RESOURCES

The goal of National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month is to remind everyone that they matter and that help is available. If you or someone you know is struggling, don’t hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional or a helpline. You are never alone, and there are people who care and want to support you.

Everyone Plays A Role In Suicide Prevention

If you’re in crisis, there are options available to help you cope. You can also call the Lifeline at any time to speak to someone and get support. For confidential support available 24/7 for everyone in the United States, call 988.

Crisis Text Line: How to Deal with Suicide

You are enough. You matter. Your life is worth fighting for. Suicide is a leading cause of death. It’s also preventable. In U.S. alone, we have the ability to save nearly 45,000 lives every year.

The Trevor Project

Each one of us can play a vital role in ensuring that all young people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, are provided with safe, accepting, and supportive environments at home, at school and in their communities.

Important Information About Suicide

Suicide is a major public health problem that affects people of all backgrounds, ages and ethnicities. In 2017, about 45,000 Americans died by suicide – more than by car accidents or homicide – and more than 1 million attempted.

Warning Signs of Suicide 

Suicide does not have one single cause. Certain factors like substance abuse and untreated depression can lead to higher risk of suicide just as having a trusted group of friends can help protect you. Read more about the warning signs of suicide, risk factors and protective factors of suicide.

Youth Suicide Warning Signs

The following signs may mean that a youth is at risk for suicide, particularly in youth who have attempted suicide in the past. Risk is greater if the warning sign is new and/or has increased and is possibly related to an anticipated or actual painful event, loss, or change.

Teen Line provides support, resources, and hope to young people through a hotline of professionally trained teen counselors, and outreach programs that de-stigmatize and normalize mental health.

Downloads

Back to School Tips

Processing Grief with Kids

Talking to Children About Death

Grief in Developmental Stages

10 Tips Communicating with Grieving Kids

Tips for Teaching Kids About Death

​Online Resources

Supporting Children Grieving a Substance-Use Related Death: This resource was created by National Alliance for Children’s Grief for those supporting a child who is grieving a substance-use related death. In three sections, this toolkit gives information relevant to family members or caregivers, information for community members, and a resource list for those seeking additional information.

BACK TO SCHOOL WITH GRIEF: Children and teens spend the majority of their time at school, and they take their grief with them when they go. For some, returning to school is comforting. They find support in the structure, familiarity, connections with friends, and the opportunity to focus on something other than grief. For others, it can be a challenging venture that brings additional stress, uncertainty, and worry.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL CONSIDERATIONS: Summer break has ended, and students return to school with a range of feelings and reactions. Some might be delighted to be back in the social world of friends while others might be apprehensive about their upcoming classes. Some might even be excited to mark one more step forward as they grow and mature, especially if they’re moving up to middle or high school. Remember that transitions can be tough for grieving students.

Back to School 2023: Grieving Students and Transitions: The fall of 2023 will be a different kind of school year for many educators. For one thing, schools and communities have lifted COVID-19 restrictions. Life is feeling more like it used to. Educators are working to address the academic losses of the pandemic and students are re-engaging socially with their peers.

Sesame Street Workshop: Help kids grieve the loss of a loved one. With love and support, children can learn to cope with loss and start to heal.

Parenting the Surviving Siblings: When a child dies, even if the death is not entirely unexpected, each and all members of the family will experience a great loss. Although each will experience the loss in their own way, parents very often feel the added burden of having to manage the normal responsibilities of parenting their other children while dealing with their own grief. It is a lot to manage. There is good news: research has shown that each of us has the capacity to heal and children are very resilient. Here are some ideas to help you support your surviving children—and yourself. You may find that the more you see your children doing well, the more comforted and confident you will feel.

The Coalition to Support Grieving Students is a unique collaboration of the leading professional organizations representing classroom teachers (including teachers, paraprofessionals, and other instructional staff), principals, assistant principals, superintendents, school board members, and central office staff, student support personnel (including school counselors, school nurses, school psychologists, school social workers, and other student support personnel), and other school professionals who have come together with a common conviction: grieving students need the support and care of the school community.

Grief in Movies

It is not easy to talk about death. Talking to children about death is all the more challenging. We stress about making sure that they understand, but we fear we are sharing too much. Fortunately, there are healthy ways to discuss death with your kids using something they like – movies. Movies To Consider:

Coco is about a young boy, Miguel. Miguel messes with his family’s ban on music and finds himself transported to the Land of the Dead. In a vibrant, light-hearted adventure, Miguel unlocks family secrets and gains an understanding on love, death, and the importance of family. Coco is a great movie to help children process death. This movie can provide families the opportunity to process and heal together. Reflect together on the messages and have a family discussion.

Onward is about two animated elf brothers, Ian and Barley. They go on an adventure to try and bring their father back to spend one more day with him. In an adventure of laughter, uncertainty, and growth, they learn to value each other and value the gift of time.

Death in Disney Movies: Making the Most of Teachable Movie Moments

Movies That Help Parents and Children Understand Grief and Loss

‘Inside Out’ Offers Important Lessons for Grieving Children and Adults