Suicide Prevention Resources

Suicide is a leading cause of death among adolescents in Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. Suicide is also preventable. Firearm related attempts have a much higher case fatality rate than nearly every other method. 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 and medications

• Seattle Children’s gun safety page offers toolkits and guides to help families prevent firearm related injuries including information about safe firearm storage and a handout that helps explain the connection between teens, depression and firearm safety.
• Share this public service announcement on Safe Firearm Storage: Family Firearm Fast-Draw.
• Encourage families to take medicine that is expired or no longer needed to a drop-box or request a mail-back envelope for free through medtakebackwashington.org.
• Share this guide on safe medicine storage and disposal to prevent misuse.

Suicide prevention

• Share this public service announcement from Seattle Children’s with parents to help them “ask the question” and guide their discussion with their kids about having suicidal thoughts.
• Encourage families to read through this suicide prevention page (Spanish) with robust information about how to talk about suicide.
• Let families know that Seattle Children’s Psychiatric Urgent Care Clinic offers same-day in-person and virtual (video) visits for children and teens ages 4 through 17 in Washington state who need urgent mental health support but do not need the services of an emergency department (ED).

Other Mental Health Resources from Seattle Children’s

Suicide screening

• Review Seattle Children’s suicide screening pathway and learn more about the Suicide Prevention Program.
• Read the LEARN Saves Lives Suicide Prevention Tips from the University of Washington.
• Look through the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) Toolkit developed by the National Institute of Mental Health.

Mental health resources

• Encourage parents to review the mental health resources page for several guides and tools to help support their family.
• Share information about the Washington Mental Health Referral Service for Children and Teens.
• Provide families with this Hotlines for Youth PDF (Spanish)