Suicide Prevention: “We Can Help Us”
Suicide remains the third leading cause of death among 15 to 24 year olds. In 2006, 4,189 people between the ages of 15 and 24 died by suicide, and for each of those it’s estimated that 100 to 200 other people attempted suicide.
“We Can Help Us” – a new national public service announcement campaign – is designed to reduce suicide and suicide attempts among teens in the United Sates. The campaign is a joint project from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Ad Council, and the Inspire USA Foundation.
In an effort to provide support for teens who may be contemplating suicide, the “We Can Help Us” ads are based on the fact that teens face a myriad of problems and many are seeking effective ways to cope with them. Youth are encouraged to visit www.reachout.com for support.
At Reach Out, youth can find information about the warning signs of suicide, a blog, opinion polls, stories from other people who have coped, and support on a safe web site. There are also links to crisis information, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Photo credit: D3 San Francisco
This post, Suicide Prevention: “We Can Help Us”, was originally published on Healthine.com by Nancy Brown, Ph.D..
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