Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

 

 

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

 

 Resources to Support Promotion of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

 

Know the Signs Campaign

 

Suicide Prevention Week (September 4 - 10, 2022) and World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10th, 2022) are quickly approaching! This is a time when individuals and organizations around the country and the world join their voices to broadcast the message that everyone can take action for suicide prevention and to remember loved ones lost to suicide. Every person and organization in California can play a role in suicide prevention by knowing the signs of suicide, finding the words to support a friend or family member, and by reaching out to and promoting local and national resources. 

During Suicide Prevention Week and beyond, Californians are encouraged to take action for suicide prevention by recognizing the importance of strengthening resiliency, protective factors, and physical and emotional wellness throughout the lifespan and at difference life stages. We all have a role to play in suicide prevention. There are actions you can take right now to support yourself and those around you:  

  • To get started with your Suicide Prevention Week and World Suicide Prevention day planning, view and utilize the Annual Suicide Prevention Week Activation Kit which provides individuals, organizations, and communities with activities, posters, proclamation templates, social media posts and more.
  • Together we can Take Action for Suicide Prevention by knowing the signs for suicide, finding the words to check-in with someone we are concerned about, and reaching out to resources. Visit suicideispreventable.org for more information.
  • Together we can Take Action for Mental Health by checking-in with ourselves and others, learning more, and getting support when needed. Visit takeaction4MH.com for more information. 
  • Complete one of the journal prompts, coloring pages, self-care practices, or breathing techniques in the Take Action for Mental Health Wellness Notebook and/or the Student Mental Wellness Thrival Journal and share copies with colleagues, friends, and family members. 

 

Connect with thousands throughout the country during Suicide Prevention Week online by using the hashtags #SuicidePrevention #takeaction4mh 

 

The Lifeline and 988

988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (now known as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) and is now active across the United States.

 

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.

 

The previous Lifeline phone number (1-800-273-8255) will always remain available to people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis.

 

What is 988? The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers 24/7 call, text and chat access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing suicidal, substance use, and/or mental health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

 

We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.

 

988 Social Media Shareables – 988 social media shareables were designed for use as social media posts, stories and threads. You can use the full videos as individual interactives on the social media platforms, or you can use the mix and match videos together to create your own versions that make sense for your audiences.

 

Call or text 988

Chat at 988lifeline.org

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Suicide Prevention Resource Center

Suicide Prevention Resource Center provides tips on how to take action to help prevent suicide in your community, such as learning about effective suicide prevention, sharing stories of hope, and empowering everyone to be there for those in distress.

 

Some Additional Resources to Explore

 

 

CDPH Suicide Prevention Updates

 

Suicide Prevention Web Page — The CDPH Suicide Prevention web pages were recently redesigned and updated and now include new pages focusing on the California Violent Death Reporting System (CalVDRS), the Office of Suicide Prevention (OSP), the CDC-funded Comprehensive Suicide Prevention (CSP) Program, Crisis Hotlines and Resources, and Resources for Public Health Professionals. The new web pages are designed to be user-friendly and comprehensive, as well as provide more information on the function and activities of the CDPH suicide prevention efforts and programs. 

 

New Youth Suicide Prevention Projects — The CDPH OSP was allocated additional funding in the Governor’s 2022-2023 Budget to focus on two projects specific to youth suicide prevention over the next three years (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2025). 

 

  1. Youth Suicide Prevention Media and Outreach Campaign — This project will develop and implement a data-driven, targeted and community-based youth suicide prevention media and outreach campaign for youth at increased risk of suicide.

 

  1. Youth Suicide Reporting and Crisis Response Pilot Program — This project will pilot a new approach of designating youth suicide and youth suicide attempts as reportable public health events, which would trigger crisis response, resource connections, and provision of supports to be provided at the local level for impacted schools and communities. 

 

These projects are currently in the planning stages and more updates will be shared as the project plans and next steps are solidified.

 

CDPH Suicide Prevention Data-Related Resources

 

The CDPH OSP produced and released several suicide and self-harm data resources and reports, which can be found on CDPH’s Suicide Prevention webpage.  Listed below are titles and links to those recently published reports:   

 

 

For questions or requests to join our email list, please contact suicide.prevention@cdph.ca.gov.