed.

Talk to someone you trust - such as a friend, loved one, doctor, spiritual leader, or a school counselor, nurse or teacher - who can help you take the first steps to successful treatment. While you may feel ashamed and embarrassed about your behavior, you can find supportive, caring and nonjudgmental help.

When a friend or loved one self-injures

If you have a friend or loved one who is self-injuring, you may be shocked and scared. Take all talk of self-injury seriously. Although you might feel that you'd be betraying a confidence, self-injury is too big a problem to ignore or to deal with alone. Here are some ways to help.

Your child. You can start by consulting your pediatrician or other health care provider who can provide an initial evaluation or a referral to a mental health professional. Express your concern, but don't yell at your child or make threats or accusations.

Preteen or teenage friend. Suggest that your friend talk to parents, a teacher, a school counselor or another trusted adult.

Adult. Gently express your concern and encourage the person to seek medical and mental health treatment.

When to get emergency help

If you've injured yourself severely or believe your injury may be life-threatening, or if you think you may hurt yourself or attempt suicide, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.

Also consider these options if you're having suicidal thoughts:

Call your mental health professional if you're seeing one.

Call a suicide hotline. In the U.S., call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) or use their webchat on suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat.

Seek help from your school nurse or counselor, teacher, doctor, or other health care provider.

Reach out to a close friend or loved one.

Contact a spiritual leader or someone else in your faith community.

Causes

There's no one single or simple cause that leads someone to self-injure. In general, self-injury may result from:

Poor coping skills. Nonsuicidal self-injury is usually the result of an inability to cope in healthy ways with psychological pain.

Difficulty managing emotions. The person has a hard time regulating, expressing or understanding emotions. The mix of emotions that triggers self-injury is complex. For instance, there may be feelings of worthlessness, loneliness, panic, anger, guilt, rejection, self-hatred or confused sexuality

Through self-injury, the person may be trying to:

Manage or reduce severe distress or anxiety and provide a sense of relief

Provide a distraction from painful emotions through physical pain

Feel a sense of control over his or her body, feelings, or life situations

Feel something - anything - even if it's physical pain, when feeling emotionally empty

Express internal feelings in an external way

Communicate depression or distressful feelings to the outside world

Be punished for perceived faults

Risk factors

Most people who self-injure are teenagers and young adults, although those in other age groups also self-injure. Self-injury often starts in the preteen or early teen years, when emotions are more volatile and teens face increasing peer pressure, loneliness, and conflicts with parents or other authority figures.

Certain factors may increase the risk of self-injury, including:

Having friends who self-injure. People who have friends who intentionally harm themselves are more likely to begin self-injuring.

Life issues. Some people who injure themselves were neglected, were sexually, physically or emotionally abused, or experienced other traumatic events. They may have grown up and still remain in an unstable family environment, or they may be young people questioning their personal identity or sexuality. Some people who self-injure are socially isolated.

Mental health issues. People who self-injure are more likely to be highly self-critical and be poor problem-solvers. In addition, self-injury is commonly associated with certain mental disorders, such as borderline personality disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and eating disorders.

Alcohol or drug use. People who harm themselves often do so while under the influence of alcohol or recreational drugs.

Complications

Self-injury can cause a variety of complications, including:

Worsening feelings of shame, guilt and low self-esteem

Infection, either from wounds or from sharing tools

Permanent scars or disfigurement

Severe, possibly fatal injury

Worsening of underlying issues and disorders, if not adequately treated

Suicide risk

Although self-injury is not usually a suicide attempt, it can increase the risk of suicide because of the emotional problems that trigger self-injury. And the pattern of damaging the body in times of distress can make suicide more likely.

Prevention

There is no sure way to prevent your loved one's self-injuring behavior. But reducing the risk of self-injury includes strategies that involve both individuals and communities. Parents, family members, teachers, school nurses, coaches or friends can help.

Identify someone at risk and offer help. Someone at risk can be taught resilience and healthy coping skills that can be used during periods of distress.

Encourage expansion of social networks. Many people who self-injure feel lonely and disconnected. Helping someone form connections to people who don't self-injure can improve relationship and communication skills.

Raise awareness. Learn about the warning signs of self-injury and what to do when you suspect it.

Encourage peers to seek help. Peers tend to be loyal to friends. Encourage children, teens and young adults to avoid secrecy and reach out for help if they have a concern about a friend or loved one.

Talk about media influence. News media, music and other highly visible outlets that feature self-injury may nudge vulnerable children and young adults to experiment. Teaching children critical thinking skills about the influences around them might reduce the harmful impact.

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Self-injury/cutting - Symptoms and causes

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Nonsuicidal self-injury, often simply called self-injury, is the act of deliberately harming your own body, such as cutting or burning yourself. It's typically not meant as a suicide attempt. Rather, this type of self-injury is a harmful way to cope with emotional pain, intense anger and frustration.

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Schools can reduce the likelihood of self-harming epidemics and manage student difficulties when they occur by following a few practical guidelines.

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The Trevor Project operates a 24-hour toll-free suicide prevention helpline for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth (1-866-4-U-TREVOR). Their website also provides curriculum and lesson plans for teachers to implement in their classrooms, online tools for working with students one-on-one, and free materials.

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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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GLSEN conducts extensive and original research to inform our evidence-based solutions for K-12 education. They provide free and inexpensive tools to help establish school Gay-Straight Alliances, including Jump-Start Activity Guides, Safe Schools policies, stickers, do-it-yourself training kits, and results from the National School Climate Survey of LGBTQ students.

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In this statement, GLSEN's National Student Council condemns police brutality and calls for greater support for Black lives

Read the Statement

Get involved and join your community, local, or state GLSEN chapter

GLSEN Chapters create LGBTQ-inclusive schools. Community-led chapters offer teacher trainings, student support, community outreach, and more.

Recent Research

Research, Reports, and Briefs

Research, Reports, and Briefs

Research, Reports, and Briefs

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In this statement, GLSEN's National Student Council condemns police brutality and calls for greater support for Black lives Read the Statement GLSEN Chapters create LGBTQ-inclusive schools. Community-led chapters offer teacher trainings, student support, community outreach, and more. Research, Reports, and Briefs Research, Reports, and Briefs Research, Reports, and Briefs

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Website: Out for Equity- Saint Paul Public Schools

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Website: Out for Equity- Saint Paul Public Schools

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Out for Equity advocates for gender equitable practices, programs, and policies through direct programming, professional development, and strategic collaborations.
Their goal is to ensure a safe and welcoming school environment that fosters positive self-esteem, respect for others, and academic success for all gender expansive folks, namely lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two-spirit, queer and questioning (LGBTQ+) students, families, and staff members.

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Welcome to Out for Equity. We advocate for gender equitable practices, programs, and policies through direct programming, professional development, and strategic collaborations.

Our goal is to ensure a safe and welcoming school environment that fosters positive self-esteem, respect for others, and academic success for all gender expansive folks, namely our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two-spirit, queer and questioning (LGBTQ+) students, families, and staff members.

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Out for Equity / Out for Equity Homepage

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Welcome to Out for Equity. We advocate for gender equitable practices, programs, and policies through direct programming, professional development, and strategic collaborations. Our goal is to ensure a safe and welcoming school environment that fosters positive self-esteem, respect for others, and academic success for all gender expansive folks, namely our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, two-spirit, queer and questioning (LGBTQ+) students, families, and staff members.

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The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE)

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The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE)

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The National Center for Transgender Equality is dedicated to advancing the equality of transgender people through advocacy, collaboration, and empowerment. It’s website contains news and resources.

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National Center for Transgender Equality

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| National Center for Transgender Equality

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The National Center for Transgender Equality is the nation's leading social justice advocacy organization winning life-saving change for transgender people.

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PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons and their families and friends. PFLAG’s web site contains sections on support,
education, and advocacy.

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We're so glad you found us! PFLAG is the nation's largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them.

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The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) National Help Center, founded in 1996, is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization that provides vital peer-support, community connections and resource information to people with questions regarding sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

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All of our support volunteers identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ family, and are here to serve the entire community, by providing free & confidential peer-support, information, and local resources through national hotlines and online programs.

Hotline Hours:
Mon-Fri:
1 PM - 9 PM/pacific time
4 PM - Midnight/eastern time

Sat:
9 AM - 2 PM/pacific time
Noon - 5 PM/eastern time

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Contact our hotlines or chatrooms, designed for all members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and receive help regarding questions regarding sexual orientation and gender identity.

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Free and confidential peer support for the LGBTQ and questioning community ages 25 and younger. 800-246-7743

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Video: Culturally Competent Care for LGBTQ Youth

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Video: Culturally Competent Care for LGBTQ Youth

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Why are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth more likely to attempt suicide than their straight peers? In this candid and compelling talk, The Trevor Project’s Ashby Dodge examines some of the reasons why. Without pointing fingers, she acknowledges that we don’t really understand this population well and calls on mental health professionals to provide more appropriate care to LGBTQ.

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Why are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth more likely to attempt suicide than their straight peers? In this candid and compelling talk, The Trevor Project's Ashby Dodge examines some of the reasons why. Without pointing fingers, she acknowledges that we don't really understand this population well and calls on mental health professionals to provide more appropriate care to LGBTQ.

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Why are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth more likely to attempt suicide than their straight peers? In this candid and compelling talk, The Trevor Project's Ashby Dodge examines some of the reasons why. Without pointing fingers, she acknowledges that we don't really understand this population well and calls on mental health professionals to provide more appropriate care to LGBTQ.

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PDF: K-12 Toolkit for Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention (HEARD Alliance)

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PDF: K-12 Toolkit for Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention (HEARD Alliance)

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The content of the Toolkit is drawn from State and National guidelines and from current research and recommendations regarding youth mental wellness and suicide prevention. The goal is to ensure that California schools can participate fully in their broader community’s effort to prevent youth suicide. This resource can be viewed as web version by visiting https://www.heardalliance.org/help-toolkit/

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

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

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This resource, as well as suicide prevention plans for other states can be found by visiting: https://sprc.org/states

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This toolkit assists high schools and school districts in designing and implementing strategies to prevent suicide and promote behavioral health. 

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Warning Signs of Suicide: Learn the FACTS

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Warning Signs of Suicide: Learn the FACTS

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This resource can also be accessed online by visiting: https://sptsusa.org/facts/

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Preventing Youth Suicide: Tips for Parents and Educators 

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Preventing Youth Suicide: Tips for Parents and Educators 

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This resource can also be accessed online by visiting: https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-safety-and-crisis/mental-health-resources/preventing-youth-suicide

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Final_Preventing Youth Suicide _ Tips for Parents and Educators_ Infographic Flyer

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Digital Flyer: Free Youth Mental Health First Aid Virtual Training

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Digital Flyer: Free Youth Mental Health First Aid Virtual Training

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Free Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) sponsored by the CDE. YMHFA teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among children and adolescents ages 6-18. For more information on YMHFA, please visit: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/population-focused-modules/youth/

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Student Safety and Well-Being
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Virtual Training

Sometimes, first aid isn't a bandage, or CPR, or the Heimlich or calling 911.
Sometimes, first aid is YOU!
A child or young person you know could be experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis. YMHFA teaches you skills to help them.
You are more likely to encounter a child or young person-friend, family member, student, neighbor, or member of the community-in an emotional or mental crisis than someone having a heart attack. Learning how to help them is critical.

Training Content

Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders in youth. This training gives adults the skills they need to reach out and provide initial support to children and adolescents (ages 6-18) who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care.

Intended Audience

Anyone can take the YMHFA course, but it is ideally designed for adults who work with young people, ages 6-18: teachers, nurses, counselors, coaches, secretaries, campus monitors, yard supervisors, registrars, lunch staff, bus drivers, leaders of faith communities, law enforcement, parents, youth employers, and other caring citizens.
This training will be provided VIRTUALLY.
Participants will be required to complete 2 hours of self-paced instruction prior to the instructor-led learning.
Content from this training supports Local Control and Accountability Plan-Priority Area: Student Engagement and School Climate.
Space is limited to 30 participants per training. Multiple trainings can be delivered simultaneously. For more information or to schedule a training, please send a message to YMHFA@CDE.CA.GOV
Mental health professionals who wish to participate should know this course is basic and will give them common language to share with their colleagues.
This training is sponsored by the California Department of Education and is made possible through funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) through the Project Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education State Educational Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice's Stop School Violence Act Program. California's Project AWARE-SEA (Project Cal-Well) is a consortium of the CDE and three grantee LEAs: Humboldt County Office of Education and Del Norte Unified School District; Sacramento County Office of Education and Paradise Unified School District; and Stanislaus County Office of Education. Participant manuals generously donated by the local chapters of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and instructor stipends generously donated by Blue Shield of California.

Last Reviewed: Tuesday, September 8, 2020

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Sometimes, first aid isn't a bandage, or CPR, or the Heimlich or calling 911. Sometimes, first aid is YOU! A child or young person you know could be experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis. YMHFA teaches you skills to help them.

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Preventing Suicide: The Role of High School Teachers 

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Preventing Suicide: The Role of High School Teachers 

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This resource can also be found by visiting: https://www.sprc.org/resources-programs/role-high-school-teachers-preventing-suicide-sprc-customized-information-page

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Role of High School Teachers Revised FINAL v2_6-14-19

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This resource can also be accessed online by visiting: https://www.oregon.gov/oha/ph/PreventionWellness/SafeLiving/SuicidePrevention/Pages/steps.aspx

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Role of the School Board in Suicide Prevention

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Role of the School Board in Suicide Prevention

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The Role of the School Board in Suicide Prevention - SPTS

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Students at risk for suicide are an unfortunate reality in every school at every grade level. While classroom curriculums can certainly encourage students to be alert to personal signs of suicide risk and reinforce strategies for help-seeking, effective suicide prevention in a school must begin at the top - with understanding, support and commitment from [...]

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Prevention Youth Suicide Brief Facts: SPANISH 

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Prevention Youth Suicide Brief Facts: SPANISH 

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This resource can also be accessed online by visiting: https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-safety-and-crisis/mental-health-resources/preventing-youth-suicide

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Preventing Teen Suicide: Tips for Peers 

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Preventing Teen Suicide: Tips for Peers 

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This resource can also be accessed online by visiting: https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-safety-and-crisis/mental-health-resources/preventing-youth-suicide/save-a-friend-tips-for-teens-to-prevent-suicide

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Preventing Teen Suicide _Infographic Flyer

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Suicidal Thinking and Threats: Helping Handout for Home 

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Suicidal Thinking and Threats: Helping Handout for Home 

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This resource can also be accessed online by visiting: https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-safety-and-crisis/mental-health-resources/preventing-youth-suicide

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The home of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). FInd more information on PBIS, how to implement PBIS, get resources and materials, and how to get support. Funded by the U.S.

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PBIS World is a website containing links to hundreds of interventions, supports, resources, and data collection tools, all of which are organized into the tier 1 through 3 framework