988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - Call, Text, or Chat 988
How to talk with your teen about suicide:
Express your concern. It’s a myth that if you mention suicide, you might plant the idea. By honestly and openly expressing your concerns, you’ll send an important message that you care and understand.
Really listen. Parents can be tempted to shut down an upsetting conversation by saying, “I don’t want to hear those things,” or “I had a hard time as a teen, but I got over it.” Instead, say, “Tell me more about how you’re feeling.” Then listen.
Maintain Connection. You might want to safeguard a child or teen by keeping him home in a protective cocoon, but isolation can increase the risk of suicidal behaviors. Help a struggling child maintain connections with friends and loved ones. As a parent, spend extra time with your child. Even watching TV or playing video games together sends a signal that you’re there.
Be compassionate. Express your love for the child or teen. Tell her you hear her pain, that it can get better, that you will make sure she gets help and will support her every step of the way.
Trust your judgment. If a young person denies that he is having suicidal thoughts, but you doubt his honesty, trust your intuition. Take further steps to ensure his or her safety.
Prioritize safety. Remove weapons from the house, make sure the child or teen is not left alone and consult a mental health professional right away.
The national Disaster Distress Helpline is available for anyone experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. Call or text 1-800-985-5990 to be connected to a trained, caring counselor, 24/7/365.
If you need assistance finding food, paying for housing bills, accessing free childcare, or other essential services, visit 211.org or dial 211 to speak to someone who can help. Run by the United Way.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
For any victims and survivors who need support, call 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-799-7233 for TTY, or if you’re unable to speak safely, you can log onto thehotline.org or text LOVEIS to 22522.
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) / The National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline
The nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE, online.rainn.org y rainn.org/es) in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
FAP provides assistance with restraining orders, advocacy, homelessness, homeless prevention, rapid re-housing, preventative services through teen violence classes, substance use disorder classes, family/group/individual counseling, supervised visitation, and the distribution of household commodities are just some of the services we provide to our community in need. Call (760) 483-0701
Victor Community Support Services (Victorville Campus)
Offering walk-in services, comfort and support to the community, providing services to the most at risk youth in our collaborative relationship with the Department of Behavioral Health and Child & Family Services. VCSS is also licensed by Los Angeles County to provide Foster Care and Adoption Services. Call (760) 243-5417
We work in partnership with our communities and Survivors to create a culture of respect and dignity for all persons through Institutional Advocacy, Prevention Education and Awareness Programming. Call (909) 885-8884
Mourning Sun Children's Foundation
The Sunrise Center offers a place of hope and healing for children, teens, and their families that are struggling with grief and loss due to the death of a loved one, being placed in foster care, or having a parent/loved one diagnosed with a terminal illness. We provide peer support groups in a safe, supportive, and understanding environment with the supplies they need to be able to communicate effectively. In doing so, children and adults will realize they are not alone and may begin to heal by expressing their emotions and feelings, together. Call (760) 221-6181
Valley Star Crisis Walk-In Center (CWIC)
This Crisis Walk-in Center (The CWIC, pronounced “Quick”) serves children, adolescents, adults, and older adults in need of immediate crisis intervention and stabilization. The CWIC is voluntary and offered in an unlocked setting with a stay of up to 23 hours. Individuals admitted into the crisis stabilization unit are provided with services and supports to ensure their safe transition to the next level of care, or back to the community. Call (760) 245-8837
2240 Hesperia Road, Suite A
Victorville, CA 92395
ROWI Teen & Parent Wellness Centers
Primary mental health organization that treats anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicidal ideation, ADHD, etc., our programs are ASD-inclusive and we take most major insurances including Kaiser and IEHP. Call (800) 721-ROWI (7694)
