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.

SuicideIsPreventable.org

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

CrisisTextLine.org

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.

HelpGuide.org

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.

Alternatives to Self-Harm PDF

Suicide Prevention Quick Resource Guide

The quick resource guide has all the phone numbers and chat lines available to aid in suicide prevention on one convenient sheet.

Quick Reference PDF

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.

Tips for Peers PDF

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.

SDCOE.net Suicide Prevention

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.

SOSLSD.org

Support Line: 619-482-0297

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I understand that this form will only be reviewed and responded to during business hours. The Mental Health and Wellness Hub is a tool that connects students, families, and communities with informational resources to support access to mental health and wellness supports. THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS HUB IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE DIAGNOSIS OR CLINICAL ADVICE.

At Altus Schools, we have developed a comprehensive mental health program that consists of several elements designed to support students directly and build staff capacity to create safe and supportive learning environments that are trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and that connect students and families to appropriate resources. Highlights of our mental health program include (1) teachers who are specially trained in suicide screening, trauma-informed practices, human trafficking prevention, and socio-emotional learning; (2) strategic partnerships with community organizations to provide mental health services; (3) a team of school nurses; (4) a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist; (5) a Healthy Youth Department that coordinates student webinars and professional learning to support students’ mental health and wellness; (6) student webinars with socio-emotional learning through our Resilience in Students and Education (RISE) series; (7) suicide prevention, intervention and postvention protocols; (8) tools for connecting students and families to information resources; (9) parent/guardian webinars through our Family Learning Series on student mental health, wellness, and community resources; and (10) administration of special programs and coordination of services for identified student groups.