September marks National Suicide Prevention Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about suicide prevention, spreading hope, and fostering connections that save lives. We take this seriously at FACES for the Future by activating our students as health leaders among their peers. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among young people ages 10-14 and the 3rd leading cause of death among ages 15-18. FACES works with our partners at Cypress Resilience Project to train students and staff in Mental Health First Aid, a nationally recognized certification that teaches individuals how to recognize risks of suicide and harm, listen, and support those who are struggling. We are proud to train our students to provide support and help those who might be struggling with suicide or related mental health challenges.
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or a mental health crisis, the following national resources are available to offer immediate help:
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988): Call or text 988 to connect with trained crisis counselors available 24/7. This free and confidential service is for anyone in emotional distress, including those considering suicide.
- Crisis Text Line: Text “HELLO” to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. Available 24/7 for immediate support via text.
- The Trevor Project: The world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ youth. Call 1-866-488-7386, text START to 678678, or visit The Trevor Project’s website.
- Trans Lifeline: A hotline offering support for transgender individuals in crisis. Call 877-565-8860 for trans peer support available 24/7.
- YouthLine: A peer-to-peer youth crisis and support helpline. Teens can call 877-968-8491, text teen2teen to 839863, or chat at YouthLine’s website.