Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people ages 15-24 years of age. Some of the warning signs of suicide include:

• Threats or comments about killing themselves, also known as suicidal ideation, can begin with seemingly harmless thoughts like “I wish I wasn’t here” but can become more overt and truly dangerous.
• Increased alcohol and drug use
• Aggressive behavior
• Social withdrawal from friends, family, and the community
• Dramatic mood swings
• Talking, writing, or thinking about death
• Impulsive or reckless behavior

 
There is help for you or your friend. And it’s completely confidential. You can reach out to a teacher, coach, school administrator, counselor, or nurse at your school.
 
Every HISD campus has a mental health liaison who refers anyone experiencing emotional trauma to the district’s Social and Emotional Learning Department, which has a crisis Intervention stafftrained to keep students safe. HISD has nine licensed crisis specialists on staff ready to help.
 
For more resources, see the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website here.
 
NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization. Their toll-free NAMI helpLine is 800-950-NAMI (6264), and their email is info@nami.org.