Self-Harm and Suicide Prevention
Self-Harm is the act of deliberately harming the surface of your own body, such as cutting or burning yourself. It is typically not meant as a suicide attempt. Rather, this type of self-injury is an unhealthy way to cope with emotional pain, intense anger and frustration. Parents, click here for a guide to self-harm. To learn more, read "The Truth About Self-Harm" from the Mental Health Foundation here.
Suicide Prevention
Suicide is the action of killing oneself intentionally. Suicidal thoughts, also known as suicidal ideation, are thoughts about how to kill oneself, which can range from a detailed plan to a fleeting consideration and does not include the final act of killing oneself. The majority of people who experience suicidal ideation do not carry it through. Many risk factors are associated with suicide, such as depression, other mental disorders or substance abuse disorder.
If you are feeling suicidal, you may be afraid that you'll be judged or labeled "crazy" if you open up, or that no one could possibly understand. Concerned friends and family members may hesitate to speak up for fear that they are wrong or might say the wrong thing; however, talking openly about suicidal thoughts and feelings can save a life.
Feeling suicidal means that a person has more pain than they feel capable of coping with. Do not wait, reach out. Help is available:
Crisis Hotline Contact
- HELP Line Phone Number: 951-686-4357
- Text HOME to 741-741
National Suicide Prevention Hotline
- Phone Number: 1-800-273-8255
- Phone Number in Spanish: 1-888-628-9454
- Click here to access their website.
Helpful Articles
- Click here to read about suicide prevention, published by the World Health Organization.
- Click here to learn how friends and family can help prevent suicide.
- Click here to find answers to the most common questions regarding suicide.