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Official Website

of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 
    Mental Health

    Crisis Intervention

    This page contains resources for parents, educators, and professionals serving children and youth in school and out-of-school settings.

    Suicide Prevention

    After Suicide Toolkit for Schools (PDF)
    After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools addresses Objective 10.1 of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (2012): Develop guidelines for effective comprehensive support programs for individuals bereaved by suicide and promote the full implementation of these guidelines at the state/territorial, tribal, and community levels.

    #BeThe​1To
    #BeThe1To is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline's message for National Suicide Prevention Month and beyond, spreading the word about actions we can all take to prevent suicide. The Lifeline network and its partners are working to change the conversation from suicide to suicide prevention, to actions that can promote healing, help and give hope. Together, we can prevent suicide by learning to help ourselves, help others, seek consultation from trained providers (hotlines and clinicians) and to seek hospital care when necessary.

    Comprehensive Approach to Suicide Prevention
    The Comprehensive Approach to Suicide Prevention shows nine strategies that form a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention and mental health promotion. Each strategy is a broad goal that can be advanced through an array of possible activities (i.e., programs, policies, practices, and services).

    Crisis Text Line
    The Crisis Text Line provides 24/7, free support for those in crisis. Text 741741 from anywhere in the U.S. to text with a trained Crisis Counselor. Crisis Text Line trains volunteers to support people in crisis. With over 79 million messages processed to date, they are growing quickly, but so is the need.

    Florida School Toolkit for K-12 Educators to Prevent Suicide 
    The Florida School Toolkit for K–12 Educators to Prevent Suicide (Florida S.T.E.P.S.) was developed to assist schools with suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. School administrators and school mental health professionals (SMHPs), including school counselors, social workers, and school psychologists, are critical leaders in driving suicide prevention efforts. Collaboration between schools and community and state suicide prevention resources is also fundamental. Florida S.T.E.P.S. takes a comprehensive approach by including information, tips, and tools that can help you forge coalitions, adjust or enhance existing plans, or create new ones.

    National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
    The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free, and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. If you're thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States. Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

    SAMHSA's Suicide Prevention Resource Center 
    SAMHSA's Suicide Prevention Resource Center provides accurate data, up-to-date research, and knowledge of effective strategies and interventions that are essential to our ability to prevent suicide. Programs, toolkits, fact sheets, and other resources are available to help you take effective action.

    SPRC's Effective Suicide Prevention Model
    The SPRC's Effective Suicide Prevention Model offers a four-minute video that provides a brief overview, which can help you carry out suicide prevention efforts that are most likely to be effective. It will guide you through the three elements of the model—Strategic Planning, Keys to Success, and the Comprehensive Approach.

    ​ Strategic Planning Approach to Suicide Prevention
    Suicide prevention activities, programs, and other efforts are most effective when they are guided by a strategic planning process. The Suicide Prevention Resource Center's Strategic Planning website can be applied to any aspect of your work—whether you are starting a new program or assessing your progress midway through a project. 

    ​ Trans Lifeline
    Trans Lifeline is a national trans-led 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to improving the quality of trans lives by responding to the critical needs of the community with direct service, material support, advocacy, and education. Fighting the epidemic of trans suicide and improving overall life-outcomes of trans people, the Trans Lifeline facilitates justice-oriented, collective community aid. Their peer support hotline is run by and for trans people and is available daily from 7 a.m.–1 a.m. PST / 9 a.m.–3 a.m. CST / 10 a.m.–4 a.m. EST. Volunteers may be available during off hours. Call 877-565-8860 to speak to someone.

    Trev​or Lifeline
    The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25. The TrevorLifeline is a crisis intervention and suicide prevention phone service available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386. TrevorText is available by texting "START" to 678678.

    TrevorSpace
    TrevorSpace is an online international peer-to-peer community for LGBTQ young people and their friends.

    Zero Suicide 
    The foundational belief of Zero Suicide is that suicide deaths for individuals under the care of health and behavioral health systems are preventable. For systems dedicated to improving patient safety, Zero Suicide presents an aspirational challenge and practical framework for system-wide transformation toward safer suicide care. 

    Suicide Prevention Month Resource Guide

    The Jana Marie Foundation, Prevent Suicide PA, Pennsylvania Network for Student Assistance Services, and Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention Grant are pleased to share a Suicide Prevention​ Month Resource Guide (PDF) that offers activities to raise awareness of the importance of suicide prevention. September is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Month, September 6-12 is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Week, and September 10 is recognized as World Suicide Prevention Day.

    Crisis Response

    National Association of School Psychologists
    The National Association of School Psychologists offers resources for schools and families. 

    Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS)
    The REMS TA Center offers a variety of Trainings by Request for delivery on-site at schools, districts, or institutions of higher education. For each training, they provide—free of charge—training materials, as well as one or more expert trainers and TA Center staff support for the event hosted at your site.

    Additional Resources

    List of mental health service providers and contacts organized alphabetically by county in Pennsylvania.