You’re Not Alone: Resources for Suicide Prevention and Healing

Talking about suicide can be difficult. Knowing where to turn can be just as hard. Whether you are worried about a child, supporting a grieving family member, or simply looking for ways to help your community, you do not have to figure it out alone.

There are resources for starting conversations, recognizing warning signs, supporting someone after a loss, and learning how communities can play a role in suicide prevention. Sometimes, the first step is simply knowing where to look.

Many parents hesitate to talk about suicide with their children. They may worry that the conversation is too serious or that asking about suicide could somehow put the idea in a child's head. Research and guidance from children's mental health organizations do not support that concern.

While suicide remains rare among children under 12, suicidal thoughts and behaviors can occur in young children. Between 2016 and 2021, suicide and self-injury cases among patients ages 5 to 18 seen in children's hospital emergency departments increased by 168.6%.

A simple question such as "How have you been feeling lately?" can open the door. If you have concerns, asking directly about thoughts of suicide can help a child understand that they can talk to you about even the hardest things.

Sometimes a book can open a door that feels difficult to approach on your own. For a child or teen dealing with suicide loss, grief, or big emotions, seeing those experiences reflected in a story can help them feel a little less alone.

The King County Library System has put together a thoughtful reading list with books for different ages and circumstances. Parents will find titles they can read alongside younger children, books written with tweens in mind, and resources for adults who are trying to talk with a child or loved one about suicide and loss.

Two of the recommended titles are Why? A Story for Kids Who Have Lost a Parent to Suicide by Melissa Allen Heath and Things You Can't Say by Jenn Bishop. Each approaches difficult subjects in a way that can give families something concrete to talk about.

You do not have to finish a book before starting a conversation. A character's experience, a question that comes up while reading, or even a difficult passage can provide a natural opening. For a grieving child, simply knowing that other people have experienced deep loss can be comforting.

Teen depression does not always look like sadness. Irritability, withdrawal from friends, loss of interest in favorite activities, changes in sleep or eating habits, and trouble concentrating can all signal that something may be wrong. 

The numbers surrounding suicide can be difficult to absorb, but they remind us why prevention and early support matter. Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death in the United States, with a person dying by suicide about every 11 minutes. 

Suicide prevention is not limited to mental health professionals. Schools, families, community organizations, first responders, and local governments all have opportunities to make a difference.

If you or someone you know is in immediate emotional distress or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If there is an immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.