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Mental Health for Suicide Prevention and Awareness

Suicide Prevention Policy


Suicide Awareness & Prevention

Warning Signs of Suicide

It is vital to suicide prevention that individuals are equipped to recognize the warning signs of someone who is seriously contemplating suicide. Behaviors that may mean a person is at immediate risk for suicide and thus prompt you to take action right away include:

  • Talking or writing about wanting to die or to kill one’s self and/making specific threats
  • Looking for a way to kill one’s self, such as a new or sudden interest in buying a gun
  • Talking about feeling hopeless or like there’s no point in living or carrying on
  • Unusual or unexpected visits or calls to family and friends to say “goodbye” as if they will not be seen again or giving away favorite possessions
  • Increased use/abuse of alcohol or drugs
  • Withdrawing from social contact
  • Intense mood swings
  • Feeling trapped, hopeless, or helpless about a situation
  • Changing normal routines including eating and sleeping patterns
  • Doing risky or self-destructive things
  • Personality changes or being severely anxious or agitated when experiencing the warning signs above.

The above behaviors do not necessarily indicate suicidal ideation in and of themselves. However, when combined with other factors (like a recent, painful loss or public moment of humiliation), they should take on a new sense of urgency to intervene with help.


Crisis Hotline Information:

If you feel you or someone else is in imminent danger (e.g has access to a gun, is on a rooftop, or in other unsafe conditions), a call should be made immediately to 911. If you need to talk or help working through a problem, use the resources below.

Phone Numbers:
  • California Youth Crisis Line: 1(800) 843-5200
  • HELPline: 1(951) 686-HELP (4357)
  • National Suicide Hotline: 1(800) SUICIDE (784-2433)
  • Teen Line: 1(800) 852-8336
  • Teen Hotline: 1(714) NEWTEEN (639-8336)
  • Trevor Lifeline for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender & questioning youth: 1(866) 488-7386
Text Numbers:
  • Crisis Text Hotline for when you don’t feel like talking - Text LISTEN to 741-741
  • Suicide prevention lifeline Text TALK to 199-273
Websites:

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) & Mental Health Resources:

Websites to School Resources:

Family/Parent Resources from Student Support Team
Growth Mindset & SEL Website
Teachers/Staff - Mental Health MTSS
Teachers/Staff - Youth Suicide Awareness & Prevention


Websites to County Resources:
Riverside CountyCrisis Services

Children & Adolescent Services
Adult Services
Substance Abuse Prevention & Treatment

CAREspace (Riverside County Office of Education’s mental health and related services to students, families, and schools)
San Bernardino CountyCrisis Services

Children, Transitional Age Youth, and Family Services
Substance Use Disorder & Recovery Services

Orange CountyCrisis Services

Children & Youth Services
Adult Services
Alcohol & Substance Use Services

Wellness Center (Orange County Department of Education’s mental health resources to students, families, and schools )
San Diego CountyBehavioral Health Services (Services for Adult, Children, Crisis)

Crisis Response Team