Too often, we hear stories of young people taking their own lives and we find ourselves asking what could have been done to prevent these tragedies. Suicide is a public health crisis in this country, and youth suicide rates are striking and concerning: It is the second leading cause of death among youth ages 10-18 and according to the CDC, suicide rates have increased significantly for all age groups across most states between 1999-2016.

WHAT IS A PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY? (Source: American Academy of Children & Adolescent Psychiatry)

Reasons to bring your child for an emergency mental health evaluation include:

Risk of harm to self, such as:

• • • • • Saying in person or online that they want to kill themselves

        • Searching online about how to kill themselves

        • Taking steps to kill themselves like stockpiling pills, making a noose, or getting a gun or other weapons

        • Writing a suicide note

        • Giving away favorite belongings or making a will

        • Cutting or hurting themselves in order to die or not talking about why

Risk of harm to others, such as:

• • • • • Saying in person or online that they plan to kill a person or large groups of people

        • Becoming more violent towards others

        • Starting fires, destroying property, or harming animals

        • Threatening a person with a weapon

Changes in behavior or thinking, such as:

• • • • • Acting strangely or not making sense

        • Losing touch with reality

        • Seeing or hearing things that are not there

        • Becoming paranoid

LOCAL RESOURCES:

​Behavioral Health Response Team (BHRT): (845) 517-0400 or Toll Free: 1 (844) 255-BHRT (2478)

• The Behavioral Health Response Team (BHRT) provides mobile behavioral health services and crisis intervention 24/7, 356 days a year to individuals, families and agencies in Rockland County. The Team can come to you if a mental health situation needs immediate intervention.

Mental Health Association of Rockland

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Rockland

NAMI Crisis Text Line – Text NAMI to 741-741

• Connect with a trained crisis counselor to receive free, 24/7 crisis support via text message.

ONLINE RESOURCES:

Suicide Risk Factors & Warning Signs

Behavior Health Treatment Services Locator

Find Support: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

What Comes Next?: How to Find the RIght Therapist

COMMON HOTLINE NUMBERS:

*Please note that hotlines are NOT a substitute for psychotherapy.

• Girls & Boys Town National Hotline: 1-800-448-3000

• National Hopeline Network: 1-800-SUICIDE

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

• Suicidio Prevención (En Español): 1-888-628-9454

• National Youth Crisis Hotline: 1-800-442-HOPE (4673)

• NYS Hopeline: 1-877-8-HOPENY

NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO BUT NOT IN CRISIS? CHECK OUT A WARMLINE INSTEAD.