Suicide prevention starts with recognizing the warning signs and taking them seriously. Do everything in your power to get a suicidal person the help the person needs: call a crisis line for advice and referrals, encourage the person to see a mental health professional, help locate a treatment facility, or take them to a doctor's appointment. According to CASP (The California Association of School Psychologists) the possible symptoms of at-risk youth for suicide include:

• An indication that there have been previous attempts at suicide.
• Plans or attempts to secure a means for suicide
• Thinking or talking about suicide
• Scratching, cutting or marking the body
• Risk-taking behavior, such as running into traffic, jumping from heights, running away or general and unusual rebelliousness
• Withdrawal from friends, family, and regular activities
• Drug and alcohol use
• Unusual neglect of personal appearance
• Marked personality change
• Persistent boredom, difficulty concentrating, or a decline in the quality of schoolwork
• Frequent complaints about physical symptoms, often related to emotions, such as stomach aches, headaches, fatigue, etc.
• Loss of interest in pleasurable activities
• Not tolerating praise or rewards

A teenager who is planning to commit suicide may also:

• Complain of being"rotten inside"
• Give verbal hints with statements such as:"I won't be a problem for you much longer,""Nothing matters,""It's no use,""I won't see you again."
• Put their affairs in order - for example, give away favorite possessions, clean their room, throw away important belongings, etc.
• Become suddenly cheerful after a period of depression.

*If an emergency, call 911.

If not an emergency, contact The National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Other resources:

Know the Signs

Suicide is Preventable

Suicide Prevention App

Walking in Our Shoes