RESOURCES
WEBSITES
BOOKS
Blueprint for Youth Suicide Prevention
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), in collaboration with experts from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), created this Blueprint for Youth Suicide Prevention as an educational resource to identify strategies and key partnerships to support youth at risk for suicide.
Prevent Suicide NJ (PSNJ) is a comprehensive resource for suicide prevention. PSNJ strives to collaborate with state departments, professional and community organizations, schools and families to reduce suicide, diminish the stigma of suicide, and support those touched by suicide.
PSNJ is for all New Jersey residents including behavioral health providers, primary care providers, educators, suicide prevention experts and advocates, parents and caregivers, youth and young adults, suicide loss survivors, and anyone who wants to learn how they can stand united with NJ against youth suicide. This site is maintained by the New Jersey Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics and funded by the NJ Department of Health, Division of Family Health Services, Child and Adolescent Health Program.
988 National Suicide & Crisis LifeLine
The 988 Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. We're committed to improving crisis services and advancing suicide prevention by empowering individuals, advancing professional best practices, and building awareness.
NJ Suicide Prevention Resource Padlet
A compilation of resources for parents, educators teens and community gatekeepers.
Erika's Lighthouse is a grassroots, educational organization dedicated to raising awareness of adolescent depression and mental health for young people.
The Child Mind Institute is an independent, national nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders.
The Warrior Moms Group is a amazing group of mothers who come together to support each other as they work through their children’s emotional stresses. They provide a safe space to share and exchange useful information and advice for those navigating the mental health system.
Alliance of Hope (for survivors of suicide loss)
The Alliance of Hope provides healing support for people coping with the shock, excruciating grief, and complex emotions that accompany the loss of a loved one to suicide. We hope that you will find resources here to help you deal with, and eventually heal from, the pain of your loss.
A bereavement outreach organization available to those who are grieving a suicide death of family or friends. They also assist professionals who work with those who are grieving a suicide tragedy.
The Columbia Lighthouse Project
The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), the most evidence-supported tool of its kind, is a simple series of questions that anyone can use anywhere in the world to prevent suicide.
The therapy show's mission is to demystify the mental health system for familes by explaining, in accessible terms, the various psychotherapy modalities clinicians use. In addition, they describe the different levels of treatment found in the mental health system. And finally they provide you a general understanding of the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders.
Take 5 encourages everyone to take 5 minutes to complete five action items to prevent suicide. The action steps include: Learn the warning signs, Do your part, Practice self-care, Reach out, and Spread the word.
Resources to Recover (RtoR.org)
RtoR.org is a gateway website that helps families find resources and support for loved ones with mental health concerns. They offer families guidance, support and information on the best practices and providers in recovery-oriented mental health care.
The Youth Mental Health Project will empower and equip you to better understand your children’s mental health needs, recognize warning signs when your children are struggling, and better advocate and find resources for your children.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is the leading national not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy, and to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide.
JED is a nonprofit that exists to protect emotional health and prevent suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults. They partner with high schools and colleges to strengthen their mental health, substance abuse and suicide prevention programs and systems.
Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide
SPTS's mission is to reduce the number of youth suicides and attempted suicides by encouraging public awareness through the development and promotion of educational training programs.
Attitudes In Reverse’s mission is to create a community of understanding, kindness and empathy through mental health education and awareness.
Caring Contact is an award-winning, volunteer-staffed caring and crisis hotline and listening community. We provide active listening support and best-in-class education to the Central and Northern New Jersey community.
2nd Floor provides a 24-hour-youth hotline in NJ that offers an open entry point for teens regardless of the topic through a dedicated call center and interactive website.
NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness
NAMI provides a wealth of information and resources for being battling mental health disorders and for their families.
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
DBSA provides help, hope, support and education to help improve the lives of people dealing with mood disorders.
Minding Your Mind’s (MYM) primary objective is to provide mental health education to adolescents, teens and young adults, their parents, teachers and school administrators.
Recovery Record — Eating Disorder Management
Best practice for eating disorder treatment.
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
AADA works to prevent, treat and cure anxiety disorders and depression. It is an international nonprofit organization and a leader in education, training, and research for anxiety, OCD, PTSD, depression, and related disorders.
A free, 24/7 text line for people in crisis
Text HOME to 741741
A live, trained crisis counselor receives the text and responds quickly to help you move from a hot moment to a cool calm to stay safe and healthy using effective active listening and suggested referrals – all through text message.
Provides information about youth suicide and provides free educational materials for teachers and youth/workers.
Pain isn't always obvious, but most suicidal people show some signs they are thinking of suicide. If you see even one warning sign speak up.
A JED Program guide to transition from high school to college to adulthood. A resource for student and parents.
Consumers Advocate: Best Online Therapy Options
More people are connecting with licensed therapists online, on video and via apps. It can be an affordable, private and convenient way to speak with a counselor.
A fun and safe place for grieving children.
MHA’s programs and initiatives fulfill its mission of promoting mental health and preventing mental illness through advocacy, education, research and services.
Teen Mental Health's mandate is to create, translate, and disseminate evidence-based research through a variety of mechanisms, including training programs, clinical tools, and resources that are accessible to anyone who might need them; all in the hope to better the lives of our youth.
Eight Stories Up: An Adolescent Chooses Hope Over Suicide
Dequincy Lezine
Monochrome Days: A firsthand account of one teenager’s experience with depression
Cait Irwin
Mind Race: A first hand account of one teen’s experience with Bipolar
Patrick Jamieson
Behind Happy Faces: Taking Charge of Your Mental Health-A Guide for Young Adults
Ross Szabo
Behind the Wall: The True Story of Mental Illness as told by Parents
Mary Widdifield & Elin Widdifield
I Had a Black Dog
Matthew Johnstone
The Anxiety Workbook for Teens: Activities to Help you Deal with Anxiety and Worry
Lisa M. Schab LCSW
When Nothing Matters Anymore – A Survival Guide for Depressed Teens
Bev Cobain, R.N.C. 1998
Conquering the Beast Within - How I Fought Depression and Won...and How You Can Too
Cait Irwin
Crazy: A father’s search through America’s Mental Health Madness
Pete Early
A Common Struggle: A Personal Journey Through the Past and Future of Mental Illness and Addiction
Patrick Kennedy
I'm Not Sick, I Don’t Need Help
Rescuing Your Teenager from Depression
Norman T. Berlinger, M.D., Ph.D. 2005.
Understanding Teenage Depression - A Guide to Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management
Maureen Empfield. M.D. and Nicholas Bakalar 2001
The Way Up From Down
Dr. Priscilla Slagle
Will's Choice
Gail Griffith
Adolescent Depression: A Guide for Parents (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book)
Perfect Chaos: A Daughter's Journey to Survive Bipolar, a Mother's Struggle to Save Her
Linea & Cinda Johnson
Hurry Down Sunshine: A Father’s Story of Love and Madness
Michael Greenberg
Welcome to the Jungle
Hilary T. Smith
A Mother’s Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy
Sue Klebold
An Unchanged Mind
John McKinnon, MD
Cracked, Not Broken
Kevin Hines
An Unquiet Mind
Kay Redfield Jamison
Night Falls Fast
Kay Redfield Jamison
Angel and the Dragon
Jonathan Aurthur
Remembering Garrett: One Family’s Battle with a Child’s Depression
Gordon Smith
Books on Suicide Loss
Dear Kurt
Lisa Ludwig
Finding Peace without all the Pieces
LaRita Archibald
Goodnight Mr. Vincent van Gogh
Lindsay Doolittle
(for young children)
After Suicide Loss: Coping with Your Grief
Dr. Jack Jordan
The Forgotten Mourners: Sibling Survivors of Suicide
Magdaline DeSousa
Aftermath: Picking up the Pieces after a Suicide
Roe Gary
Bearing the Unbearable
Joanne Cacciatore, Ph.D
Why People Die by Suicide
Dr. Thomas Joiner
Unfinished Conversations
Robert E. Lesoine
The After Journey
Harry & Jenny Bruell
I Understand Pain, Love and Healing After Suicide
Vonnie Woodrick
You Won't Always be this Sad
Sheree Fitch
No Time to Say Goodbye
Carla Fine
Without Tim
Lisa Schenke
A Mother's Story
Gloria Vanderbilt
My Son, My Son
Iris Bolton
His Bright Light
Danielle Steele
Surviving Bill
Mike Reynolds
After a Parent's Suicide: Helping Children Heal
Margo Requarth
Children, Teens & Suicide Loss
The Dougy Center
Luna's Red Hat: An Illustrated book to help children cope with loss & suicide
Emmi Smid
APPS
A Friend Asks
Headspace
Virtual Hope Box
Not OK