Suicide Prevention

Know the Signs 

Warning signs of suicide may be subtle, but they are there. Learn about various warning signs of suicide, find the words to start the conversation, and 

discover where to turn for help. 

Never A Bother

Never a Bother is a campaign launched in 2024 by California Department of Public Health’s Office of Suicide Prevention. 

This website has resources for Suicide Prevention for teens and adolescents.

Suicide Help Guide

A trusted nonprofit resource guide to mental health and wellness. This resource contains information to support those who are struggling with their mental health.  

How to Deal with Suicide 

Pass 741741 on to a friend. You never know who might need Crisis Text Line. Pass it on and tell the people in your life to text HOME to 741741 if they’re 

ever in crisis. 

TEXT HOME to 741741

Alternatives to Self Harm

If you’re feeling like hurting yourself, check out these activities and strategies you can do instead. 

(Researched from the Cornell Research Program on Self-Injurious Behavior in Adolescents and Young Adults.)

Feeling Sad or Depressed:

• Do something slow and soothing

• Hug a loved one or stuffed animal

• Call or visit a friend

• Listen to upbeat music

Craving Sensation/ Wanting to Feel:

• Squeeze ice

• Snap a rubber band around your wrist

• Focus on how it feels to breathe. Pay attention to the rise and fall of your stomach.

• Suck on a lemon or lime

• Give someone a hug

Feeling Angry:

• Throw ice at a brick wall as hard as you can

• Flatten aluminum cans for recycling

• Go for a walk or run

• Rip up an old newspaper or phone book

• Blast music and dance

Feeling Like a Bad Person:

• List as many good qualities about yourself as you can

• Talk to someone who cares about you

• Do something nice for someone else

• Visualize a calming place in your mind and think about as many details as you can

Wanting to Focus:

• Chew food slowly, noticing how the texture changes as you chew

• Color in a coloring book or draw

• Memorize a poem that is meaningful to you

• Listen to your favorite song and focus on the lyrics 

Download the worksheet for more strategies.

Save a Friend: Preventing Teen Suicide  

Tips for Peers from the National Association of School Psychologists will help to recognize when a friend might need help. Suicide rarely happens without warning. As a peer, you may be in the best position to recognize when a friend might need help and help them get it.

Apps and Web-Based Supports

The San Diego County Office of Education lists various apps and web-based supports available for students struggling with their mental health and/or 

having thoughts of suicide.  

Survivors of Suicide Loss

Survivors of Suicide Loss (SOSL) reaches out to and supports people who have lost a loved one to suicide. Their goal is to give survivors a place where they 

can comfortably express themselves and find support, comfort, resources, and hope in a judgment-free environment. SOSL also focuses its efforts on 

promoting suicide awareness and prevention. Online support groups are available, as well as materials in Spanish. 

You Are Never a Bother!

Whether it’s a low point, a crisis, or something you can’t exactly put into words, get help for yourself or a friend.  

LIVINGWORKS Youth Summit 

In just 90 minutes online, LivingWorks Start teaches trainees to recognize when someone is thinking about suicide and connect them to help and 

support. When you sign up for LivingWorks Start training, you'll learn a powerful four-step model to keep someone safe from suicide, and you'll 

have a chance to practice it with impactful simulations LivingWorks Start teaches valuable skills to everyone 13 and older and requires no formal 

training or prior experience in suicide prevention. Safety resources and support are available throughout the program.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: Risk Factors, Protective Factors and Warning Signs

There’s no single cause for suicide. Suicide most often occurs when stressors and health issues converge to create an experience of hopelessness 

and despair. Depression is the most common condition associated with suicide, and it is often undiagnosed or untreated. Conditions like depression, 

anxiety, and substance problems, especially when unaddressed, increase risk for suicide. Yet it’s important to note that most people who actively 

manage their mental health conditions go on to engage in life.