Resources and information

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24 in the United States. Despite a common belief that only teens and adults die by suicide, younger children can also be at risk.

Depression and suicide often coincide. Yet not everyone who is depressed attempts suicide—and not everyone who attempts suicide is depressed. Suicide is also complex, and there is not one strategy or youth-serving system that can prevent suicide alone. Below are areas of information that can be helpful in working to reduce youth suicide as part of a wide range of strategies and actions needed to keep students safe.

• Who to Call

  988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
  For 24/7 support in English, Spanish, and ASL: The suicide and crisis lifeline never closes, it is always open for calls, texts and chats. Learn more.

  YouthLine (For older elementary, middle or high school students)
  YouthLine, a teen-to-teen help, support, and crisis is open daily from 4 to 10 p.m. Pacific Time via call, text, and chat. Adults answer phone calls at all other times for support 24/7. Learn more.

  Safe + Strong (For students and families)
  When life feels heavy, Safe + Strong has resources to help. Connect to care, learn how to make sense of what you’re going through, and get tips for supporting a loved one who is struggling. Learn more (Spanish).

  SafeOregon (Report concerns about suicide risk for you or someone else)
  SafeOregon is a program created for Oregon students, families, school staff, community members, and law enforcement officers to report and respond to student safety threats –– including suicide risk. NOTE: This tip line is not for immediate emergency response. Crisis situations should always go to 911 or 988.including suicide risk.

• Local Mental Health Support

  Yamhill County crisis hotline: Yamhill County Crisis Line at (844) 842-8200 Crisis Text Line: Text HELLO to 741-741

  The Dougy Center, grief center for children and families with resources in English and Spanish to process loss through articles, support groups, podcasts, and other tools. They have tools for teachers as well that might be helpful.  

  Yamhill County Mental Health – Family and Youth Services and Yamhill County Mental Health offers services for youth, families and adult Behavioral Health with individual services, group services, parent support groups, and school services (through the school-based health center at McMinnville High School). 

  Lutheran Community Services NW provides support through mental health services for children, families, and adults through its clinic-based and school based mental health programs. The school-based programs are in Grandhaven, Sue Buel, Newby, Wascher, Memorial and Willamette elementary schools. They also offer parent support groups and a  relief nursery. 

• "Sources of Strength"

  Sources of Strength is a public health program that focuses on promoting mental health and building protective factors that increase connection, coping, resiliency, and wellness. This in turn prevents suicide, violence, bullying, substance abuse and so much more.

  • Find the guide here.

• Safe Firearms Storage

  Safe firearm storage is one of many preventative actions that you can take in keeping our school community and school buildings and grounds safe. When firearms are stored safely, it can help prevent them from getting into the hands of children and teens, who may use them to, intentionally or unintentionally, harm themselves or others. Safe storage can go a long way in preventing lives from being lost or permanently altered. If you have firearms in your home or if your child spends time in a space where firearms are present, there are important steps that can be taken to keep firearms secured and out of reach of unintended users.

  • Actions: What You Can Do

• MSD Suicide Prevention Practices

  Find Out More