Tip 13 PREVENTING DEPRESSION
Tip 14 PREVENTING SUICIDE
Provided by the Safe Schools Unit, San Diego County Office of Education

STUDENTS:

• Understand sadness is a normal feeling, it can and will go away. Talk with an adult, there are skills you can learn to help you cope.
• If you feel hopeless, you must talk to your parents or an adult you trust right away.
• Remember depression and suicidal feelings are treatable, get professional help.
• If a friend talks or jokes about suicide, take it seriously. Tell a teacher, counselor or an adult you trust.
• Suicide hotline: 1-800-479-3339

PARENTS:

• Listen, talk, ask questions and never make fun of your child's concerns.
• Reinforce sadness is a normal feeling, help your child learn coping skills and teach problem solving skills.
• If your child is seriously depressed, get professional help.
• Pay attention to any of these warning signs and get professional help:
  • Changes in eating or sleeping habits
  • Withdrawal from family & friends
  • Drug/alcohol use
  • Neglects appearance
  • Unexplained violent behavior
  • Focus on themes of death
  • Talking, joking, threatening suicide

SCHOOLS:

• Increase counselor and school psychologists' availability.
• Encourage teachers to detect changes in students' behavior and report concerns.
• Train teachers in suicide detection and prevention.
• Any talk of suicide should be taken seriously.
• Encourage students to talk with adults on campus. Create a culture where students know they're cared for and loved.

SUICIDE HOTLINE NUMBER: 1-800-479-3339