Suicide is a tragic loss which impacts an entire community. September is Suicide Prevention Month, and below we are sharing information and resources to help ensure all of our children stay safe and healthy. This topic continues to be a focus of support and education in our schools and community. Our schools have engaged students in a variety of prevention activities in recent years, in partnership with experts from Empower Youth Network (EYN), Washington's Youth Suicide Prevention Program (YSPP), and the Student Assistance Program (SAP) operated through Prevention Center at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).
On July 16, 2022, the 988 Lifeline was launched nationwide. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. The 988 Lifeline now offers American Sign Language services for people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Visit 988lifeline.org and select “ASL Now.”
To learn more about the 988 hotline, please visit SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) to learn more.
Infographic provided courtesy of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Crisis Lines and Suicide Prevention Resources:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call or text 988 or call 1-800-273-8255 (Staffed 24/7, for people struggling with suicidal thoughts)
Crisis Text Line: Text 741741
24-hour Crisis Line: 1-866-427-4747 (24-hour King County Crisis Connections resource)
Teenlink: Call or text 1-866-TEENLINK (833-6546) (Evenings 6-9:30 pm, a help line for teens, by teens)
911: Call or text, if the person you are concerned about is in immediate danger of killing themselves and/or refuses to stay safe with you.
RAINN: Assists victims of sexual assault, through a hotline (1-800-656-HOPE) or via a live, anonymous, and confidential online chat with a trained support specialist.
The Trevor Project: Assists LGBTQ youth, dealing with crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of support in a caring environment. Call 1-866-488-7386. There is also a confidential online chat, confidential text message system, or access to a private, secure, and monitored TrevorSpace social networking site.
Partnerships and Connections Within Our Schools and Community:
WEB - Where Everyone Belongs at Tolt Middle School
Link Leaders at Cedarcrest High School
Sources of Strength at Cedarcrest High School
CEE (Center for Educational Effectiveness) Educational Effectiveness Survey
Healthy Youth Survey
Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS)
Social Emotional Learning Curriculum
Riverview Youth Council, in partnership with Empower Youth Network
How To Help A Friend (Peer Mentoring)
Emergency Reponses Protocols and Teams District-Wide
Riverview PTSA Community Resource Fair
Parent Resources