Suicide Prevention Guide for Students

Look Out for Yourself and Your Friends Your well-being matters. Learning about suicide prevention isn’t about labeling yourself or anyone else — it’s about recognizing when someone may need extra care and support. When you understand the warning signs and risk factors, you can step in early and help connect someone to the support they deserve.

Suicide is rarely caused by just one thing. It’s usually a combination of emotional pain, life stressors, health challenges, and difficult experiences. Knowing what increases risk — and what builds protection — can save lives.

What Increases the Risk (Risk Factors)

Suicide is rarely about one single thing. It’s usually a mix of life challenges, health issues, and tough experiences that create a higher risk.

Things Happening Inside (Mental & Physical Health)

Intense Emotions: Experiencing severe depression, anxiety, or mood swings.
Feeling Trapped: A strong sense of hopelessness or feeling like there's no way things will get better.
Low Self-Worth: Having very low self-esteem or feeling like you hate yourself.
Physical Pain: Dealing with chronic pain or serious health issues.
Quick Reactions: Acting impulsively or with aggression.
Past Injuries: History of traumatic brain injuries.

Things Happening Around You (Environmental Factors)

Overwhelming Stress: Academic pressure, conflicts, breakups, or family challenges.
Loneliness: Feeling isolated, disconnected, or losing touch with friends and activities you love.
Bullying/Exclusion: Being cyberbullied or bullied in person; experiencing discrimination or feeling excluded.
Major Loss: Dealing with the death of a friend or loved one or experiencing a big loss in your community.
Unsafe Access: Having easy access to things that could be used for suicide (e.g., firearms, prescription/over-the-counter medications) in the home.
Exposure to Suicide: A friend or family member died by suicide.
Lack of Help: Difficulty accessing mental health support.

Things from the Past (Historical Factors)

Past Attempts: You have tried to hurt yourself or end your life before.
Family History: Family member who died by suicide.
Trauma: A history of abuse (physical, emotional, or sexual) or other adverse childhood experiences.
Generational Pain: Effects of racism or discrimination across generations.

Watch for These Signs

Stress and tough feelings are normal. But certain behaviors and words are urgent signs that someone is thinking about suicide. These require immediate action!

What Someone Might Be Saying

Giving Up: “I wish I could die,” “I want to disappear,” or “there’s no reason to live.”
Feeling Burdened: “Everyone would be better off if I was gone,” or “I'm just a problem for people.”
Feeling Trapped: “I feel stuck,” or “There's absolutely no way out of this.”
Extreme Pain: “This is too painful,” or “I don't think I can handle this feeling anymore.”
Exhaustion: “I'm just really tired of feeling overwhelmed,” or “I'm so overwhelmingly tired.”

What Someone Might Be Doing

Getting Ready: Giving away valued possessions to friends or siblings (like saying goodbye).
Searching: Looking up ways to end their life online or stockpiling pills/weapons.
Pulling Away: Isolating themselves from friends and family; suddenly quitting activities they used to love.
Using Substances: Drinking more alcohol or using more drugs than usual.
Sleep Changes: Sleeping way too much or struggling severely with insomnia.
Creative Focus: Drawing, writing, or posting about death, dying, or suicide.

Signs of Immediate Danger (Get Help Now)

Do not leave them alone and get help immediately if someone is doing any of the following:

Direct Threats: Threatening or talking clearly about killing themselves right now.
Making Arrangements: Saying specific “goodbyes” or planning a funeral.
Obtaining Means: Actively getting a gun, collecting medications, or obtaining another method.
Intense Research: Spending time in chatrooms or social media sites focused on self-harm/suicide.

What Helps Us (Protective Factors)

These are the strengths and connections that build resilience and reduce the likelihood that a person will act on suicidal thoughts.

Connections & Support

Strong Bonds: Having a close, supportive relationship with your family, friends, or community.
One Trusted Adult: Having at least one caring adult (teacher, coach, relative) you can talk to honestly.
School/Group Connection: Feeling like you genuinely belong at school or in a club/activity.
Cultural Pride: A strong connection to your spiritual and cultural identity.
Reaching Out: Knowing how to and being willing to ask for help when things get tough.

Personal Strengths

Resilience: Being good at managing stress, solving problems, and bouncing back from setbacks.
Goals: Having a sense of hope for the future and setting goals for yourself.
Self-Value: Having high self-esteem and knowing your own worth.
Healthy Coping Skills: Using constructive ways to deal with stress (like exercise, mindfulness, or talking).

When to Step In: What You Can Do

If you see warning signs, take them seriously! You have the power to connect your friend (or yourself) to life-saving help. Reaching out is a sign of strength. Speaking up can save a life — maybe even your own.

Express Concern Gently: Tell them specifically what you noticed. “Hey, I noticed you haven't come to practice in a week, and you sound really down when we talked. I'm worried about you.”
Listen Without Judging: Just be present. Don't argue, don't act shocked, and don't try to fix everything. Just let them talk and know you are on their side.
Ask Directly: Use the word “suicide.” “Are you thinking about killing yourself?” This will not put the idea in their head. It shows you care enough to ask.
Stay with Them and Get Help: Do not agree to keep their suicidal thoughts a secret. If they say yes, immediately call a professional or get an adult involved.

Get Help Now

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Contact: Call or text 988.

24/7, free, and confidential support.

Immediate Emergency

Contact: Call 911.

Contact immediately if someone is in imminent danger.

Trusted Adult at School

Contact: School counselor, teacher, principal, or coach.

Tell them right away so they can help guide next steps.

OK2SAY

Contact: Confidential Tip Submission

Michigan's student safety program to keep students safe.