HELP IF YOU ARE HAVING THOUGHTS OF TAKING YOUR LIFE

Helplines for Suicidal Teens Helplines can be very useful for suicidal teens as they offer help and connection to other resources within the safety of the teen's own surroundings. National helplines are typically available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and are staffed by people trained in dealing with those who are feeling suicidal. There is nothing you can tell a hotline operator that they will be shocked by or that they haven't heard before.  Additionally, this form of teen suicide help can often be accessed via text message or online chat which is more comfortable for some youths.  

Helplines include:  

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) 

Youth Helpline

Your Life Your Voice – 1-800-448-3000 

The Trevor Project – for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth: 1-866-488-7386

   Websites for Help for Suicidal Teens Many websites are dedicated to teen suicide help and to promoting mental wellness among teens. Often these websites provide content written by other teens so that readers can better relate. Chat forums are also often available to communicate with other teens who may be experiencing similar suicidal feelings.

While you might not realize it, there are many people in a teen's life that can offer teen suicide help. These people include:  

• Teachers  
• School counselors 
• Adult family members 
• Adult family friends
• Faith leaders 
• Doctors, 
• Psychologists and other professionals 
• Hospitals
• Counselors
• People from local mental health groups 

Not all adults will be as capable as others in getting help for a suicidal teen so remember: if you're suicidal and the person you tell doesn't help you, keep telling someone until you get the help you need. Help is out there, and you deserve to get better.

Many websites are dedicated to teen suicide help and to promoting mental wellness among teens. Often these websites provide content written by other teens so that readers can better relate. Chat forums are also often available to communicate with other teens who may be experiencing similar suicidal feelings.  Websites for teen suicide help include:  

• You Matter – a website that talks about the tough issues that teens may be facing and works to prevent suicide. 
• The Trevor Project – an organization dedicated to preventing suicide in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth. They also provide a chat service and a hotline available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-866-488-7386. 
• Your Life Your Voice – run by the Boys Town National Hotline (available to all). 
• Mindyourmind – a website dedicated to educating teens about mental health and promoting good mental health in teens. 
• Suicide.org's section on teens and suicide – this section outlines facts about teens and suicide and links to many other articles that deal with some of the issues that a suicidal teen may be facing. 

Everyone feels sad, depressed, stressed, or angry sometimes — especially when dealing with the pressures of school, friends, and family. But some people may feel sadness or hopelessness that won't go away, along with thoughts of suicide.  You may have heard that people who talk about suicide won't go through with it. That's not true. People who talk about suicide may be likely to try to go through with it. 

Immediate warning signs that someone may be thinking of suicide include:  

• talking about suicide or death in general 
• looking online for ways to kill oneself 
• buying items to use in a suicide attempt 
• talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live 
• engaging in self-destructive behavior (drinking a lot of alcohol, taking drugs, driving too fast, or cutting, for example) 
• visiting or calling people to say goodbye giving away possessions 

 Ask If you have a friend who's talking about suicide or showing other warning signs, don't wait to see if they start to feel better. Talk about it. Ask them directly if they're having thoughts of suicide. Having someone care enough to ask these questions can help save your friend's life.  Some people (both teens and adults) are reluctant to ask teens if they've been thinking about suicide or hurting themselves. They might worry that, by asking, they're planting the idea of suicide. Research has proven this to be 100% untrue. If you're worried — ask.  Asking someone if they're having thoughts about suicide can be hard. It can help to let your friend know why you're asking. For instance, you might say, "I've noticed that you've been talking a lot about wanting to be dead. Have you been having thoughts about trying to kill yourself?"   

Be prepared for their answer and be ready to talk to a trusted adult at home or at school to get the help needed.  Tell If your friend asks you to keep these thoughts a secret, let them know you care about them and need to share this with a trusted adult. It may feel like you're betraying your friend, but you should always tell a trusted adult.  

The important thing is to notify a responsible adult. It may be tempting to try to help your friend on your own, but it's always safest to get help.  

IF THEY TELL YOU THAT THEY ARE ABOUT TO DO IT DO NOT LET THEM OUT OF YOUR SIGHT AND CONTACT 9-11 ASAP.  NEVER ASSUME IT IS FOR ATTENTION OR THEY WILL NOT GO THROUGH WITH IT!!!

 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text CONNECT to 741741. You also can contact them through their website.  

Trevor Lifeline for LGBTQ community: 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678. You can also contact them through their website. 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/end-of-life/in-depth/suicide/art-20044900

https://lifehacker.com/how-to-cope-when-a-loved-one-commits-suicide-1663171935

https://whatsyourgrief.com/grieving-suicide-death/

https://afsp.org/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/messagesforhope

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/grief/coping-with-a-loved-ones-suicide.htm