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PREVENT TEEN SUICIDE: DISTRIBUTE YELLOW RIBBON CARDS

by Jamie Littlefield
teen suicide

Teen suicide is a devastating epidemic that destroys young lives, shatters families, and leaves a wake of sadness and confusion for those left behind.

Teen suicide ranks third among the leading causes of death for young people ages fifteen to twenty-four. More young people have died of suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, and chronic lung disease combined. Unfortunately, the heartbreak caused by teen suicide gives no sign of letting up. In the past forty years, youth suicide rates have almost tripled.

It doesn't have to be like this. Most teenagers who attempt suicide don't really want to die; they simply don't know how to handle their problems. They don't know who to ask for help, and they fear judgment and rejection.

Before attempting suicide, most teens will find roundabout ways of letting others know about their issues. An astonishing eighty percent of people talk about suicide before taking action and four out of five suicide attempters give warnings beforehand. Sadly, many adults are too afraid to give help, don't take the warnings seriously, or don't know to respond to these desperate cries of distress.

Yellow Ribbon Cards can help prevent teen suicide by giving young people a tangible way to ask for support. When a teen is feeling depressed or unable to cope, he simply hands the card over to a trusted adult. The information on the card helps the adult know how to respond to the troubled teen. To date, over 2,500 teen suicides have been prevented with the help of Yellow Ribbon Cards.

You can help prevent teenage suicide by handing out Yellow Ribbon Cards to young adults in your area.

Step 1: Learn about suicide

Before distributing the cards, educate yourself about teen suicide. Take the suicide myths quiz online and read about suicide warning signs and suicide risk factors.

Step 2: Decide where to distribute the suicide-prevention Yellow Ribbon Cards

Consider distributing the suicide prevention cards to young adults at your local high school, church, youth group, after-school program, neighborhood, or library. If a suicide prevention organization is already in place, you may join in their efforts. Be sure to get permission from authorities before beginning a new project.

Step 3: Order or download the Yellow Ribbon Cards online (for free)

Go to YellowRibbon.org and order as many Yellow Ribbon Cards as you will need. They will send you ten cards and a brochure for free. Or, you may print your own Yellow Ribbon Cards and the accompanying brochure from your home computer.

Step 4: Educate adults Yellow Ribbon Cards

Let the adults (teachers, parents, pastors, etc.) that work with teens know how to prevent teen suicide with the Yellow Ribbon program. Share the warning signs of teen suicide and let adults know how to respond if a teen presents them with a Yellow Ribbon Card. You may also want to share the following teen-suicide prevention resources:

  • Suicide Help Lines: The Befrienders site is an online directory of suicide prevention hotlines in the United States and around the world.
  • National Hope Line: Teens can call 1-800-SUICIDE at any time to be connected with a local suicide counseling center.
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Teens can call 1-800-273-TALK to reach a federally funded suicide prevention hotline.
  • Samaritans Email Helpline: Teens who feel more comfortable with virtual communication can email jo@samaritans.org confidentially. They should receive a response within 24 hours. For help in languages other than English, refer to the Befrienders guide.
  • Most importantly, make sure that the adults know to stay with the teen until he or she gets help and to call 911 if the teen is an immediate threat to him or herself.

Step 5: Distribute the Yellow Ribbon Cards

Give the cards to teens and show them that help is always near. Let them know that they can feel comfortable "using" their Yellow Ribbon Cards, that adults will listen to them, and that they will not be judged. Making sure a teen feels safe just may save a life.