Resources
Upstream Suicide Prevention
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Crisis + Suicide Prevention Hotline
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What to Do If Your Child is in Crisis?
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Mental Health Support/Providers, Finding the Right Therapist, Therapeutic Consultant, & Grief Support
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Youth Crisis Centers
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Suicide Prevention Guides for Families / Teens
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Supports & Accommodations in School
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Family Peer Supports
Mental Health Support + Crisis Hotline
Available 24/7. You or your loved one can call, text, or chat online at 988lifeline.org. 988 offers one-on-one support with a skilled compassionate crisis counselor for mental health, suicide, and substance use-related problems for anyone. There is no reason too big or too small to reach out to 988: Thoughts of suicide, drinking too much, anxiety, sexual orientation worries, drug use, feeling depressed, mental illness, physical illness, loneliness, trauma, relationship worries, economic worries. 988 call, chat, and text services are available in English and Spanish. Call services with interpreters are available in more than 240 languages.
What to Do If Your Child is in Crisis?
The National Alliance on Mental Health provides guidance on warnings signs and actions to take if your child experiences a mental health crisis.
The Mental Health Coalition of Teton Valley offers valuable guidance for supporting someone experiencing thoughts of suicide. Their resources help you recognize warning signs, have supportive conversations, and know when to connect the person with professional help. If someone is in immediate crisis, call or text 988 for 24/7 support.
Navigating a Mental Health Crisis: A NAMI Resource Guide for Those Experiencing a Mental Health Emergency (Spanish version available). This Crisis Guide provides important, potentially life-saving information for people experiencing mental health crises and their loved ones. This guide outlines what can contribute to a crisis, warning signs that a crisis is emerging, strategies to help de-escalate a crisis, available resources and so much more.
Teen Line's highly trained teen listeners provide support, resources and hope to any teen who is struggling. Trained teen counselors are supervised by adult professionals (answered after hours by adults) Text “Teen” to 839863 or call 800-852-8336
The Mental Health Coalition of Teton Valley provides essential resources for those experiencing thoughts of suicide, including how to create and use a Crisis Response Plan and guidance on when to seek professional help. For immediate support, call or text 988.
St. Luke's created the Suicide Prevention | Mental and Behavioral Health Support A Resource Guide for the Greater Treasure Valley Community. It has a robust list of local and national hotlines and treatment centers for both youth and adults.
By calling 988, you can dispatch a Mobile Crisis Response Team (MRT) to provide on-site emergency mental health support. These teams consist of behavioral health professionals who travel directly to individuals in crisis, offering immediate assessment and stabilization. When necessary, MRTs can also help connect people to more intensive mental health care services.
FindHelpIdaho.org connects Idahoans seeking help with resources in their local community. It's free, confidential, easy to use, and provides up-to-date information in more than 100 languages. Through community collaboration and support, findhelpidaho.org works to improve health and social outcomes throughout Idaho.
Mental Health Support & Providers (Boise/Treasure Valley, Idaho)
Lorn H. Adkins, M.Ed., LCPC, LMFT, has many years of experience in private practice, teaching, and counseling. Lorn has been a teacher in grades 7-12, a school counselor, and a counseling programs administrator. He is a Nationally Board Certified Counselor and a clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. Lorn has had the honor to be recognized as Idaho’s School Counselor of the Year. Lorn helped in the development of Boise’s Parent Education Center and has taught and developed parent education programs for many years. He has presented workshops locally, nationally, and at conferences throughout the state of Idaho. Lorn is a family therapist with experience and a vision for children and families; specializing in parenting, family systems (including couple’s relationships), children, and children’s issues. Lorn works with children and adults with anxiety and panic disorders.
Dr. Mariella Hogan Götz, Ph.D., LPC, ATR-BC is a Licensed Psychologist, Counselor, and Registered Board-Certified Art Therapist. She is the owner of Hay Street Counseling which is located at 1010 W Hays St, Boise, ID 83702
Laura Mundy is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and National Certified Counselor (NCC) and has spent the last 15 years of her career walking alongside adolescents, young adults, and their families, as they experience stress, depression, anxiety, school avoidance, recovery from trauma, grief and loss, and developmental life transitions.
Description in both Spanish & English: (ESPANOL) Xiomara Miranda es una Consejera Profesional Clínica Licenciada Bilingüe (Español/Inglés), está certificada en Terapia Cognitivo-Conductual Enfocada en Trauma, y es Terapeuta de Juego Registrada. Ella trabaja en El Hogar de los Niños en Boise, Idaho. (ENGLISH) Xiomara Miranda is a Bilingual Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (Spanish/English), is certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and is a Registered Play Thearapist. She works at The Children's Home in Boise, ID.
Charlie Health is a provider of virtual intensive outpatient programming (IOP) for young people and families in mental health crises. Founded in September 2020, it offers treatment for anxiety, depression, dissociative disorders, mood disorders, OCD, and more. Their programs combine personalized care with peer connection to foster long-term healing.
CDH offers counseling and behavioral health services at our Boise location and via telehealth. Their licensed clinical social worker serves teens and adults, 12 years old and up, for a variety of behavioral and mental health issues including but not limited to: anxiety, depression, adjustment disorder, bipolar, borderline personality disorder (BPD), PTSD/ trauma, hoarding, as well as couples’ and family therapy. New patients can call for an appointment or be referred. To set up an appointment or for more information call 208-327-7400.
Parents are often the first to notice that their child is different. Caravel Autism Health have autism health specialists committed to working with families to help them identify the underlying cause for a child’s behavior.
Do you know of any recommended youth counseling services in the Treasure Valley, Idaho?
Please email us at youmeweallboise@gmail.com and we will add to our list of resources for families. Thank you!
As a parent coach and therapeutic consultant, Vashti helps parents navigate challenges with their adolescents and young adults, focusing on boundary-setting and relationship repair. She specializes in supporting families dealing with mental health and substance use issues, working alongside local therapeutic teams. Through regular evaluations of treatment centers nationwide, she guides parents and clinicians in finding appropriate residential treatment options when local resources are exhausted. Her expertise comes from extensive program tours and assessments across the country. Contact: 208-571-4242, vashti@familyhealingpathways.com, summervill@educationalconnections.com
Kayla Parker, LMSW is certified in animal assisted and nature-based therapy and works at The Children's Home.
The Children's Home is a non-profit organization offering mental health care services to children and family regardless of their ability to pay. Services include: Youth and Family Counseling, Psychological Evaluations, Peer Youth and Parent Groups, Continuing Education Training, Mental Health Resource Provider.
The Warm Springs Care Farm is not a petting zoo, but a therapeutic family care farm that offers a variety of volunteer programs such as animal care, Barn Club, art workshops, nature time, therapist trainings, and yoga/movement/breath, offered free at the farm to small groups and individuals. They partner with Children's Home Counseling Services, who seasonally offers one-on-one nature-based therapy sessions.
Terry Reilly Health Services is a community health center with deep roots in the Treasure Valley, Idaho. They are dedicated to providing affordable, accessible, comprehensive care to meet the needs of our community. Their team works with those affected by trauma, substance use issues and general behavioral health disorders. Their goal is to help clients: build trust within themselves, improve relationships with others, function more effectively within their environments increase overall life satisfaction. The Terry Reilly Health integrated model of care allows their behavioral health team to coordinate with medical providers for personalized psychiatric medication management when needed.
Provides both outpatient and residential services for individuals with mental health needs. Services are accessible and free for those that do not have insurance and are unable to pay.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Boise offers counseling services for its clients. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) provides opportunities for refugees, asylees, victims of human trafficking, survivors of torture and immigrants seeking citizenship to thrive in America. Each year, thousands of people, forced to flee violence and persecution, are welcomed by the people of the United States into the safety and freedom of America. These individuals have survived against incredible odds. The IRC works with government bodies, civil society actors and local volunteers to help them translate their past experiences into assets that are valuable to their new communities. In Boise and other offices across the country, the IRC helps them to rebuild their lives. Eligible clients access the following support when arriving in Idaho: Food, shelter, and legal rights Financial empowerment and livelihood protection, Counseling services, Connections to communities to feel fully involved in American society
Finding the Right Therapist for Your Child
This article explains how to find the right therapist for your child. It stresses that children heal better when working with counselors they trust and feel safe with. Finding someone who specializes in your child's specific problems is important. The article offers questions to ask during your first visit to determine if a therapist is the right match for your child's needs and to understand what therapy will involve.
¿Qué preguntas debo hacerle al terapeuta de mi hijo? (What Questions Should I ask My Child's Therapist?)
Este artículo explica cómo encontrar un buen terapeuta para tu hijo. Destaca que los niños se recuperan mejor cuando trabajan con consejeros en quienes confían y con los que se sienten seguros. Es importante encontrar a alguien que se especialice en los problemas específicos de tu hijo. El artículo ofrece preguntas para hacer durante la primera visita para determinar si un terapeuta es adecuado para las necesidades de tu hijo y para entender cómo será la terapia.
Therapeutic Consultant
A therapeutic consultant is a specialized professional who functions as both a care coordinator and navigator for families, meticulously assessing individual needs and providing expert guidance to identify, evaluate, and connect clients with the most appropriate treatment facilities, therapeutic programs, and intervention options while offering ongoing support throughout the treatment journey, ensuring families make informed decisions about clinical care that align with their specific circumstances, values, and long-term wellness goals.
Vashti Summervill, MM, Therapeutic Consultant, PCI Certified Parent Coach® Vashti is based in Boise, Idaho. She primarily works with families of young adults and older adolescents. She regularly tours and evaluates therapeutic programs for young adults to gain a deeper understanding of who they best serve. She understands how challenging it can be to find the right services, both in times of crisis or after years of being very stuck. She also understands that it can difficult for a young adult to choose to go to treatment. Vashti’s areas of expertise include: Assisting parents in looking at ways they might inadvertently be allowing the young adult or adolescent to remain stuck. Guiding parents to create conditions that will help their young adult or adolescent make healthier choices. This includes setting and holding life-giving boundaries and communicating in ways that foster greater capability and resilience on the road to independence. Vashti is also skilled at building rapport and trust with the young adult and adolescents as she helps them consider opportunities that could have a lasting impact and help them shift their current trajectory.
Grief Support
Dr. JoEllen Watson, Ph.D., LICSW, is a life coach and a certified advanced grief recovery method specialist. The Grief Recovery Method stands out as the only scientifically tested Evidence-Based Program that has been continuously refined and successfully used for the last 40+ years across multiple countries and in various languages. It provides a unique method to help people heal from loss(es). This action-oriented program teaches a step-by-step method to free you from the pain of grief and access the joy of life. While not therapy or a traditional support group, you will be, and you will feel, supported in a caring and safe environment.
Mia Carroll is Grief, Trauma, and Parenting Therapist. She focuses on providing compassionate support to individuals and families navigating grief, trauma, and parenting challenges. She creates a safe space where clients explore experiences while moving toward healing. Using approaches like EMDR, EFT, NT, and SFT, she develops effective treatment plans tailored to each client. Her therapy is rooted in empathy, curiosity, and respect for each person's unique journey. Whether guiding families through grief, helping process trauma, or supporting parenting challenges, she offers specialized tools and insights. Carroll helps clients find strength in vulnerability and resilience amid adversity while rediscovering meaning during healing.
The Kids Mental Health Foundation - Elena Camacho discusses how to support a child who has lost someone to suicide: "Losing someone to suicide is a devastating experience. And all ages are impacted by suicide loss – including youth. One in five teens has been exposed to the suicide death of a friend, relative or acquaintance and research suggests this increases the risk of suicide, especially for teens struggling with their own mental health."
While grieving, you may have lost your identity, not recognizing who you are or where the old you went. It’s not your fault. Grief, and sometimes just plain old life, can bring us to our knees. It can be difficult to get back up again. But by following tried and true spiritual principles, you can reconnect to your authentic self; and you are then able to find your truth, build your spiritual toolbox, and ease your suffering. You never agreed to carry the pain forever. You have the power to transform your negative emotions, re-create who you are now, and find your purpose. Spiritual wholeness is a feeling that can only be created and experienced from within. As with most spiritual practices, you must stay connected with who you truly are, which is pure consciousness.
A private Facebook group created to connect, to be seen, heard, and understood. To honor our children who have gone before us. To walk beside each other, while holding space for our unique experience on this journey.
Youth Crisis Centers (Idaho & region)
A helpful guide created by the Nevada Hospital Association walks parents and caregivers through what to expect when their child is hospitalized. While it includes Nevada-specific resources, most of the information is valuable for any family with a hospitalized child, regardless of location.
St. Luke’s Children’s Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Program serve adolescents and their families seeking a higher level of mental health care. These programs provide environments in which youth feel valued and cared for, and where they can develop skills that will stay with them throughout their lives. A patient’s length of stay and frequency of attendance depends on their unique clinical needs, which are determined by their mental health diagnosis, need for structure, and level of functioning.
Intermountain Hospital offers a number of specialized treatment programs for adolescent patients, ages 12 to 17. Among these include the inpatient Journeys program and the Clean and Sober Teens (CAST) program to treat substance abuse.
St. Luke's has created a Suicide Prevention | Mental and Behavioral Health Support A Resource Guide for the Greater Treasure Valley Community. It has a robust list of local and national hotlines and treatment centers for both youth and adults.
Adolescent inpatient services are offered to individuals 12 – 17 years of age who are currently experiencing a mental health crisis. Average length of stay for adolescents is 10 – 14 days.
Gold standard for Youth Mental Health care. Program is grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Safe and secure environment. Contact with a child and adolescent psychiatrist at least six days/week, Individualized and evidence-based treatment, Diagnostic clarification, Psychological/neuropsychological, psychiatric, nursing, and educational assessment, Compilation of a comprehensive multi-disciplinary report consisting of individualized recommendations to guide future treatment, Teaching and practicing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skill sets, Individual, family, group, and expressive therapies, ROPES course experience, Provides the vision for a path to wellness by gaining a comprehensive understanding of the individual child
Suicide Prevention Guides for Families
The Boise School District offers resources for Immediate Support, Questions to ask if your child needs to talk with a counselor & what to do if you student is struggling
This article was written by Eric J. Sigel, MD, FAAP & Maria H. Rahmandar, MD, FAAP in HealthChildren.org. As children grow and become more independent, it can be more challenging for parents to know what they are thinking and feeling. When do the normal ups and downs of adolescence become something to worry about? Parents and family members can help teens cope when life feels too difficult to bear. (Parents, share one teen's story, "How I turned my struggles into a way to help others" with your child, below.) Learn about factors that can increase your child's risk for suicide and explore these 12 suggestions below. These steps can help you feel better prepared to offer the caring, non-judgmental support your child needs.
Idaho Department of Education has created comprehensive resources for schools and families on suicide including Prevention, Intervention, and Postvention. Scroll to bottom of webpage for Resources to find printable brochures.
The Trevor Project is the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit organization for LGBTQ+ young people. They provide information & support to LGBTQ+ young people 24/7, all year round.
Mental health conditions typically begin during childhood, adolescence or young adulthood. Here you will find additional information intended to help provide young people, educators, parents and caregivers with the resources they need. From a free downloadable coloring and activity book to a teen mental heath education presentation, to a guide for navigating college with a mental health condition, this page has resources for all young people. It also has handy information for parents, caregivers, and educators, like a one-pager on how to start a conversation about mental health and an example week of wellness activities that can be used at home.
National Association of School Psychologists, printable handouts (Spanish version available)
Talk Away the Dark is a campaign by AFSP that encourages the people in our lives to open up about what they’re thinking, and bring the scariest emotions out of the shadows and into the light.
Excellent resources by Idaho Youth Ranch.
Race-related stress depletes parents' emotional, physical, and spiritual resources, reducing their capacity for both self-care and childcare. These accumulated experiences of racism directly impact parent-child relationships. The American Psychological Association offers strategies to help parents mitigate racial stress, practice self-care, and restore their parenting capacity.
The Kids Mental Health Foundation - Dr. John Ackerman, Ph.D., shares steps that parents/caregivers can take on how to talk to kids 12 and under about suicide: "Talking to kids about suicide can be challenging. However, creating a safe space to talk about suicide can save a child’s life. Multiple studies show that asking about suicide is not harmful and often empowering. You won’t put the idea into their heads and if a child has been struggling with thoughts of suicide, knowing that a concerned adult is willing to have an open conversation is often a relief."
American Academy of Pediatrics
In this video created by Mayo Clinic, teens describe common signs that a teen is considering suicide and provide encouragement for communicating directly and immediately for support and safety. It also Includes suggestions for what to say to a teen who may be at risk for suicide and ways to keep them safe. Things can get better.
Suicide Prevention Guides for Teens
A suicide prevention resource for teens created by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Article in the National Association of School Psychologists website. Suicide rarely happens without warning. As a peer, you may be in the best position to recognize when a friend might need help and help them get it. You may see signs in person, hear about them secondhand, or see them online in social media. Never ignore these signs.While suicide is typically associated with the pain of mental illness (in particular depression and associated feelings of helplessness and hopelessness), there are sometimes specific situations that trigger suicidal actions such as breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, failing in school, being bullied, or experiencing abuse, loss or other trauma. It is important to learn these warning signs and what to do if you see any them in yourself or a friend. Suicide is preventable. By listening, talking, and acting you could save a life.
Mental Health Support & Accommodations in School
NAMI provides guidance for families. Navigating school systems to get support for your child can feel overwhelming and frustrating at times, even when schools want to help. Remember that your unique insights as a parent are invaluable. By partnering with teachers and staff who want to help your child succeed, even when processes seem complex, you can work together to develop effective strategies. Your knowledge of your child combined with the school's educational experience creates the strongest foundation for helping them thrive.
Family Peer Supports
The National Alliance on Mental Health - Treasure Valley provides family support groups both in-person and virtual. They also provide them around the state of Idaho.
Changes Parent Support Network is a structured, peer-led program that provides support to parents struggling with children who are engaging in oppositional and self-destructive behaviors. They are a registered 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. You can’t control what your kids are doing, but you can change the home and family dynamic by changing your own behavior. Changes offers a proven program with robust resources and tools, support, and education to help parents struggling with children engaging in oppositional and self-destructive behaviors. You will find Changes to be a supportive, non-judgmental environment, and you will receive support to create a plan specific to you and your family. What we are: A confidential, nationwide, supportive community of parents and caregivers that have experienced all manners of family discord and acting-out child behavior – you literally can’t shock us A structured support system with time-tested resources and tools and the ability to contact another member 365/24/7 for support A collection of hard-earned, experience-based learnings, where we share what worked and what didn’t for us A resource to help you create a plan customized for you and your family What we are not: A crisis or rescue hotline Professionally-trained therapists or counselors A resource if you expect a “quick fix,” “tips and tricks” or advice Anonymous. We maintain and expect 100% confidentiality from our members, but we use our real names in meetings and when supporting other members
Need support during your child's mental health crisis? St. Luke's Care Coordination Team offers free Parent Mentors for guidance and support. They are also seeking parents to become mentors. Please email them in the link provided.
A free eight-session educational program for family, significant others, and friends of people living with mental illness. It is a designated evidenced-based program. NAMI-trained family members who have been there lead the course with presentations, discussion, and interactive exercises. The group setting allows you to connect with others and build a community of support.
Neurodivergent Youth
The Autism Crisis Support was created to support the Autism community in all issues of suicide prevention. These resources include what to expect when calling 988, warning signs for autistic people, reasons for living resource, crisis toolkit, books and more.
This an excellent resource for parents, caregivers, and educators on how best to support our 2e students (neurodivergent & gifted). Created by the Davidson Institute it provides guides for parents, classroom environments and more.
More than 20 percent of today’s children are in some way neurodivergent, or what Tilt founder Debbie Reber calls, “differently wired.” Tilt Parenting works to change the way neurodifferences in children — ADHD, learning disabilities, autism, giftedness, processing challenges, twice-exceptionality, and more — are perceived and experienced so these exceptional children, and the parents raising them, can thrive in their schools, their families, and in their lives.
Written by Viv Dawes, Autistic Advocate
MH Autism
At the Mala Child and Family Institute, their mission is deeply personal and profoundly urgent. They were founded in memory of their founder's brother, who tragically died by suicide at the age of 17. He was a brilliant, neurodivergent individual diagnosed with ADHD and giftedness. His loss has shaped every aspect of their work, driving then to prevent such tragedies from occurring in other families. They know that neurodivergent individuals—whether youth or adults—face unique challenges that require a specialized and compassionate approach to care. Suicide prevention for these individuals is not just about addressing the immediate crisis; it’s about creating a supportive environment where they can thrive.
Maisa Space is a website dedicated to honoring Maisa's legacy and raising awareness about the heightened risk of suicide for neurodivergent individuals, inspired by her love for space, dark skies, and accepting differences.
Mentally Covered - The Speedy Foundation
Autistic Girls Network
(26 sec educational training tool) This animation aims to increase understanding of neurodiversity and reflects Erin’s experiences at the age of 14. The animation shares Erin’s story about living as an autistic young person and the huge impact this can have on every aspect of life.
2022 Article in SPARKS, Simons Powering Autism Research
Navigating Life After a Suicide Attempt
Zero Suicide provides excellent resources for parents and families with a child following a suicide attempt. These include a film "Parents to Parents: After Your Child's Suicide Attempt," the After an Attempt Guide (SAMHSA), "Guiding Their Way Back" (Beyond Blue), and "Family Life After Attempt" (Pepperdine University). They also offer guides like "Talking About Suicide With Your Child Under Age 12" and "Loving Someone With Suicidal Thoughts." Additional resources include Family Connections™ – Managing Suicidality & Trauma Recovery Program, Holding Onto Life Toolkit, "How to Help a Youth Return to School After an Attempt," "Talking With Children About Their Sibling's Suicide Attempt," and more.
Great article by Pepperdine University offers statistics and recommendations aimed to help families navigate life after an attempt. This article addresses topics including ensuring a safe return home, understanding the emotional toll on family members, communicating with your child or teen after an attempt, and getting back to "regular life".
Written in 2023 by Stacey Freedenthal, PhD LCSW, who is an expert in suicidology. It is a compassionate guide that offers essential communication techniques you can use to help your loved one, as well as strategies for navigating your own stress, worry, fear, and anxiety. Drawn from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and mindful self-compassion, the tools in this book will help you recognize warning signs, improve communication, create a safety plan, know when to seek professional help, and support a loved one in crisis.
Written by Dr. Stacey Freedenthal and posted to National Alliance on Mental Illness Queens/ Nassau, this post provides ten statements you can say to a person considering suicide, along with the context and rational behind them.
Video (1 hour) "Parents to Parents: After Your Child's Suicide Attempt" is a video informed by interviews with parents and experts. The resource was created jointly by EDC's Zero Suicide Institute and Parents to Parents, a non-profit organization that offers resources to caregivers whose child is struggling with mental health challenges or concerns. “After Your Child’s Suicide Attempt” captures many of the questions raised by parents and describes best practices in suicide care so that parents can best navigate a complex health care system. Health care professionals, school, and community leaders are encouraged to share the video and accompanying resources with parents. Click below to view the full video. For more ways to engage with the video, supplemental resources, and brief survey, visit the landing page linked below.
Helpful article written by Anne Moss Rogers, a mental health education expert and suicide loss survivor. She writes The Emotionally Naked Blog: annemoss.com
Developed by Macomb County Suicide Prevention Coalition, this free toolkit supplies parents with data and best practices for supporting an adolescent with suicidal ideation. This resource addresses the mentality behind suicidal ideation, as well as how to identify signs of suicidality, and how to have conversations about mental health with adolescents.
Additional Resources
The Speedy Foundation, named after Olympic aerialist Jeret "Speedy" Peterson, works to prevent suicide and promote mental health action. As an early mental health advocate, Peterson openly shared his own struggles before his death by suicide. Based in Boise and Park City, the 501(c)(3) organization fights mental health stigma through education, advocacy, and community engagement. They believe suicide is preventable through open conversations, education, and support for those struggling with mental illness.
Kade Parrish was a 14 year old Boise Boy who took his own life on November 17th 2023. He dedicated himself to many things, sports being one of the larger ones. This event, established in his honor, aims to raise awareness about suicide and mental health through friendly competition. It also seeks to generate funds for nonprofits dedicated to these causes and to continue spreading joy within the community that Kade cherished.
Idaho Youth Suicide Prevention Program - brochure for families
The HEARD Alliance’s mission is to increase collaboration amongst primary care, mental health, and educational professionals to enhance the community’s ability to promote well-being, to treat depression and related conditions and to prevent suicide in adolescents and young adults. This website is a place for primary care, mental health, school professionals, and families to access and use resources created or compiled by the HEARD Alliance. The resources included here have been created or compiled by the HEARD Alliance and many of them are relevant for adults as well as teens and children. All tools included here may be used free of charge and without copyright restriction.
Communities for Youth is an Idaho-based organization that seeks to support school communities that want to play a role in upstream prevention for youth mental health in ways that work for them. They offer a range of partnership opportunities and data collection services to provide schools and communities with tailored, community-driven guidance, allowing them to select the most relevant options for their unique context and needs.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - Find resources for suicide prevention for you or someone you know. Includes resources supporting diverse communities, the LGBTQ community, and the military.
L.O.S.S. – Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors – is an active suicide postvention model. This model involves two or more trained volunteers, called a L.O.S.S. Team, who proactively go to the scene, or shortly after, of a suicide to provide immediate support to those left behind. At least one of these two trained volunteers is a survivor of a suicide loss. L.O.S.S. Team volunteers are present to those left behind in a nonintrusive manner. They provide support, resources, and understanding. Blaine County is currently the only county in Idaho with a LOSS team, which is operated by the 5B Suicide Prevention Alliance.
Peer to Peer Support Models
Hope Squad is an evidence-based, peer-to-peer suicide prevention program built around the power of connection.
Sources of Strength's vision is to empower a well world. They provide training and curriculum for youth and adults, utilizing a strength-based and upstream approach to mental health promotion and prevention of adverse outcomes like suicide, violence, bullying, and substance misuse. Sources of Strength provides evidence-based programming that is responsive to local community context and needs.
Workshops/Courses
NAMI Basics OnDemand is here to help. This free, online program – available 24/7 – is designed to empower parents and caregivers of young people (ages 22 and younger) with the tools, knowledge, and support needed to navigate the challenges of youth mental health.
In partnership with the Department of Health and Welfare, the State Department of Education is providing free online Suicide Prevention training for our Idaho school communities through our Idaho Youth Suicide Prevention Program (IYSPP) and the QPR Institute. After completing this form, you will be directed to the QPR Institute website to complete the course registration process. Click on title for form. QPR has been proven to reduce risks of suicide.
Central District Health (Idaho) provides training to help reduce risk of suicide. Trainings include: QPR, Youth Mental Health First Aid, LivingWorks Faith, Mental Health First Aid, Adolescent Mental Health 101, LivingWorks Start
Challenge Success is an organization that partners with school communities to elevate student voice and implement research-based, equity-centered strategies that improve well-being, engagement, and belonging for all K-12 students.
The Speedy Foundation provides numerous training opportunities to reduce the risk of suicide in communities.
Central District Health (Idaho) - Highly recommended 1 hour course designed to give caregivers and school staff a better understanding of mental health and brain development by learning how to communicate with adolescents, differentiate between typical behavior and potential mental health challenges, and seek mental healthcare. Schedule a FREE training today! Email: suicideprevention@cdh.idaho.gov phone: (208)559-0279
Videos/Podcasts/Books
Our Kids Our Schools Podcast hosted by Alexis Morgan (December 2024)
Written by Anna Mueller and Seth Abrutyn in 2024. In Life under Pressure, Anna S. Mueller and Seth Abrutyn investigate the social roots of youth suicide and why certain places weather disproportionate incidents of adolescent suicides and suicide clusters. Through close examination of kids' lives in a community repeatedly rocked by youth suicide clusters, Mueller and Abrutyn reveal how the social worlds that youth inhabit and the various messages they learn in those spaces--about who they are supposed to be, mental illness, and help-seeking--shape their feelings about themselves and in turn their risk of suicide. With great empathy, Mueller and Abrutyn also identify the moments when adults unintentionally fail kids by not talking to them about suicide, teaching them how to seek help, or helping them grieve. Through stories of survival, resilience, and even rebellion, Mueller and Abrutyn show how social environments can cause suicide and how they can be changed to help kids discover a life worth living. By revealing what it is like to live and die in one community, Life under Pressure offers tangible solutions to one of the twenty-first century's most tragic public health problems.
Written by Jennifer Wallace in 2023. In the ever more competitive race to secure the best possible future, today’s students face unprecedented pressure to succeed. They jam-pack their schedules with AP classes, fill every waking hour with resume-padding activities, and even sabotage relationships with friends to “get ahead.” Family incomes and schedules are stretched to the breaking point by tutoring fees and athletic schedules. Yet this drive to optimize performance has only resulted in skyrocketing rates of anxiety, depression, and even self-harm in America’s highest achieving schools. Parents, educators, and community leaders are facing the same quandary: how can we teach our kids to strive towards excellence without crushing them?
Written by Lisa Damour. Parents who read this book will learn: • what to expect in the normal course of adolescent emotional development and when it’s time to worry • why teens (and adults) need to understand that mental health isn’t about “feeling good” but about having feelings that fit the moment, even if those feelings are unwanted or painful • strategies for supporting teens who feel at the mercy of their emotions, so they can become psychologically aware and skilled at managing their feelings • how to approach common challenges that come with adolescence, such as friction at home, spiking anxiety, risky behavior, navigating friendships and romances, the pull of social media, and many more • the best ways to stay connected to their teens and how to provide the kind of relationship that adolescents need and want
Suicide Prevention Policy & Regulations/Procedures for Schools
Why is a Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Policy & Procedures important?
This framework helps protect students through early warning systems, clear crisis procedures, and supportive mental health programs.
While your respective school district may already have many of these measures in place, it's important for our entire school community - educators, staff, students, parents/guardians, and volunteers - to understand and engage with these policies. This creates multiple layers of protection that ensures no student falls through the cracks and help is readily available when needed.
This policy was updated and approved in February 2025. It provides a comprehensive guide to suicide prevention practices within BSD schools. This policy works in conjunction with Regulation 3320-(1), which details specific implementation requirements and procedures.
The Trevor Project, ASCA, NASP, and AFSP developed this model recommended for all schools.
Approved in February 2025, Regulation 3320-(1) serves as a companion document to Policy 3320, providing the detailed implementation framework to put policy intentions into practice. This Regulation also notably identifies neurodivergent youth as a student population at elevated risk for suicide.
Parent/Caregiver Checklist
What can parents/caregivers do to reduce suicide risk in their community?
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Make time for connection and outdoor activities - Create regular opportunities for screen-free time with family and friends – both for yourself and your children. Whether outdoors, playing games, sharing meals, or simply talking together, these shared experiences strengthen relationships and support mental wellbeing.
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Have open conversations about mental health - See Family Guides for ways to create a supportive environment where family members can discuss their struggles and learn warning signs before a crisis occurs.
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Add 988 into your family members' phone contacts - Make practice calls with your children to learn about the Crisis Lifeline's services. These educational calls help your family feel comfortable reaching out, whether for school stress or serious mental health struggles.
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Complete QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Training - This evidence-based program teaches you how to recognize warning signs and help someone in crisis. It's FREE for Idaho residents and proven to reduce suicide risk in communities.
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Secure lethal means in your home - Review and implement safe storage practices using this practical guide: Reduce Access to Lethal Means Brochure. Create barriers to access during moments of crisis.
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Know your school's mental health resources - Familiarize yourself with your school's suicide prevention policies and available support services. Learn what accommodations and counseling options are available to students experiencing mental health challenges.