Suicide Prevention Month

Prince William County Public Schools recognizes September as Suicide Prevention Month, and is partnering with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) to raise awareness and through the "Together for Mental Health" campaign.

Prince William County Public Schools is committed to prioritizing student mental health wellness and ending the stigma associated with seeking mental health help. Please visit this webpage throughout the month of September for resources on how you can recognize and help those around you who may be struggling.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now:

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Learn more about the Lifeline & 988

Individual Impact

79% of all people who die by suicide are male.
Although more women than men attempt suicide, men are 4x more likely to die by suicide.
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10–14 and the 3rd leading cause of death among people aged 15-24 in the U.S.
Suicide is the 12th leading cause of death overall in the U.S.
46% of people who die by suicide had a diagnosed mental health condition - but research shows that 90% may have experienced symptoms of a mental health condition.

Community Impact

Annual prevalence of serious thoughts of suicide, by U.S. demographic group:
- 4.9% of all adults
- 11.3% of young adults aged 18-25
- 18.8% of high school students
- 45% of LGBTQ youth
The highest rates of suicide in the U.S. are among American Indian/Alaska Natives followed by non-Hispanic whites.
Lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are nearly 4x more likely to attempt suicide than straight youth.
Transgender adults are nearly 9x more likely to attempt suicide than the general population.
Suicide is the leading cause of death for people held in local jails.

Retrieved from (NAMI). Data from CDC, NIMH and other select sources.

Learning the Signs & Conversation Starters

Watch Learning the Signs

Watch Conversation Starters

Watch Having the Conversation

Watch Tips for Better Conversations

Parent Resources

Adolescent Connectedness: Youth Connectedness Is an Important Protective Factor for Health and Well-Being - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

What Every Parent Should Know About Preventing Youth Suicide (PDF) - Virginia Department of Health

Teens and Suicide: What Parents Should Know - American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

3 Tips to Build Trust with Your Teen as the New School Year Begins (PDF) - The JED Foundation

The Parent Resource Program - The Jason Foundation

How Parents Can Talk to Kids About Suicide - American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (video below)

FACT SHEET - Know the Signs: Recognizing Mental Health Concerns In Kids and Teens (PDF)

Outdoor Light Linked with Teens' Sleep and Mental Health. NIMH.

Supporting Children's Mental Health: Tips for Parents and Educators. National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).

Things You Can Do to Improve Your Child's Mental Health. Verywell Family.

What Every Child Needs for Good Mental Health - Mental Health America (MHA).

What Is Children's Mental Health? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

What to Do if You're Concerned About Your Teen's Mental Health (PDF). The JED Foundation.

Youth Connectedness Is an Important Protective Factor for Health and Well-being. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Toolkits and Resources for Schools

Electronic Toolkit for Schools - Virginia Department of Health. This website provides schools with printable Recognize. Talk. Act. posters, social media graphics, and additional resources found below:

Fostering School Connectedness: Improving Student Health and Academic Achievement
Information for School Districts and School Administrators - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Introducing Classroom WISE: Well-Being Information and Strategies for Educators

Classroom WISE is a FREE 3-part training package that assists K-12 educators in supporting the mental health of students in the classroom. Developed by the Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) Network in partnership with the National Center for School Mental Health, this package offers evidence-based strategies and skills to engage and support students with mental health concerns in the classroom.

What Every Teacher Should Know About Preventing Youth Suicide (PDF) - Virginia Department of Health

School Connectedness: Strategies for Increasing Protective Factors Among Youth - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Suicide Prevention Resources - Virginia Department of Education

Preventing Suicide: A Toolkit for High Schools - Youth.gov