If you need immediate help, please call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Teen Suicide Prevention Resources.
Looking for Help?
Speaking up is sometimes a hard enough task without the added stress of thinking about where to find the answers to the questions you worry most about. Life as a teenager can be stressful enough as it is… from homework to friendships, fighting with parents, to getting into college. Sometimes, you could be looking for answers to questions you haven’t even asked yet!
There are hundreds of resources for just about every problem you may have – and what’s cool is that those people do have the answers to the questions you want answered, even if you don’t believe that they will. Whether you’re looking for help for yourself or for a friend, or just need to vent, there are free resources available to you right now that can help with any problem – big or small. The first step is reaching out.
Helpful Resources
It can be hard to know where to go to find answers that make sense to you. There are MILLIONS of websites out there, and sometimes, the information on one site disagrees with what you find on another one!
We’ve tried to make that easier for you. The site listed have been reviewed to make sure that the information provided is accurate and relevant to your problems.
Listed here are phone numbers, contact information, and websites that can be helpful. Remember, don’t give up if the first resource you try doesn’t work for you, keep looking until you find one that feels just right for what you’re going through.
Pathways 24/7 Help Line
Call: 606-324-1141 or 800-562-8909
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Call: 1-800-273-TALK(8255)
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
You Matter
Your Life Your Voice
Call: 1-800-448-3000
Text: Text with a counselor for free every day, 6PM to midnight CST.
Text VOICE to 20121 to start.
www.yourlifeyourvoice.org
The Trevor Project
National Runaway Safeline
Suicide Prevention Starts with Everyday Heroes!
There’s no single cause for suicide. Suicide most often occurs when stressors and health issues converge to create an experience of hopelessness and despair. Depression is the most common condition associated with suicide, and it is often undiagnosed or untreated. Conditions like depression, anxiety, and substance use problems, especially when unaddressed, increase risk for suicide. Yet it’s important to note that most people who actively manage their mental health conditions go on to engage in life. There may be suicide warning signs exhibited in talk, behavior, or mood. There are also risk factors associated with suicide that include health factors, environmental factors, and historical factors.
Suicide is a preventable problem. By taking the time to notice and reach out to a peer, you can be the beginning of a positive solution.
• Express your concern about what behavior(s) you are observing
• Ask directly about suicide
• Involve a trusted adult
• Encourage him/her to call for help
Pathways 24/7 Help Line: 606-324-1141 or 800-562-8909
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK (8255)
Remember, if you have an IMMEDIATE concern about someone’s safety, call 911 right away!
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers 24/7 call, text and chat access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing suicidal, substance use, and/or mental health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress.
People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
To learn more, visit 988lifeline.org
About Depression
Not sure if you have depression? Take our depression screening quiz:
About Anxiety
Experiencing occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. However, people with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive, and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety accompanied by fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks).
These feelings of anxiety and panic interfere with daily activities, are difficult to control, are out of proportion to the actual danger and can last a long time. You may avoid places or situations to prevent these feelings. Symptoms may start during childhood or the teen years and continue into adulthood or may be triggered by certain events. Sometimes anxiety results from a medical condition that needs treatment.
Your worries may not go away on their own, and they may get worse over time if you don’t seek help. See a mental health provider before your anxiety gets worse. It’s easier to treat if you get help early.
NEED HELP? Call the Pathways Scheduling Center 1-866-233-1955
Not sure if you have anxiety? Take our anxiety screening quiz:
Suicide Prevention for the LGBT Community
Studies have indicated a higher prevalence of suicide attempts among members of the LGBT community. Its been identified that factors such as social isolation, low self-esteem, substance abuse, depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues are associated with the higher prevalence of suicidal behavior in LGBT individuals. These factors often result from or are worsened by stigma and discrimination.
Please check out these resources for additional information:
www.thetrevorproject.org
itgetsbetter.org/get-help
suicidology.org/resources/lgbtq
sprc.org/populations/lgbt
988lifeline.org
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
When a Friend Dies by Suicide
Having a friend die suddenly is pretty bad under any circumstances, but when the reason appears to be suicide, it can feel even worse. There is something about having a friend choose to die, especially if the circumstances were violent, that can be really hard to understand. Kids who have gone through this experience say that it takes a long time for reality to sink in and the shock of what happened to wear off.
So how do you and your friends get help at a time like this? The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone. Despite feeling like no one else shares what you’re experiencing, other kids and adults often do.
It may help to talk to someone about how you feel. Reach out to the people who know you. Maybe they knew your friend too, so they will really understand some of what you’re feeling without you even having to say a word. But even if they didn’t know your friend, they know you. They know how to listen and support you.
Many think that when someone they know dies, they are somehow responsible. Feeling responsible can lead to feeling guilty – a belief that you really are responsible for the death. It may be hard to accept the fact that your friend made a choice – a bad choice – probably not understanding what the consequences would be. Remember, his/her life wasn’t yours to take away.
NEED HELP? Call the Pathways Scheduling Center 1-866-233-1955
Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn’t worth living. More than just a bout of the blues, depression isn’t a weakness and you can’t simply “snap out” of it.
In teens, symptoms may include sadness, irritability, feeling negative and worthless, anger, poor performance or poor attendance at school, feeling misunderstood and extremely sensitive, using recreational drugs or alcohol, eating or sleeping too much, self-harm, loss of interest in normal activities, and avoidance of social interaction.
Depression may require long-term treatment. But don’t get discouraged! Most people with depression feel better with medication, psychotherapy or both.
NEED HELP? Call the Pathways Scheduling Center 1-866-233-1955