• 700,000+ people die by suicide each year in the world 
• 47,000+ people die by suicide each year in the United States 
  • That breaks down to 1 death every 11 minutes
• 2nd leading cause of death between the ages of 10 and 34
• 10th leading cause of death in the entire U.S.
• More than twice as many males die by suicide as females 
• 9 out of 10 individuals who attempt suicide and survive never go on to die by suicide
• Adolescents (aged 12-17):
  • 1 in 6 experience a major depressive episode
  • 3 million have thoughts of suicide
• Young Adults (aged 18-25):
  • 1 in 3 experience mental illness
  • 1 in 10 experience a serious mental illness 
  • 3.8 million had serious thoughts of suicide
• Adults:
  • 12 million had serious thoughts of suicide 
  • 3.5 million made a plan for suicide
  • 1.4 million adults attempted suicide 

• As defined by Mayo Clinic, “Stigma is when someone views you in a negative way because you have a distinguishing characteristic or personal trait that’s thought to be, or actually is, a disadvantage (a negative stereotype).”
• The stigma surrounding mental illness is the product of lack of understanding and fear.
• Mental illness has been stigmatized for decades, creating untrue stereotypes that individuals struggling with mental illness are dangerous, incompetent, unpredictable, or have a weak character. These negative beliefs lead to prejudice and discrimination against those with mental illness.
• When talking about suicide, do not use “committed suicide” because that language came from a time period when suicide was a crime, but it’s not a crime anymore. The word “committed” implies criminality and lends a sense of agency, which only adds to the stigma around it. Instead, use language such as: died by suicide or lost to suicide or took their own life.  
• Dispelling Mental Health Myths:
  • The large majority of people with mental illness are no more violent than anyone else. Only 3%-5% of violent acts can be attributed to those with mental illness.
  • People with mental health problems are just as productive as other employees or students 
  • Mental health problems have nothing to do with character like being weak or lazy. Different factors that contribute to mental illness are biological factors, life experiences, and family history of mental health problems.  
• 9 out of 10 people with mental illness say that stigma or discrimination negatively impacts them 
• More than half of people with mental illness don’t receive help
  • A study of 90,000+ people worldwide found that stigma of mental illness is one of the top reasons that they don’t receive care
• Reduce the Stigma:
  • Educate yourself and others
  • Talk openly about mental health
  • Be conscious of the language you use to talk about mental illness
  • Show compassion
  • Normalize getting treatment by being honest about your own journey
  • Get involved! **Check out the Advocacy tab to learn more about how.**

• Verbal suicide threats such as, “You’d be better off without me.”
• Expressions of hopelessness and helplessness
• Previous suicide attempts
• Daring or risk-taking behavior
• Increased use of alcohol and/or substances
• Personality changes
• Depression
• Giving away prized possessions
• Changes in school or work performances
• Change of physical appearance
• Change in sleeping pattern – too much or too little sleep
• Lack of interest in future plans

• If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or crisis, please contact:
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273-TALK (8255)
  • Crisis Text Line: Text “TALK” to 741741 
• If you believe someone is exhibiting the warning signs of suicide or struggling with mental illness, please reach out to a trusted adult and check out the Resources tab to best support this individual. 

For Students and Parents:

• 16 Young Adult Novels that Tackle Themes of Mental Illness
• What Made Maddy Run: The Secret Struggles and Tragic Death of an All-American Teen by Kate Fagan
• Are u ok? by Da Capo Lifelong Books
• (Don’t) Call Me Crazy by Kelly Jensen
• Life Inside My Mind by Jessica Burkhart
• This Is Depression: A Comprehensive Compassionate Guide for Anyone Who Wants to Understand Depression by Diane McIntosh
• Mind, Body and Sport- Understanding and Supporting Student-Athlete Mental Wellness by John Douillard
• Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig

• My Living Will: A Father’s Story of Loss & Hope by John Trautwein 
• Be Happy without being Perfect: How to Break Free From the Perfection Deception by Alice D. Domar, Ph.D
• The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age by Catherine Steiner-Adair, EdD
• The Blessing of a B Minus by Wendy Mogel, Ph.D.
• The Blessing of a Skinned Knee by Wendy Mogel, Ph.D 
• Coping with Social Anxiety: The Definitive Guide to Effective Treatment Options by Eric Hollander, MD
• Escaping the Endless Adolescence: How we can help our teenagers grow up before they grow old by Joseph Allen, PH.D, and Claudia Worrell Allen, Ph.D
• Generation iY: Secrets to Connecting with Today’s Teens & Young Adults in the Digital Age by Tim Elmore
•  Generation Z Unfiltered: Facing Nine Hidden Challenges of the Most Anxious Population by Tim Elmore
• The Gift of Failure: How to step back and let your child succeed by Jessica Lahey
• Habitudes: Images That Form Leadership Habits & Attitudes by Dr. Tim Elmore 
• Marching Off The Map: Inspire Students to Navigate A Brand New World by Tim Elmore
• Prepared: What Kids Need for a Fulfilled Life by Diane Tavenner
• Raising Can-Do Kids: Giving Children the Tools to Thrive in a Fast-Changing World by Richard Rende, Ph.D
• Suicide In Schools: A Practitioner’s Guide to Multi-level Prevention, Assessment, Intervention, and Postvention by T. Erbacher, J. Singer, and S. Poland
• The Triple Bind: Saving Our Teenage Girls from Today’s Pressures and Conflicting Expectations by Stephen Hinshaw, Ph.D
• Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls by Lisa Damour, Ph.D 
• Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood by Lisa Damour, Ph.D

• “College students struggle with mental health as pandemic drags on” by Susan Svrluga and Nick Anderson
• “Another Surge in the Virus Has Colleges Fearing a Mental Health Crisis” by Anemona Hartocollis
• “Even before COVID-19 pandemic, youth suicide already at record high”
• “’The urgency is greater than it has every been’: Four suicides rock WPI campus as colleges grapple with student mental health concerns” by Laura Krantz
• “Surge of Student Suicides Pushes Las Vegas Schools to Reopen” by Erica L. Green

• “Suicides in college sports put focus on mental health and those trying to make a difference” by Michelle Gardner
• College Student Athlete Health and Well-being
• Mental Health and Athletes
• Mind, Body, and Sport: The Psychiatrist Perspective
• Let’s Talk About the Quiet Crisis in College Sports: Mental Health
• NCAA faces uphill battle getting mental health care to student-athletes
• It’s okay not to be okay: athlete perspectives on mental health
• Student Athletes Confront Pandemic Mental Health Hurdles
• “Student-Athletes and the Risk of Suicide” by Jacob Lewis
• “Suicides Among Teen Athletes Raise Mental Health Concerns” by Roman Stubbs

• “I can, therefore I must”: Fragility in the upper-middle classes by Suniya S. Luthar, Samuel H. Barkin, and Elizabeth J. Crossman
• Complexities in Adjustment Patterns among the “Best and the Brightest”: Risk and Resilience in the Context of High Achieving Schools by A.Ebbert, N.Kumar, and S.Luthar
• Transition Cliffs for Young Adults with Anxiety and Depression: Is Integrated Mental Health Care a Solution? by A. Babajide, A. Ortin, C. Wei, L. Mufson, and C.S. Duarte
• Mental disorders among college students in the WHO World Mental Health Surveys by R.P. Auerbach, et al.
• Lifetime and 12-month treatment for mental disorders and suicidal thoughts and behaviors among first year college students by R. Bruffaerts, et al.
• Improving Mental Health Help-Seeking Behaviors for Male Students: A Framework for Developing a Complex Intervention by I. Sagar-Ouriaghli, et al.
• The association of school climate, depression literacy, and mental health stigma among high school students by L. Townsend, et al.

Resources

HOW TO HELP SOMEONE WHO IS STRUGGLING

• How to Have a Conversation With Someone Who May Be at Risk: If you notice a friend, family member, or peer exhibiting the signs of someone struggling with their mental health, it is critical that you ensure their safety. Knowing how to approach the situation can be overwhelming, so here are key points for you to follow when helping someone at risk.

INFORMATIVE

• National Alliance on Mental Illness
  • Provides education, information, and advocacy for those affected by mental illness including a HelpLine for symptoms checking, treatment options, local support and services, job services, and legal issues 
• Mental Health America 
  • Provides education, resources, and screenings to detect mental illness and to those living with mental illness
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention 
  • Provides resources for those affected by suicide through research, education, and advocacy
• The American Counseling Association
• The American Psychological Association
• Jed Foundation 
  • Promotes suicide prevention by teaching teens and young adults the skills and support to grow into health adults
• Suicide Loss Survivors- Suicidology
  • Provides free, online resources for suicide attempt survivors, as well as those looking to help a survivor of suicide 
• ULifeline 
  • Provides information about mental health, college specific local resources, and advice for how to help a friend in need of support 
• Know the Signs
  • Offers an interactive tool for third parties to help recognize the signs of suicidal ideation and helpful phrases for talking to someone about suicide
• MHA: Find Help for Someone Else
  • Offers options, info, and resources for someone looking to support a third party who is in crisis now or dealing with long-term issues 
• Half of Us 
  • Offers information on a wide variety of struggles that young people face and connects students with resources to decrease stigma and encourage healthy dialogue
• Heads Up Guys 
  • Offers informative resources for men with depression and third party friends and family who want to support them 
• Talking to Your Parents about Mental Health
  • Provides tips and a letter template for addressing common mental health concerns with parents 
• Anxiety and Depression Association of America 
  • Promotes prevention, treatment and support for anxiety, depression, stress, suicide, and co-occurring disorders
• World Health Organization 
  • Promotes health and addresses health topics to inform individuals about proper care options 
• Child Mind Institute 
  • Offers information about children’s mental health issues for parents and educators, including a symptom checker for a wide range of disorders and info for military families
• National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention 
  • Provides information on standards of care and the ways communities can support those who are struggling 
• The Black Mental Wellness Lounge
  • Run by Brandon Johnson who is nationally recognized expert on black MH and suicide prevention. This YouTube Channel is award winning and

SUPPORT & ADVOCACY

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 
  • Provides free, 24/7 confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress through a hotline. 
  • 1-800-273-8255 
• Crisis Text Line 
  • Provides free, 24/7 crisis support through SMS text messaging 
  • Text HOME to 741741
• SAVE 
  • Provides support groups for suicide loss survivors, as well as resources about suicide and finding help for yourself or others
• TheTribeWellness Community
  • Connects teens and adults to online peer support groups for help facing mental health challenges. Also provides a directory to find a local therapist 
• LiveWell Foundation 
  • Offers online video support groups moderated by trained peer volunteers
• Parental Stress Line
  • Provides a 24 hour helpline for parents who need to discuss issues related to their children 
• Emotions Anonymous 
  • Provides support groups for individuals who struggle with emotional problems through a 12-step program
• OK2Talk 
  • For teens and young adults with mental illness. Offers an online outlet for people to come forward with their own stories, find support, and discuss the diagnoses they may have received.
• Active Minds  
  • Empowers college students to speak out about mental illness and offers resources and ways to help self and others
• Our Minds Matter 
  • A student-led movement designed to change school culture around mental health
• The Trevor Project
  • Provides information and advocacy for LGBTQ young people for mental health and suicide prevention

AFTER A LOSS

• What’s Your Grief?
  • Promotes grief education, exploration, and expression in both practical and creative ways including brochures, webinars, a podcast, and booklets
• Smiles and Tears App
  • Provides an interactive way to record memories, send gifts, and write thoughts, feelings and emotions. Also offers tips on how to manage feelings associated with grief
• The Compassionate Friends 
  • Provides support for family members who have lost a child at any age. Offers local and virtual chapter meetings
• The Dougy Center 
  • Provides information on grieving and ways to find local support groups, especially for children and teens and their families 
• Carson’s Village 
  • Supports individuals who suddenly lost a loved one with: making burial arrangements, a timeline of events, resource library, live support, a family web page, and more 
• National Alliance for Grieving Children
  • Provides information on supporting children through grief, including a national database for grief support programs, camps, and community resources 
• Center for Complicated Grief 
  • Offers help for those who feel “stuck” in grief and provides articles, research, social support groups, and organization to connect with when healing from the loss of a loved one
• Suicide Bereavement Trained Clincians List
  • This is a list of mental health professionals who have received specialized training in working with those who have lost a loved one to suicide. Support after such as a loss can be instrumental in preventing any additional losses to suicide.  The list is maintained by AFSP

• Help Guide 
  • Provides evidence-based articles, self-help tools, and reading for 21 topics for teens, adults, parents, and elderly 
• Antidepressant Skills Workbook for Teens
  • Interactive workbook that offers a step-by-step self-care guide with antidepressant skills for teens managing depression or concerned family members, friends, or partners
• Just for Teens: A Personal Plan for Managing Stress
  • Educates young people about stress, triggers, and stress management. At the end, a worksheet is provided to create a personal stress and self-care management plan 
• Looking After Yourself
  • Offers workbooks for self-guided techniques to improve mental health. Topics include: assertiveness, sleep, procrastination, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, self-compassion, body dysmorphia, perfectionism, and more. 
• Self-Help Anxiety Management App
  • Facilitates self-help for anxiety with resources to build one’s own Anxiety Toolkit through an app for iOS and Android
• Woebot App
  • Provides support for people with depression or anxiety. Provides daily check-ins and lessons to help them change some of their thought patterns
• Decatastrophizing
  • Offers a worksheet for those struggling with anxiety and exaggerating their problems, by addressing irrational thoughts
• Brown Stanley Safety Plan Template 
  • Guides you through a step by step worksheet on how to safety plan for those with suicidal thoughts
• My 3 App 
  • Helps create a safety plan for those experiencing suicidal thoughts, including defining their network and their plan to stay safe 
• Better Stop Suicide App 
  • Psychological techniques to help people who are having suicidal thoughts by encouraging their minds to slow, calm down, and think rationally
•  CBT Guide to Depression Self-Help App
  • Incorporates a lot of CBT methods like a mood log, cognitive diary, emotion training, daily goals, etc.
• Bearable App
  • Best for symptom tracking
• Shine App
  • Best for BIPOC-specific mental health issues
• Youper App
  • Helps users with mood tracking and coping skills for a range of emotional problems in an interactive format with a chat bot
• Distress Tolerance
  • Offers guidance on handling and accepting situations that are out of our control  
• Virtual Hope Box
  • Free app that was developed by the VA but is for any adolescent or adult. It has proven, health coping skills
• Safety Plan App
  • Free app that allows people to put their safety plan in and also includes reminders to remove things from their environment that they could use to harm themselves. It also includes tips on moving towards recovery and some links to resources (although it’s a small list) as well  

APPS: FINDING RELIEF

• Calm: Meditation to help manage anxiety 
• Head Space: Guided meditation and mindfulness techniques
• Moodfit: Mood journal, gratitude, mindfulness, CBT, breathwork, and more
• MoodMission: Learn coping skills for dealing with stress, low mood, and anxiety 
• MoodKit: Over 200 activities designed to boost your mood and help change negative thinking using principles of CBT 
• What’s Up?: Assists with coping with depression, anxiety, and stress. Also includes grounding/breathing techniques and tracking negative thoughts and habits. Offers a forum to connect with others. 
• Stop, Breathe & Think: Provides short activities to guide people through meditation and grounding for mindfulness and self-regulation
• SuperBetter: Offers interactive games and self-care ideas to help people cope with various conditions and/or achieve personal growth 
• Smiling Mind: Mindfulness programs for every age group and for the classroom, workplace, and sports
• Sanvello: Self-care, peer support, coaching, and therapy for stress relief, anxiety, and depression
• iBreathe: Deep breathing exercise to reduce stress and anxiety 
• Happify: Overcome negative thoughts, stress, and life’s challenges using science-backed mental health games 
• NotOK: Free digital panic button to get you immediate support via text, phone call, or GPS location when you are struggling

INTERACTIVE MATERIALS: FINDING RELIEF

•  Dartmouth Relaxation Downloads
  • Provides audio files for guided relaxation, meditation, mindfulness, and imagery exercises 
• Greater Good in Action
  • Provides a list of practices for mindfulness, self-compassion, forgiveness, parenting, happiness, gratitude, stress, relief, and more
• Pixel Thoughts 
  • Offers an interactive, 60-second meditation tool to communicate worries and release bothersome thoughts 
• 99 Coping Skills
  • Provides an interactive list and print-out of 99 coping skills and strategies 
• Breathing GIF 
  • Leads viewers through a breathing exercise following an animated visual aid. Helpful for anxiety or panic attacks 
• 54321 Grounding Technique
  • Leads texter through a five step grounding exercise to find calm 

• 211
  • Connects people with local resources and assistance. Text your zip code to 898211. 
• Open Counseling  
  • Provides a searchable directory for anyone who is in need of local affordable counseling
• Aunt Bertha 
  • Connects people to local resources and support (similar to 211), with the ability to search for low-cost care options 
• SAMHSA Treatment Locator 
  • Provides a directory for locating Behavioral Health Treatment Services for Mental Illness