Suicide among adolescents and young adults is a growing health concern. It is the second-leading cause of death for young people ages 10 to 341. However, suicide is also preventable. Know the risk factors, the warning signs and the steps you can take to protect yourself, your friend or your teen or young adult.  Find out more about teen suicide and the many suicide prevention resources available locally, nationally and on-line. Note: The information on this page can also be relevant to adults and suicide. Such resources are marked [for adults also]

*Note:  Scroll down to “Teen Depression and Suicide Resources” section for teen crisis mental health and suicide help lines, resources and support.

Adolescent and Young Adult Suicide – Awareness and Prevention

Most everyone at some time in his or her life will experience periods of anxiety, sadness, and despair. These are normal reactions to the pain of loss, rejection, or disappointment. However, teenagers and young adults may occasionally experience more extreme and long-lasting reactions that can leave them mired in sadness and hopelessness, unable to see a way out. At such emotionally troubled times, some may feel that suicide is the only solution – it isn’t!  Finding the right psychological support can help a person regain hope, perspective and the certainty that life is worth living.  Family, teachers and friends can become educated about suicide warning signs and how to help someone showing those signs receive the support they deserve and need.

Definitions2

  • Suicide is defined as death caused by self-directed injurious behavior with intent to die as a result of the behavior.
  • suicide attempt is a non-fatal, self-directed, potentially injurious behavior with intent to die as a result of the behavior. A suicide attempt might not result in injury.
  • Suicidal ideation refers to thinking about, considering, or planning suicide.

Santa Clara County Suicide Prevention Community Outreach

 In the wake of Gilroy tragedy, Santa Clara County Behavioral Health has the following resources for the Community

There are many behavioral indicators that can help parents or friends recognize the threat of suicide in a loved one. Parents of young people can learn about Risk Factors and Warning Signs.  Since mental and substance-related disorders are frequently associated with suicidal behavior, it is good to be aware of symptoms associated with such mental health disorders as depression, bipolar disorder (manic depression), anxiety disorders, alcohol and drug use, disruptive behavior disorders, borderline personality disorder, and schizophrenia.   [for adults also]

Some common symptoms of these mental health disorders include:

• Extreme personality changes

• Loss of interest in activities that used to be enjoyable.

• Significant loss or gain in appetite

• Difficulty falling asleep or wanting to sleep all day

• Fatigue or loss of energy

• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt

• Withdrawal from family and friends

• Neglect of personal appearance or hygiene

• Sadness, irritability, or indifference

• Having trouble concentrating

• Extreme anxiety or panic; hallucinations or unusual beliefs

• Drug or alcohol use or abuse

• Aggressive, destructive, or defiant behavior

• Poor school performance

Other indicators

There are also some more obvious signs of the potential for committing suicide. Putting one’s affairs in order, such as giving or throwing away favorite belongings, is a strong clue. And it can’t be stressed more strongly that any talk of death or suicide should be taken seriously.

Since people who are contemplating suicide feel so alone and helpless, the most important thing to do if you think a friend or loved one is suicidal is to communicate with him or her openly and frequently. Make it clear that you care; stress your willingness to listen. Also, be sure to take all talk of suicide seriously. Don’t assume that people who talk about killing themselves won’t really do it.

An estimated 80 percent of all those who commit suicide give some warning of their intentions or mention their feelings to a friend or family member. And don’t ignore what may seem like casual threats or remarks. Statements like, “You’ll be sorry when I’m dead” and “I can’t see any way out,” no matter how off-the-cuff or jokingly said, may indicate serious suicidal feelings. One of the most common misconceptions about talking with someone who might be contemplating suicide is that bringing up the subject may make things worse.

This is not true. There is no danger of “giving someone the idea.” Rather, the opposite is correct. Bringing up the question of suicide and discussing it without showing shock or disapproval is one of the most helpful things you can do. This openness shows that you are taking the individual seriously and responding to the severity of his or her distress.

Learn about more ways you can Help Someone Else [for adults also].  For parents, learn about Preventive Steps You can Take, and Talking to Children About Suicide.

Save a life!

If the threat is immediate, if your friend or loved one tells you he or she is going to commit suicide, you must act immediately. Don’t leave the person alone, and don’t try to argue.

Instead, ask questions like:

“Have you thought about how you’d do it?” “Do you have the means?” and “Have you decided when you’ll do it?”

If the person has a defined plan, the means are easily available, the method is a lethal one, and the time is set, the risk of suicide is obviously severe. In such an instance, you must take the individual to the nearest psychiatric facility or hospital emergency room. If you are together on the phone, you may even need to call 911 or the police. Remember, under such circumstances no actions on your part should be considered too extreme—you are trying to save a life.

Take all threats seriously – you are not betraying someone’s trust by trying to keep them alive.

 

RESOURCES

Santa Clara County SUICIDE and CRISIS Hotline*:   1-855-278-4204
Need Help?  We Care!   (Call Toll-Free 24 hours/ 7 Days)  [for adults also]

The Santa Clara County Suicide & Crisis Hotline is a 24-hour, toll-free confidential suicide prevention hotline available 7 days a week for phone intervention and emotional support to individuals in crisis. Highly trained volunteer crisis counselors assist people who are feeling suicidal, experiencing distress, or just need to talk with someone who will listen. Multi-lingual counselors are available.  [for adults also]

National Suicide Prevention Line* (Toll Free 24/7)  1-800-273-TALK or 800-SUICIDE   [for adults also]

EMQ Child/Adolescent Mobile Crisis Program    408-379-9085     1-877-412-7474
(after hours/weekend emergencies) 24-hour, mobile crisis intervention service for Santa Clara Country children and adolescents under age 18 in acute psychological crisis.  It provides multilingual (Spanish, Vietnamese, Hindi, Farsi, French, Telegu, Tamil, Gujarati, Marathi, American Sign Language, Hebrew, and German), community-based intervention, evaluation, and links children and families with other community agencies for long term care and assistance.

Contact Cares Teen Crisis Line  408-850-6140 
Bill Wilson Center’s health, relationship, crisis, and information referral line for teens and young adults. This is a dispatch service that connects the caller directly to needed services, including emergency treatment and transitional housing.

Teen Hotline* 650-579-0353

Runaway for Support  1-800-621-4000

Rape Crisis Hotline*  408-287-3000  [for adults also]

National Youth Crisis Hotline   800-448-3000

Crisis Text Line* – [text HELLO to 741741] Offers emotional and crisis support, provided by trained volunteers and employees, for teens 24/7.

Lifeline* The National Suicide Prevention Hotline offers 24-hour chat [for adults also]

(*Indicates 24 hour availability)

 

Santa Clara County Suicide Prevention Program [for adults also] offers suicide awareness and prevention information, classes, and support, including:

  • Mental Health First Aid Training (MHFA) – a highly interactive, 8-hour program taught over two, 4-hour days to small groups. The stigma surrounding mental illness often prevents people from seeking help or even acknowledging that they need help. And it they do want help, they don’t know where to turn. Mental Health First Aid equips the public to help persons with mental illness connect to care.  Find a Course near you.
  • QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Online Suicide Prevention Course – a FREE one-hour online training available to anyone 18 years of age or older who lives or works in Santa Clara County. Learn the signs of suicide, and what to do to help prevent this most preventable of deaths. Click here to sign up for a free online training code.
  • SafeTALK (Suicide Alertness For Everyone!) – a half-day alertness workshop that prepares anyone over the age of 15, regardless of prior experience or training, to become a suicide-alert helper. SafeTALK helps expand the reach of suicide intervention skills in communities around the world. Be part of creating a suicide-safer community.  SafeTALK Registration.
  • Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) – a highly interactive, FREE, practical, practice-oriented workshop on suicide intervention, especially useful to people working in the mental health field.  ASIST Registration

YMCA Anti-Bullying Resources-The YMCA of Silicon Valley has established Project Cornerstone, which is committed to helping all children and teens in Silicon Valley feel valued, respected and known.  This “Help Stop Bullying” page contains anti-bullying ideas and resources.

LGBTQ Youth Space: A Program of Family & Children Services, with a community drop-in center and mental health program for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning and ally youth and young adults ages 13-25 who live in Santa Clara County. This web site also has a page of other LGBTQ resources.

Toolkit for Mental Health Promotion & Suicide Prevention K-12 – This Toolkit is meant to be a resource for schools as they implement their Pupil Suicide Prevention Policy. The content 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.  (Note: This toolkit contains content that can be helpful and informative to parents and caregivers who are concerned with adolescent and young adult mental health and suicide prevention).

Social Media and Suicide: A Public Health Perspective – Informative and influential research article on how the Internet and social media can influence suicide-related behavior, both negatively and positively

Social Media Guidelines for Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention – Produced by The Entertainment Industries Council’s TEAM Up (Tools for Entertainment And Media), this guide offers tips for organizations and individuals communicating about mental health and suicide on social media to reduce stigma, increase help seeking behavior and help prevent suicide.

 

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention [for adults also] National group that funds research, offers educational programs, advocates for public policy, and supports those affected by suicide.  More Than Sad is a program of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention that provides education about factors that put youth at risk for suicide, in particular depression and other mental disorders. They also developed two files to educate high school students and families about teen suicide and teen depression (the leading risk factor for suicide in both adults and teens):

  1. Watch the film More Than Sad – Preventing Teen Suicide
  2. Watch the film More Than Sad – Teen Depression

Suicide Is Preventable/Know The Signs [for adults also] 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.

JED Foundation – A nonprofit that exists to protect emotional health and prevent suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults, by partnering with high schools and colleges to strengthen their mental health, substance abuse and suicide prevention programs, by equipping teens and young adults with the skills and knowledge to help themselves and each other, and by encouraging community awareness for young adult mental health.

ReachOut USA– A non-profit organization that meets youth where they are to deliver peer support and mental health information in a safe and supportive online space.

TEAM – (Teaching Everyone about Mental Health) Facebook site devoted to equipping family and friends with the tools necessary to help a loved one struggling with a mental illness.  Fight stigma, Share stories, Identify resources

HEARD Alliance – (Health Care Alliance for Response to Adolescent Depression) A San Francisco Bay Area group with mission to increase collaboration amongst primary care, mental health and educational professionals, to enhance the community’s ability to promote well-being, to treat depression and related conditions and to prevent suicide in adolescents and young adults.  Lists Bay Area resources for parents, children and adolescents.

7 Cups – A website (and also a mobile app) providing free support to people experiencing emotional distress by connecting them with non-professional listeners trained in active listening. The listener interacts with the person seeking help via anonymous and confidential chat. Listeners are rated by peers and those to whom they listen. 7 Cups also provides chat support groups and referrals to therapists.

Teenz Talk – A global teen community focusing on teen mental health and emotional well-being. Teenz Talk harnesses the power of peer connections and shared stories as a source of support, strength and inspiration.

ok2talk.org – The goal of OK2TALK is to create a community for teens and young adults struggling with mental health problems and encourage them to talk about what they’re experiencing by sharing their personal stories of recovery, tragedy, struggle or hope.

MY3App – MY3 lets you stay connected when you are having thoughts of suicide. You define your support network (your top 3 people) and your plan to stay safe. With MY3 you can be prepared to help yourself and reach out to others when you are having thoughts of suicide. MY3 is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play, free of charge.

Facebook Suicide Support [for adults also] Facebook lets you report posts from people who may be in suicidal crisis. You are given several choices on how to help the person. The process of flagging a post is simple:

  • Click or tap on the arrow in the top-right corner of the post.
  • Select “I think it shouldn’t be on Facebook.” …or…
  • Select “It’s hurtful, threatening or suicidal.” …or…
  • Select “I think they might hurt themselves.”

The “What You Can Do” screen offers advice on how you can help a friend in need. At the bottom of that screen is the option to request Facebook look at the post, after which a dedicated Facebook team will review the post and reach out to the individual. Alternatively, you can send a message to the friend, or to a mutual friend in an effort to help the person. If you choose the option to have Facebook send the person a message of support, it will be from you and NOT be anonymous. There’s also the option of chatting with a trained helper. If you are concerned about yourself or someone else, you can ALWAYS call 800-273-8255 to speak with a trained crisis volunteer. There is a Facebook video that explains the options.

 

Citations

1 & 2. National Institutes of Mental Health (2018). “Suicide.” Retrieved December 6, 2018, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide.shtml