News

Message from AFSP National

In the news this week, you may have heard of two social media activities (the Momo Challenge, and self-harm videos embedded in YouTube Kids channels) circulating and troubling for young people and those who care for them. There’s some discussion now in the media about all of this being a hoax. Whether it is or not, it doesn’t matter. It’s still alarming and upsetting, and we want to be sure we are not promoting these troubling things on our social channels or in the media – and instead talking proactively about how we can support young people with positive, helpful conversation and resources.

Here’s a look at what we are doing:

We have proactively reached out to national media suggesting safe messaging if journalists are covering this topic with the help of our PR firm, and offering our experts and language on how to have a supportive conversation with young people about mental health and suicide prevention. If you should get any media calls related to this topic, you may direct those inquiries to me and I will forward to our National public relations office.

National is also sharing language on our website about how to have supportive conversations with young people – but not directly referencing either of these social media activities. We really want to avoid people going in search of the either of these activities. We have sent these proactive messages to our social media ambassadors and we are posting messages this week on our national social media pages. You are welcome to repost AFSPs social media messages directly from our national social feeds.

https://afsp.org/campaigns/talk-about-mental-health-awareness-month/teens-and-suicide-what-parents-should-know/

And, feel free to share this webpage link with anyone who is looking for information on how to engage with young people on mental health and suicide prevention. There are helpful FAQs, videos and resources available on this page.

Please reach out directly if you need further information.

Yours in HOPE,

Michelle Peters
Area Director, CT
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Cyberbullying

Advice for parents/guardians and teens

Monitor your children’s use of electronic devices and computers. Know what types of websites they’re visiting, and what apps they’re attempting to access and are using. Talk with them about what they’re doing on their devices. Regularly review their browsing and search histories.
Provide guidance to your children/teens on what to do if someone challenges them to use the app, or if they know of someone using the app. Encourage them to tell a trusted adult who can then help address the problem, report it to authorities, connect at risk youth to help, and address the infected device.
Know the warning signs of mental distress. Changes in behavior. Physical or verbal expressions of hopelessness, sadness, extreme boredom, depression, and/or anxiety. Displays overwhelming pain or distress. Talks about, writes about or makes plans about committing suicide. Experiences stressful situations including a loss, change, personal humiliation, trouble at school or with the law, etc.
Know what to do. Call 9-1-1 in an emergency when someone makes an immediate threat to hurt or kill themselves, and restrict their access to anything they may use to harm themselves. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 2-1-1 in CT, 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or a mental health professional if someone shows warning signs, but is not in immediate danger.

Resources:

AWARDED! CT Networks of Care for School Systems Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Promotion

The CT Networks of Care for Suicide Prevention (NCSP) Initiative, in cooperation with the CT Suicide Advisory Board, is pleased to announce the awards for the CT Networks of Care for School Systems Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Promotion to these school systems and their community partners.

These grants are made possible through the 2015-2020 NCSP-Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention federal grant awarded to the CT Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) for 10-24 year-olds funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SM62916). The NCSP grant is co-directed by DMHAS, and the CT Departments of Children and Families (DCF) and Public Health (DPH), managed by the United Way of CT and Community Health Resources, and evaluated by UCONN Health.

The NCSP staff congratulate the new grantees and look forward to meeting and working with them to reduce the suicide risk of our CT youth and strengthen their mental wellness!!!

Announcement: Request for Proposals – CT Networks of Care for School Systems Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Promotion.

The Connecticut Networks of Care for Suicide Prevention (NCSP) Initiative (SM62916), in cooperation with the CT Suicide Advisory Board, is pleased to announce this request for proposals as part of the 2015-2020 Garrett Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention grant awarded to the CT Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) for 10-24 year-olds funded by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The NCSP grant is co-directed by DMHAS, and the CT Departments of Children and Families (DCF) and Public Health (DPH).

The NCSP’s primary goal is to strengthen the state’s capacity and infrastructure in support of mental health promotion, suicide prevention, intervention and response with the use of evidence-based practices (EBPs). To help accomplish this goal, the NCSP seeks to fund school systems and their partners that are uniquely positioned to integrate and coordinate mental health promotion, and suicide prevention, intervention and response activities to support the youth they serve.

Select the following for Request for Proposal (RFP) and related documents.

13 Reasons Why

An urgent message from the CT Suicide Advisory Board (CTSAB):

The Netflix original series “13 Reasons Why”, based on a popular novel of the same name, was released on March 31 and has been much talked about, particularly among school-aged youth. The fictional story is a cautionary tale of a young girl’s suicide, and covers other sensitive subject matters as the series progresses such as sexual abuse, rape, substance abuse, mental health, and bullying. The show sensationalizes suicide, focuses on reasons to die vs. reasons to live, and blames survivors, all of which can easily trigger at risk individuals.

Due to the popularity and the subject matter of the series, many national and state organizations have created resources to assist adults in talking with individuals at risk, especially youth, about suicide as it relates to the situational drama that unfolds in the TV series and in general. The CTSAB is providing the information below to assist you in conversations with others about these very serious and sensitive topics.

Suggestions:

Preview the series prior to permitting youth to view.
If you consider the series suitable for youth, watch the series with them.
Watch the series companion piece “13 Reasons Why: Beyond the Reasons” on Netflix for a discussion by cast, producers, and mental health professionals about the series.
Create a safe, judgment-free zone when talking about the series and the subject matter.
Discuss Reasons to Live, and how to stay safe. Who are trusted adults to talk with, and where/how to access help.
Get help– In CT call 211 or 1(800)273-TALK (8255) the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. In an emergency call 911.