Resources on suicide prevention come in many different forms, depending on whether you are the family member of a person who has attempted or completed suicide, a young person who has thought about suicide or who has friends who are thinking about suicide, someone who has attempted suicide but did not complete the suicide, or a professional who works with families and individuals affected by suicide. This website organizes resources, including publications and organizations, according to those categories. 

Resources Related to Suicide Prevention Among Gay and Questioning Youth

Talking about Suicide and LGBT Populations: This guide provides ways to talk about suicide more safely; includes recommendations developed by leading suicide prevention organizations, including the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC).

Suppporting LGTBQ Youth in Our Schools and Communities: Webinar (scroll to "Recorded Webinars")
LGBTQ youth face unique challenges in our schools and communities that put them at statistically higher risk for social isolation, bullying and suicide. This webinar discusses practical strategies and steps schools can take to promote the well-being and academic success of all students, and how to foster a positive school climate for teens in school regardless of their sexual orientation, gender expression or gender identity. 

Suicide Prevention among LGBT Youth: A Workshop for Professionals Who Serve Youth, Suicide Prevention Resource Center (2010). Free workshop kit to help staff in schools, youth-serving organizations, and suicide prevention programs take action to reduce suicidal behavior among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth. Materials can be personalized to fit your context.

Diversity and Suicidal Behavior, American Psychological Association (2009).

It Gets Better, a series of short videos about bullying. A project of The Trevor Project, a confidential, toll-free suicide hotline for gay and questioning youth.

• PowerPoint presentation from Trevor Project webinar: Connect, Accept, Respond, Empower: How to Support LGBTQ Youth, February 2011

"Suicide and Bullying," Issue Brief from the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, March 2011: examines the relationship between suicide and bullying among children and adolescents, with special attention to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth. It also explores strategies for preventing these problems.

Suicide Risk and Prevention for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth, from the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, 2008.

News article: "Suicides Put Light on Pressures of Gay Teenagers," New York Times, October 3, 2010.


Resources on Bullying and Suicide

NEW! Webinar, Bullying and Suicide Prevention, February 2012
Many schools and communities are struggling to find effective ways to prevent both bullying and suicidal behavior among youth. This webinar provides the latest research and science on the relationship between bullying and suicide and will outline some of the shared risk and protective factors. The webinar also discusses the main principles of a comprehensive whole school approach to bullying prevention. 

Suicide.org: Bullying and Suicide

"Bullying and Suicide: How Do We Adjust School Climate," Christian Science Monitor, April 28, 2010
 
"Suicide and Bullying," Issue Brief from the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC), March 2011: examines the relationship between suicide and bullying among children and adolescents, with special attention to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth. It also explores strategies for preventing these problems.

More general resources on bullying


Miscellaneous General Resources

Best Practices Registry for Suicide Prevention: Identifies, reviews and disseminates information about best practices that address specific objectives of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. A collaboration of the Suicide Prevention Resource Center and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, funded by SAMHSA.

Revised "Youth Suicidal Behavior—Fact Sheet," American Association of Suicidology, 2011
 
Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention: A public-private partnership advancing the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention

Delaware County Suicide Prevention Newsletter, Spring 2011

Youth Suicide Prevention School-Based Guide: Published by the University of South Florida's Mental Health Institute, this guide which is also available on CD-Rom identifies and defines the elements of a comprehensive, schoolbased suicide prevention program; examines the scientific literature; and; and contains checklists and self-assessment instruments.

Substance Abuse and Suicide Prevention: Evidence and Implications—A White Paper (2008): Published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), this paper focuses on the current state of knowledge regarding the intersection of substance abuse and suicide.

"Preventing Teen Suicide," by Megan Foreman and Martha Saenz, in Legisbrief from the National Conference of State Legislatures, April-May 2010.

"Promoting Individual, Family, and Community Connectedness to Prevent Suicidal Behavior," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Strategic Direction for the Prevention of Suicidal Behavior

"Attachment-based family therapy for adolescents with suicidal ideation: a randomized controlled trial," by Guy Diamond, Matthew Wintersteen and others, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, February 2010. Abstract of article.

Harvard School of Public Health "Means Matter": Focuses on how a person attempts suicide, which plays a key role in whether they live or die.

Promoting Mental Health and Preventing Suicide in College and University Settings, prepared by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, 2004: Summarizes what we know about suicide and suicide prevention among college and university students, and recommends ways colleges and universities can promote mental health and preven suicidal behavior.

American Association of Suicidology Issues Reviews of Suicide Prevention Videos: In response to requests for recommendations for appropriate suicide prevention videos for different audiences.
Check out the list  of "recommended," "recommendations with minor reservation," and "not recommended." 

Webinar: Suicide Prevention in Rural Communities
On June 4, 2009, the Technical Assistance Partnership in Children's Mental Health hosted a webinar on "Suicide Prevention in Rural Communities." You can listen to the audio from the webinar as well as download the PowerPoint presentation.

Well Aware: Involved in national suicide prevention efforts to bring the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, first released in 2001 from the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General, to reality. Work is centered on strategic communications, and applying this to advance awareness, knowledge and practice so as to reduce suicide in America. Information from recent webinars.


Information on Reporting About Suicide and Concerns about Contagion:

Research to Practice Webinar: "Suicide Narratives in the News Media: What Effects Might They Have and What Can We Do?," August 4, 2011. Slides and audio presentation.

Recommendations for Reporting on Suicide: New recommendations for media reporting on suicide are now available for journalists covering the issue of suicide. The Recommendations for Media Reporting on Suicide document was developed by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE), among others.

For the Media: Reporting About Suicide: Research has shown that graphic, sensationalized or romanticized descriptions of suicide deaths in the news media can contribute to suicide contagion, popularly referred to as “copycat” suicides. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has worked with the Annenberg Public Policy Center to improve the way suicide is covered in the media. 

Safe and Effective Messaging for Suicide Prevention: This document from the Suicide Prevention Resource Center offers evidence-based recommendations for creating safe and effective messages to raise public awareness that suicide is a serious and preventable public health problem.

At-a-Glance: Safe Reporting on Suicide: Another document from the Suicide Prevention Resource Center provides recommendations for reporter and editors for safe reporting.