Suicide Prevention Awareness Resources
As we continue to honor Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, we thought it would be a great idea to share suicide prevention awareness resources. Below is a list of resources for people going through a crisis and those who want to support them. It is our hope that we can work together to prevent suicide, and remember, it does not cost a thing to show kindness to someone.
Descriptions of resources are taken from each suicide prevention site.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
The 988 Suicide & Crisis 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, seven days a week, in the United States. The Lifeline comprises a national network of over 200 local crisis centers, combining custom local care and resources with national standards and best practices. They are committed to improving crisis services and advancing suicide prevention by empowering individuals, advancing professional best practices, and building awareness.
SAVE
SAVE was one of the nation’s first organizations dedicated to preventing suicide. Their work is based on the foundation and belief that suicide is preventable and everyone has a role to play in preventing suicide. Through raising public awareness, educating communities, and equipping every person with the right tools, they know we can SAVE lives.
SAVE focuses its efforts and resources on six main program areas: Public Awareness, Education, Training and Consulting, Grief Support, Products & Resources, and Research and Innovation. This resource is great for both people who are going through a crisis and those who want to support.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
What started as a small group of families gathered around a kitchen table in 1979 has blossomed into the nation’s leading voice on mental health. Today, they are an alliance of more than 600 local Affiliates and 49 State Organizations who work in your community to raise awareness and provide support and education previously unavailable to those in need. Utilize this resource to learn about mental health, suicide prevention, and more.
Disaster Distress Helpline
The Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, is a 24/7, 365-day-a-year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories. Call or text 1-800-985-5990 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
American Psychological Association
APA is the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States. It has more than 133,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants, and students as its members. Utilize this resource to learn how the effects of traumatic stress and the normal responses that may follow these abnormal events can help you cope with your thoughts and feelings on the path to recovery and so much more.
CDC’s How Right Now
How Right Now is a research-based initiative supported by the CDC Foundation that addresses our feelings of grief, loss, and worry during tragic times. At howrightnow.org, you can find resources and support for dealing with a range of emotions, sourced from trusted organizations and all in one place, and personal stories about others’ experiences during the pandemic and how they are coping. Visit howrightnow.org and find out how they can help.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Established in 1987, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is a voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education, and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death.
AFSP is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide, including those who have experienced a loss. AFSP creates a culture that’s smart about mental health by engaging in the following core strategies:
- Funding scientific research
- Educating the public about mental health and suicide prevention
- Advocating for public policies in mental health and suicide prevention
- Supporting survivors of suicide loss and those affected by suicide
Model School District Policy on Suicide Prevention
The Model School District Policy on Suicide Prevention is an American Foundation for Suicide Prevention that gives educators and school administrators a comprehensive way to implement suicide prevention policies in their local community.
In collaboration with the American School Counselor Association, the National Association of School Psychologists and The Trevor Project program is research-based and easily adaptable for middle and high schools.
National Education Association
The National Education Association (NEA) is more than 3 million people—educators, students, activists, workers, parents, neighbors, and friends—who believe in opportunity for all students and in the power of public education to transform lives and create a more just and inclusive society. Use this resource to learn more about trauma, mental health, and more.
Quality Behavioral Solutions
QBS, short for Quality Behavioral Solutions, trains organizations that support individuals who may exhibit behavioral challenges. Through Safety-Care®, they provide evidence-based incident prevention and management training to help staff provide humane, person-centered interventions that replace challenging behavior with safer and more collaborative behavior.
Their training improves safety for staff and the individuals they support while reducing the frequency and severity of dangerous incidents.
CDC’s Injury Center
CDC’s Injury Center created Suicide Prevention Month Social Media Toolkit, which includes sample social media graphics and messages centered around the key role personal connections play in preventing suicide. The toolkit content also highlights messages about the importance of connecting with others, learning how to cope with stress to increase resilience, and promoting the new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Need More Help?
Need help implementing some of these resources into creating new policies, procedures, etc.? You can always reach out to us. We are here for you!