Behavioral Health

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Call: 988

• Sadness or hopelessness
• Irritability, anger or hostility
• Tearfulness or frequent crying
• Withdrawal from friends and family
• Loss of interest in activities
• Poor school performance
• Changes in eating and sleeping habits
• Restlessness and agitation
• Feelings of worthlessness and guilt
• Lack of enthusiasm and motivation
• Unexplained aches and pains

• Talking or joking about committing suicide
• Saying things like, “I’d be better off dead,” “I wish I could disappear forever” or “There’s no way out”
• Speaking positively about death or romanticizing dying (“If I died, people might love me more”)
• Writing stories and poems about death, dying or suicide
• Engaging in reckless behavior or having a lot of accidents resulting in injury
• Giving away prized possessions
• Saying goodbye to friends and family as if for the last time
• Seeking out weapons, pills or other ways to kill themselves

• Take Notice. Ask questions like “Are you ok?” It is important for the person to know that you are present and paying attention.
• Be Present. Saying things like “I am concerned about ….” Or “This is new for you, please tell me about how you are feeling.”
• Ask Directly. Using the word Suicide is not bad. Asking if someone is thinking about suicide directly is actually beneficial due to being clear. It will not put ideas in their head or encourage them to act. 
• Get Help. Do not leave the person alone or brush this information off. “Let’s get your parents and we can make a safety plan together.” Or “Thank you for telling me the truth. Would you like to call the hotline together? Or, we can go to the ED.” It is important to stay with them while accessing support services.
• Check in. Call the person later and make sure they are still safe and following the plan you worked out. Let them know that you plan to be there to help them and that you are proud of them for their courage to share.

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline = 988
• Your Life Your Voice Call: 1-800-448-3000. Text: Free every day, 6PM to midnight (CST); Text VOICE to 20121 to start.
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• The Trevor Project
• The Trevor Support Center: A place where LGBTQ youth and their allies can find answers to frequently asked questions, and explore resources related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and more.
• National Runaway Safeline – 1-800-RUNAWAY(1-800-786-2929)
• SAMHSA’s National Helpline
• American Counseling Association’s Find a Counselor Page

Online screening is one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition. Click here to take a mental health test.