Resource Population: Children and Youth

Updated March 2023 Expert reviewers: David Klonsky, Professor, Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia Ian Manion, Psychologist This toolkit has also been reviewed by a focus group of young people. Introduction The teen years are full of social, physiological, and neurological change. Fielding a combination of internal and external stressors is common in adolescence. […]

Centre for Suicide Prevention has compiled a listing of youth suicide prevention programs and activities in Alberta as part of the Government of Alberta’s Youth Suicide Prevention Plan. Last updated: January 2023

Cliquez ici pour la version française Click here to view all our fact sheets on suicide. These fact sheets are a collaboration between the Centre for Suicide Prevention and the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Introduction Young people face significant internal and external stressors, including social, physiological, and neurological change. Being an adolescent can involve […]

This toolkit is also available in Portuguese with Brazilian statistics. Statistics show that there are very few suicides of children. While this is positive, child suicide deaths are often officially reported as accidents or unintentional deaths so they are likely under-reported (Gray et al., 2014). Although child suicide deaths are statistically rare, some children do […]

A suicide in a school community is devastating to staff, students, and families. Some individuals may be unable to cope and the community as a whole may struggle with how to respond. In a state of shock, school administrators may be uncertain of what steps to take. This toolkit provides practical information to schools for […]

This 4-lesson plan set, developed by the Centre for Suicide Prevention, is for Health and Life Skills teachers teaching about suicide prevention using the Jay Asher novel Thirteen Reasons Why. The novel is intended to be read between lessons #1 and #2. Unit rationale Students will begin to identify the complexity of suicide in order […]

This toolkit is one of a suite of three focused on trauma. The full suite includes: Trauma and suicide, Trauma and suicide in children and Trauma and suicide in Indigenous people.  Introduction When children and adolescents experience trauma, their personal development can be affected. They may develop mental health issues and have a higher risk […]

For adults For youth How to ask for help Don’t blame yourself! Being unwell, whether physically or mentally, is not a sign of weakness or failure. Looking and asking for help is a sign of strength. As difficult as it is, the first step to finding solutions other than suicide is to ask for help. […]

Self-harming behaviours continue to be a major issue in Canada. This is especially true for young people, whose self-harm rates far outnumber those for adults. Self-harm can sometimes be associated with increased suicidality. Self-harm has been defined as “a preoccupation with deliberately hurting oneself without conscious suicidal intent, often resulting in damage to body tissue” […]

Our Youth at Risk guide and toolkit offer tips on how to talk to youth you may be worried about, and provides a more expansive list of warning signs. Statistics In 2015, in Canada, there were 140 male suicides in the 15-19 age range (at a 14 per 100, 000 suicide rate). For females, there […]

This webinar discusses self-harm and suicide in students. PowerPoint Slides (PDF) For further reading, see our Self-Harm and Suicide Toolkit.  Discussion Q&A Question: What would you advise the math teacher to do exactly when told by a student’s friends that a student is harming herself? Answer: Good question, okay so let’s play with that example a […]

This webinar will walk teachers through what to do after a student in the school community has died by suicide. PowerPoint Slides(PDF) Further Reading DVDs B.C. Council for Families. (2011). When you are left to live: A documentary. [DVD]. [Vancouver, BC]: B.C. Council for Families. Also can be accessed here: http://www.bccf.ca/professionals/Left-2-Live Through interview and discussion, […]

This webinar encompasses 5 things we wish teachers knew about suicide. PowerPoint Slides (PDF)

This webinar gives insight into the creation and implementation of suicide prevention programs in schools. PowerPoint Slides (PDF)

The 5 things we wish teachers knew about anxiety disorders, depression and suicide. PowerPoint Slides (PDF) Further Reading Websites Anxiety and Depression Association of America – Living with Anxiety (Children) Erika’s Lighthouse – Parent Handbook on Childhood and Adolescent Depression  Getting an Accurate Diagnosis for your Child: 10 Steps for Families Ten steps families should take […]

This webinar talks about LGBT youth in schools and their relationship with suicide. PowerPoint Slides (PDF)   Discussion Q&A Question: Does normalizing LGBT stigma include desensitizing all terminology? Answer: In all conversations that we have with individuals, we try to convey an attitude of acceptance so we ourselves are not conveying stigma. We recognize, though, that […]

This webinar will walk teachers through some steps they can take to talk to parents about a child considering suicide. PowerPoint Slides (PDF) Further Reading Websites Help Guide – Teen Depression: A Guide for Parents SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voice of Education) – Youth Depression Centre for Suicide Prevention – Teen Suicide: Is there an Epidemic? American […]

The 5 things we wish teachers knew about substance use and suicide. PowerPoint Slides (PDF) Further Reading Websites Canadian Medical Association Journal – Suicide “contagion”: what we know and what we need to find out Centre for Suicide Prevention – Suicide Contagion and Suicide Clusters Media Guidelines Mind Set – Reporting on Mental Health, Covering Suicide […]

The 5 things we wish teachers knew about substance use and suicide. PowerPoint Slides (PDF) Further Reading Websites Suicide Prevention Education Alliance – Adolescent Depression and Substance Abuse Psychiatric Times – Clinical Implications of Substance Use and Suicidality among Youths A history of substance use is a strong and independent risk factor for adolescent suicide ideation, […]

The statistics, research, language, and links used were current when this article was published, but may have become outdated. Please contact us at [email protected] for the most current information, or refer to our newer resources or latest statistics. infoExchange is an original resource that examines topics relating to suicide in a way that encourages conversation, […]

The statistics, research, language, and links used were current when this article was published, but may have become outdated. Please contact us at [email protected] for the most current information, or refer to our newer resources or latest statistics. infoExchange is an original resource that examines topics relating to suicide in a way that encourages conversation, […]