Suicide Prevention Resources
October 6, 2021
Suicide is a leading cause of death among adolescents in Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. Reducing access to firearms and medications at home could save thousands of lives for people experiencing suicidality. Encourage families to limit access to these by practicing safe firearm storage and safe medicine storage and disposal.
Resources for Providers and Families
Firearms
- Tips for counseling families on safe firearm storage. (PDF)
- The Washington Firearm Safe Storage Map includes businesses and law enforcement agencies across the state willing to consider requests for temporary, voluntary firearm storage to people in crisis.
- Teens, Depression and Firearms (English) (Russian) (Spanish) (PDF)
Medication
- Tell families to take medicine that is expired or no longer needed to a drop-box or request a mail-back envelop for free through takebackyourmeds.org.
- Safe medicine storage and disposal to prevent misuse
Training for Providers
Consider a tune-up in your suicide prevention skills with a three- or six-hour class that offers CME or CNE credit: “All Patients Safe: Suicide Prevention for Medical Professionals.” This online training is designed by leading experts and healthcare organizations specifically for medical professionals and client-facing staff in Washington state. It is free to all Washington state providers and client-facing staff through November 2021. Out-of-state provider cost is $49 for the three-hour training or $98 for the six-hour training. See the FAQs and program flyer, and register at uw.edu/register-1.
Other Mental Health Resources from Seattle Children’s
Suicide Screening
- Suicide Screening Pathway, Seattle Children’s
- LEARN Saves Lives Suicide Prevention Tips, University of Washington
- Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) Toolkit , National Institute of Mental Health, NIH