ASB Students Offer Valuable Suicide Prevention Resources

September is Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month. This year, we would like to let you know of some outreach sources to use in times of need. Depression and suicidal thoughts are actually quite common. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in youth (14-18). Around 20% of high schoolers considered suicide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2019. Help is available, and it’s okay to ask for help. It’s also important to talk to and connect with others to find out if they need support.

North Marion High School Associated Student Body (our student leaders) would like to encourage you to reach out to your friends and classmates to remind them how important they are to you. It is almost impossible to tell if someone is having suicidal thoughts unless they tell you. Many loved ones of people who die by suicide report never knowing they were having suicidal thoughts. Talk to those around you and lift them up! If you are concerned about someone, speak up and tell a trusted adult. 

Also, please share these ways to get help with everyone. You never know who might need them. All of these are confidential:

• Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988
• Youthline, a teen crisis helpline with teen-to-teen support: call 1-877-968-8491 or text 839863 (other teens can chat from 4 to 10 p.m.)
• The Trevor  Project LGBTQ+ Hotline: call 1-866-488-7386, text 678678, or webchat at thetrevorproject.org/webchat
• National Sexual Assault Hotline: call 1-800-656-4673 or webchat at hotline.rainn.org/online
• Crisis Text Line: To talk to a counselor about eating disorders, depression, suicide, or other things that are overwhelming you, please text “hello” to 741741
• Eating Disorders Hotline: Text or call 1-800-931-2237

You could save someone’s life by sharing these resources with them and those who love them.