September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. We are providing resources, linked below, for students, their families, and our schools to support mental health wellness. Suicidal thoughts, although common, should not be considered normal and often indicate more serious issues. Our goal is to raise awareness in hopes that our community has access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention and to seek help.
Resources for Students and Families
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
When people call, text, or chat 988, they will be connected to trained counselors that are part of the existing Lifeline network. These trained counselors will listen, understand how their problems are affecting them, provide support, and connect them to resources if necessary. Learn more about 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Please note - the previous Lifeline phone number (1-800-273-8255) will always remain available to people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
NAMI Web Resources on Suicide Prevention
Blog Post: How to Talk to Your Teen About Suicide
You can also get crisis text support via the Crisis Text Line by texting NAMI to 741741.
Virginia Department of Health (VDH)
Recognize. Talk. Act. is a campaign aimed at preventing suicide in Virginia. Resources and links are available on the VDH Website. Everyone has a role to play. Recognize. Talk. Act.
Resources for Schools
Our schools can play a key role in suicide prevention. When school personnel, families, and communities take an active role in suicide prevention lives can be saved. The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has partnered with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to raise awareness during Suicide Prevention Month. In order to extend the reach to families and communities, Virginia educators are invited to explore suicide prevention resources curated by the VDOE.