In recognition of September as Suicide Prevention Month, we encourage support for all our youth, especially those in marginalized groups, such as girls, BIPOC, and members of the LGBTQ+ community who face disproportionately higher risks. While the 2023 CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey demonstrates progress with a minor decline in suicide risk from 2021 to 2023, young people continue to face unprecedented struggles with their mental health as 1 in 10 high school students report making a suicide attempt. These findings coupled with ongoing reports of making plans, actual suicide attempts, and sustaining injuries as a result of attempts calls attention to the work that still needs to be done.

Suicide Prevention Month reinforces our commitment to addressing this important topic year-round, providing a dedicated time to raise awareness. As Suicide Prevention Month draws to a close we invite you to check out the CTAC offerings below (including webinars, tools, resources, and self-paced learning modules) to support your crucial work. We’ve also included local and national resources to support your awareness and competencies around Suicide Prevention.

CTAC Webinars:

Trauma Responsive and Affirming Practices to Reduce Suicide among Trans and Gender Expansive Youth 

Breaking Barriers: Understanding and Combating Mental Health Stigma Among Children, Youth, and Families 

 Emotional Distress in Adolescent Girls: Highlights from the 2023 CDC Report 

“Can We Talk?" Supporting Those Who Care for Young People with Suicidal Ideation 

Youth Suicide Risk Assessment & Safety Planning 

Assessing and Treating Non-Suicidal Self-Injury 

Responding to the Crisis of Black Youth Suicide: Clinical Implications - Part 1 

Responding to the Crisis of Black Youth Suicide: Clinical Implications Part 2 

Conversations with Dr. Tony: Reimagining Youth Suicide Prevention featuring Dr. Pamela Morris 

Identifying and Treating Self-Harming Behaviors Among Youth Using Technology and Social Media 

Suicide Prevention Among School-Age Children 

Understanding Adolescent Self-Injury

CTAC Tools and Resources:

Building Resilience in Transgender Youth: A Resource for Mental Health Providers 

Supporting a Young Person Who May be Considering Suicide: Information for Parents and Caregivers (also available in Spanish)

A Clinician’s Tip Sheet for Working with Child Trauma Survivors (also available in Spanish)

A Caregiver’s Guide to Children and Trauma (also available in Spanish)

A Conversation About the Current Youth Mental Health Crisis Tip Sheet

Tips for Providers: Helping Children and Youth Cope with Collective Grief

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) & Parenting: Information for Caregivers Brochure (also available in Spanish)

Supporting Staff and Clients Following a Death by Suicide

Introduction to Safety Planning (online course)

Other Resources to Support Suicide Prevention:

Suicide Prevention Center of New York State (SPCNY) provides technical assistance that advances the  New York State Suicide Prevention Plan. The mission of NYSOMH SPCNY is to promote, coordinate, and advance suicide prevention across the state.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is a voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death. 

Attempted Suicide Short Intervention Program (ASSIP) is a brief therapy for patients in treatment after a suicide attempt. It is administered as add-on therapy to usual clinical management. ASSIP is based on a patient-centered model of suicidal behavior, with a strong emphasis on therapeutic alliance. 

Zero Suicide believes that suicide deaths for individuals under the care of health and behavioral health systems are preventable. For systems dedicated to improving patient safety, Zero Suicide presents an aspirational challenge and practical framework for system-wide transformation toward safer suicide care.

The Jason Foundation provides educational and awareness programs that equip young people, educators/youth workers and parents with the tools and resources to help identify and assist at-risk youth. 

The Jed Foundation is a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults, giving them the skills and support they need to thrive Information on 988, the new, three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Youth Suicide Warning Signs provides accurate information with the goal of helping the public better understand the way youth think, feel, and act prior to making life-threatening suicide attempts and inform them about how to effectively respond. 

Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) is the only federally supported resource center devoted to advancing the implementation of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. SPRC is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The Child Mind Institute is dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders by giving them the help they need to thrive. 

Prevention Institute (PI) is a national nonprofit with offices in Oakland, Los Angeles, Houston, and Washington, D.C. Our mission is to build prevention and health equity into key policies and actions at the federal, state, local, and organizational level to ensure that the places where all people live, work, play and learn to foster health, safety and wellbeing.

Best Practices for Suicide Prevention (LMS): Check out CPI's resources and variety of trainings on suicide prevention.

If you have any questions or concerns about this, please contact us at ctac.info@nyu.edu.