What Help Is Out There?
Many of us wonder what free mental health help is out there for suicide prevention. You could wonder because someone you care for is acting different and you are concerned. You might be asking because you are starting to notice concerning thoughts you are having. You might wonder what mental health help is available. For all of these questions, I welcome you into our discussion and want you to know you aren't alone. Entire teams of dedicated individuals are helping to answer these questions.
Our goal is to share several of these organizations and individuals who can help those you care for.
But first, let's define: "What is suicide and suicidal ideation?"
Suicide is classically defined as life threatening, deliberate actions taken against oneself. Though suicide is most commonly spoken of in terms of an act which is been completed, it is important to also understand the term “suicidal ideation.”
What Is Suicidal Ideation?
Suicidal ideation means an individual wants to take their own life and/or thinks about suicide. This includes two types: passive and active.
Passive suicidal ideation means an individual wishes they could die or were dead, yet they do not have a plan or intent to make this happen.
Active suicidal ideation means an individual both thinks about wanting to take their own life and also has intention to do this, along with a plan to act.
Safety Plan Resources
BeyondBlue App provides tools to build and implement a safety plan.
Suicide Prevention Lifeline – Safety Plan Template. 1 page safety plan print off with space to write in warning signs, coping strategies, and more. https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/wpcontent/uploads/2016/08/Brown_StanleySafetyPlanTemplate.pdf
Get Self-Help Offers a second safety plan print off, with tools and resources from the UK. https://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/docs/SafetyPlan.pdf
Therapist Aid Offers free worksheets for building a self-harm safety plan, suicide assessment, and warning signs. https://www.therapistaid.com/therapy-worksheets/suicide/none
Nick’s Experience With Using A Safety Plan One young man’s story of how he uses a safety plan in times which feel challenging. https://youtu.be/jW2Hvv_vN40
Suicide Prevention Tools, Helps, & Resources
Our goal, at Change Your narrative, is to go beyond inspiration alone, but to provide education and directional guidance - pointing you and the individuals that you care for towards skilled care. We do not want to simply define suicide and suicidal ideation, yet want you to know there are ways to combat it through organizations, individuals, and communities who can provide the best support. For a sample listing of such organizations, we have compiled the following below:
Apps Which Offer Support
TalkLife offers online support similar to group therapy. Share anonymously or with your name.
Moodpath offers 14 days of check ins, providing an overview of your emotional well-being. Plus 100+ exercises.
Happify includes games and activities which elevate mood and build resilience through CBT, mindfulness and positivity.
What’s Up aids individuals in discovering the cause of feelings and thoughts though guided questioning.
Self-Help For Anxiety Management (SAM) offers an anxiety toolkit which tracks thoughts and behaviors, while also offering tools to combat negativity.
Panic Relief provides coping strategies, exercise, and breathing techniques to help move through a moment of panic.
PTSD Coach provides ways to understand PTSD along with how to find additional help.
BeyondBlue App provides tools to build and implement a safety plan.
Communities Which Offer Support
To Write Love On Her Arms -
Offers a search for free or low cost therapy options to connect with a therapist.
7 Cups Of Tea -
Offers chat rooms to begin a conversation, plus educational videos and when to seek professional help.
Lifeline Crisis Chat -
Offers free, online chatting with trained individuals.
Love Is Respect -
Offers education, support and advocacy to those facing complicated dating issues,
along with a live chat feature connecting you to trained advocates.
Remedy Live -
Offers a faith-based videos on mental health issues along with trained advocates who want to
connect.
Anxiety And Depression Association Of America -
Provides a listing of support groups, including a search feature to find a group near you.
Heads Up Guys -
Provides action points and support specifically for men from men.
OK2 Talk -
Offers online support, education, and relatable stories for teens and young adults who battle mental health.
Resources For Men
Heads Up Guys
https://headsupguys.org/mens-depression/suicide/
Site offers male-specific action steps.
Man Therapy
https://mantherapy.org
Site uses humor to discuss difficult topics.
Suicide Prevention Resource Center
https://www.sprc.org/populations/men
Male-centered mental health resources.
Male Depression And Suicide: The Barbers Trying To Get Men To Talk About Their Mental Health
Channel 4 News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68Xq2gh-hQ4
Face It Foundation
https://www.faceitfoundation.org
Provides guidance to overcome depression
Your Head: An Owner’s Manual PDF Resource
https://up2sd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/ownersmanual-1.pdf
Printable PDF filled with resources and tools for those wanting to learn more about male mental health issues.
Resources for Parents
The American Depression And Anxiety Association of America has a screening tool for you to use and share with your child’s doctor. It can be found here:
Youth Suicide Prevention
https://youtu.be/3BByqa7bhto
Mayo Clinic
Teen’s share their own warning signs and what questions to ask to get involved in supporting them.
Talking With Kids About Suicide
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axoTuFd51Pk
Offers professional medical insight on if it is okay to ask, “Have you ever thought about suicide?”
Are You The Parent Of A Suicidal Teen? You Are Not Alone.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2016/04/25/parents-of-suicidal-teens-say-they-feel-alone-here-are-resources-to-help/
Article is filled with a tremendous amount of support and resources—along with parent-to- parent insight.
Preventing Suicide: What Families Need To Know
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVi56-Qaa8s
Seattle Children’s
Offers guidance for parents from other parents, combined with professional insight on how to identify warning signs, along with what to do.
In the Gray Area Of Being Suicidal
The Mighty
One Young Woman’s explanation of her suicidal thoughts. Offers insight into the types of thoughts and emotions a loved one may feel.
Dear Mom (What I Wish You Would Do)
Offers a first person, open letter from a daughter to her mother. It is a bit jarring and blunt. There is language in it. But, it is included for the sake of insight on how one daughter sought to be approached by her family—along with resources for families.
Is This The Night? Family Workbook
Title claims to be a “a self-care guide for family & friends impacted by a suicidal crisis.”
A Voice At The Table
30-minute documentary, focusing on four families—as they share their story of suicidal
crisis. Focuses on the journey of suicide attempt survivors and their families as they seek
wholeness.
Support For Families
The National Alliance On Mental Illness has a directory of support groups for you and your family.
The Society For Adolescent Heath And Medicine has a comprehensive listing of additional support options.
The Depression And Bipolar Alliance Support
Alliance offers connection to local chapters.
Family Caregiver Alliance provides a map of network help in your area.
Resources For Ministry Leaders
How to Build Education, Understanding & Community Around Someone Who Is Struggling
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xF3kXLz2MQs
Life.Church
Offers a roundtable discussion of how to be supportive of someone who struggles.
Tips For Students – How To Talk About Mental Health
https://www.mhanational.org/time-talk-tips-talking-about-your-mental-health
Includes several prompts which help students get started with beginning an important conversation, including a letter template. Can be utilized as a means for helping young people frame the discussion.
DYM FREE Suicide Prevention Training
https://blog.downloadyouthministry.com/free-dymuniversity-course-suicide-prevention/
“Understanding Mental Illness and Suicide Detection and Prevention from Suicide Prevention Specialist, Craig Lomax with introductions by Kay Warren, Co-founder of Saddleback Church.” - Quote from site
9 Things The Church Gets Wrong About Suicide
http://www.recklesslyalive.com/9-things-christians-suicide/
A suicide attempt survivor offers his own insight on what we miss in ministry, along with action steps for churches to learn how to offer the right type of support.
10 Free Ways Your Church Can Stop Mental Health
Stigma
https://churchandmentalhealth.com/10-free-ways-your-church-can-stop-mental-health-stigma/
Offers actionable steps to create a haven of support within your community, along with links to get started.
How To Create A Suicide Prevention Policy
https://churchandmentalhealth.com/creating-a-church-suicide-prevention-policy/
Offers your leaders a template for drafting policy and procedures when an individual shares suicidal thoughts with them.
How To Discuss Suicide In Youth Group
https://youthministry.com/discussing-suicide-youth-group/
Provides key talking points for those considering developing a message around this important mental health topic.
Youth Suicide Prevention
https://youtu.be/3BByqa7bhto
Mayo Clinic
Teen’s share their own warning signs and what questions to ask to get involved in supporting them.
Campus Crusade – Suicide Prevention Resources
https://www.cru.org/us/en/train-and-grow/life-and-relationships/hardships/suicide-prevention-resources.html
A compilation of articles and tools CRU uses on campus.
Orange Blogs – Compilation of Resources
http://orangeblogs.org/orangeleaders/2018/09/20/mental-health-suicide/
Offers a wide listing of resources for intergenerational ministries.
YM Blog – Scary Stuff: Self-Harm – by Kurt Johnson
https://youthministry.com/scary-stuff-part-3-self-harm/
How to best respond to a student who confides about their self-harm and how you can be there for them and their parents.
How Does The Gospel Apply To Self-Injury?
Key Ministries
https://www.keyministry.org/church4everychild/2016/8/23/how-does-the-gospel-apply-to-self-injury
Offers a gospel-centric lens in which to find a young person tangible help along with spiritual guidance.
Four Reasons Kids Cut To Cope
Key Minsitries
https://www.keyministry.org/church4everychild/2016/7/19/four-reasons-teens-cut-to-cope
Offers insight into why self-injury happens and what our response as should be.
What To Do When A Student Self-Harms – Podcast
Orange Blogs
http://orangeblogs.org/xp3students/rym-011-what-to-do-when-a-student-self-harms/
Beyond Skin Deep: Responding To Kids Who Cut
Fuller Youth Institute
https://fulleryouthinstitute.org/articles/beyond-skin-deep
Resources For Teachers
The Fight Against Teen Suicide Begins In The Classroom Brittni Darras | TEDxMileHigh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofjRnIpXBF0
TedxTalks
One teacher’s guidance for other educators on talking about student suicidal ideation.
SAM App – Identifying The Language Of Suicide
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEY3rLFgEgw
“Spreading Activation Mobile” or “SAM” is an app which offers individuals the opportunity to identify suicidality and mental health issues. Ideal for those who work with students and young persons to help them learn what to look for in order to promote healthy outlooks.
To read more, visit: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2017/09/25/teenage-suicide-is-extremely-difficult-to-predict-thats-why-some-experts-are-turning-to-machines-for-help/
Tips For Talking About Your Mental Health
https://www.mhanational.org/time-talk-tips-talking-about-your-mental-health
Includes several prompts which help students get started with beginning an important conversation, including a letter template. Can be utilized as a means for helping young people frame the discussion.
What to Do When A Student Self-Harms
We Are Teachers
https://www.weareteachers.com/student-self-harm/
The missing manual for understanding and dealing with students who self-injure.
Educators And Self-Injury
https://educatorsandselfinjury.com
Offers an eBook which hosts templates for protocol your school board can enact, along with how to communicate with parents.
Resources For Teenagers Whose Friends Struggle
Youth Suicide Prevention
https://youtu.be/3BByqa7bhto
Mayo Clinic
Teen’s share their own stories.
Your Life Your Voice
http:// http://www.yourlifeyourvoice.org/Pages/suicidal-thoughts.aspx
Offers a wide range of teen-focused articles, PDF tools, downloadable resources, and conversations on important topics, including suicidal ideation.
Stuff Mom Never Told You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOTJ1Xh5lZw
Offers clear, direct guidance that your mom may not have told you, especially on how to be a good friend to someone who has told you they have suicidal thoughts.
How To Help Someone Who Is Suicidal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLcKKSMbdpw
The Psych Show
Offers suggestions on how to discuss the topic and several immediate actions you can take on their behalf.
Resources For Teenagers Who Struggle
How To Tell Your Parents You Are Suicidal
https://themighty.com/2016/12/how-to-tell-your-parents-you-want-to-die/
Key tips for having an important conversation.
Time To Talk: Talking To Your Parents
https://www.mhanational.org/time-talk-talking-your-parents
Includes reactions to thoughts and feelings you might be having about talking with your parents and how you can build courage in order to find support.
Tips For Talking About Your Mental Health
https://www.mhanational.org/time-talk-tips-talking-about-your-mental-health
Includes a letter template to help you get started with beginning an important
conversation.
If You Struggle - I Want You To Know, I Am Glad You Are Here...
It takes courage to begin a journey to seek wholeness. Though many of us will face individual struggles in our own life—there are some struggles which feel as if they have the power to take the pen and write our future.
But you are the author—not any pain, brokenness, or hurt of your past and present.
The goal of this site is to create an environment of support along with hosting resources and tools which guide you towards wholeness.
Because your story—is far from over.
We are rooting for you, not only once you complete your journey, but every step through it.
If you are looking for a guide to help you process your story and walk a journey of wholeness - we would love to partner with you in the Suicide Matters - Change Your Narrative Video Mentorship Guide.
Check out a sneak peak here:
If you or someone you care for is in danger of harm, please contact one of the numbers below.
For Immediate Help:
Covenant House- 1800-999-9999
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8255
Youth Crisis Line – 1800 Hit Home
Hopeline 1800-442-5673
If You Wonder “What Is It Like To Contact A Hotline?” – check it out here:
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