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Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families


Division of Prevention & Behavioral Health Services

Youth Suicide Prevention & Support


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For Immediate Assistance

24/7 Youth Crisis Support: 1-800-969-HELP(4357)

Crisis Text and Chat Line: 988

Emergency Response: Dial 9-1-1

For those age 18 or older:

Delaware Division of Substance Abuse & Mental Health Crisis Intervention Services (Mobile Crisis)

New Castle County: 1-800-652-2929
Kent and Sussex counties: 1-800-345-6785

Note: Any police department, hospital or walk-in clinic can call a mobile crisis unit for anyone in distress.

Suicide Warning Signs

illustration of changing emotions

Feelings

  • Hopelessness: feeling like things are bad and won’t get any better. Fear of losing control, going crazy, harming himself/herself or others.
  • Worthlessness: feeling like an awful person and people would be better off if he/she were dead. Hating himself/herself, feeling guilty or ashamed. Being extremely sad and lonely, feeling anxious, worried or angry all the time.
a person consoling another person

Actions

  • Drug or alcohol abuse
  • Talking or writing about death or destruction
  • Aggression: getting into fights or having arguments with people
  • Recklessness: doing risky or dangerous things
a sad person and another person there supporting them

Changes

  • Personality: behaving like a different person, becoming withdrawn, tired all the time, not caring about anything, or becoming more talkative, outgoing
  • Behavior: can’t concentrate on school or regular tasks
  • Sleeping and eating patterns: sleeping all the time or not being able to sleep at all, or waking up in the middle of the night or early in the morning and not being able to get back to sleep, losing appetite and/or overeating and gaining weight
  • Losing interest in friends, hobbies, and appearance, or in activities or sports previously enjoyed
speech bubbles

Threats

  • Statements like “How long does it take to bleed to death?”
  • Threats like “I won’t be around much longer” or “Don’t tell anyone else..you won’t be my friend if you tell!”
  • Plans like giving away favorite things, studying about ways to die, obtaining a weapon or a stash of pills: the risk is very high if a person has a plan and the way to do it

a broken heart with a bandaid

Situations

  • Getting into trouble at school, home or with the law
  • Recent loss through death, divorce, or separation; the break-up of a relationship; losing an opportunity or a dream; losing self-esteem
  • Changes in life that feel overwhelming
  • Being exposed to suicide or the death of a peer under any circumstances

Source: Lifelines: A Suicide Prevention Program

Suicide Prevention Resources

Free Social Media Graphics & Materials

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You Are Not Alone Campaign Materials Social Media Graphics

Social media graphic. It's okay to...not feel okay. You are not alone. #NotAloneDE
Social media graphic. "It's okay to ... not feel okay. You are not alone." #NotaloneDE Text 988 or call 1-800-969-HELP
Social media graphic. "It's okay to ... not feel okay. You are not alone." #NotaloneDE Text 988 or call 1-800-969-HELP
Social media graphic. "It's okay to...get help for a friend in need. You are not alone." #NotaloneDE Text 988 or call 1-800-969-HELP
Social media graphic. "It's okay to...ask for help. You are not alone." #NotaloneDE Text 988 or call 1-800-969-HELP
Social media graphic. "It's okay to... not feel okay. 66% of Delaware teens report feeling sad, empty, hopeless, angry or anxious according to University of Delaware Center for Drug and Health Studies." #NotaloneDE Text 988 or call 1-800-969-HELP
Social media graphic. "It's okay to...get be there for a friend in need." You are not alone. #NotaloneDE Text 988 or call 1-800-969-HELP
Social media graphic. "It's okay to...talk about it." You are not alone. #NotaloneDE Text 988 or call 1-800-969-HELP

Suicide Prevention Materials

Spanish poster for preventing suicide
Download PDF file for Hay esperanza. Hay ayuda. El suicdideio puede evitarse
Preventing Teen Suicide: Tips for Peers
Download PDF file for Preventing Teen Suicide: Tips for Peers
Do you know the facts? page PDF preview
Download PDF file for Do you know the FACTS? Suicide Warning Signs