Resources and information

Youth suicide is largely preventable and there are often signs. Schools hold immense power to recognize risk, create safety, and link students to lifesaving supports. Additionally, building a culture of open, thoughtful conversation about mental health and encouraging help-seeking helps prevent suicide. With attention, support, good training and thoughtful measures, schools and families can increase protection and reduce the risk of suicide.

Suicide is also complex, and there is not one strategy or youth-serving system that can prevent suicide alone. Below are three 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.

• 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
  • Background: the Why

• "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.

• 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.

• MSD Suicide Prevention Practices

  Details