Mental Wellness & Crisis Resources
As a school community we can offer hope, help, and strength.
You Are Not Alone
Life can feel overwhelming and sometimes people seek an escape from the pain. It's important to know that there is hope, even when it seems impossible in the moment.
Talking openly about thoughts of suicide does not increase the risk of suicide. Having compassionate conversations about these feelings provides the opportunity for connection and support.
If you are in pain and considering suicide, there is help. Contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling 988. If you or someone you are supporting is in imminent danger or a life-threatening situation, please contact 911.
Help is Available
If you or someone you care about is considering suicide, please know that help is available. Please reach out.
- Crisis Hotlines
- Mental Wellness & Suicide Prevention Resources
- Cultural-Specific Mental Health Resources
- Grief, Loss & Survivor Resources
Crisis Hotlines
Suicide & Crisis Hotlines
- Call the 988 crisis helpline
- For TTY Users: Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988
- Chat with 988 online, available 24/7
- Visit 988's suicide crisis and lifeline website
For Spanish speakers:
Lifeline ofrece 24/7, servicios gratuitos en español.
Created for Oregon students, parents, school staff, community members and law enforcement officers to report and respond to student safety threats.
Provides crisis services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for residents of Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties.
- Call Marion County Health & Human Services at 503-585-4949
- For face-to-face assessments and crisis counseling visit in person at 1118 Oak Street SE, Salem, OR 97301
For youth in schools struggling with suicidal or mental health symptoms:
A teen-to-teen crisis and help line for anything bothering you, no problem is too big or too small.
- Text "teen2teen" to 839863
- Chat online at oregonyouthline.org
- Teens are available to help daily from 4 to 10 p.m. Pacific Time.
- Outside these hours, messages are answered by Lines for Life.
Polk County Behavioral Health provides crisis response by phone or in-person 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- Call Polk County Crisis Line at 503-623-9289 during office hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- Outside regular business hours call Polk County Crisis at 503-581-5535 or 800-560-5535
- Crisis services are available to any individual in need, regardless of insurance or ability to pay.
An international peer-to-peer community for LGBTQ young people and their friends.
Trans-led organization that connects trans people to the support and resources they need to survive and thrive.
Provides peer support for trans people in crisis 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Connects Service members and Veterans in crisis, as well as their family members and friends, with qualified Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) responders.
To connect with a VA responder:
- Dial 988 then Press 1 for VA Crisis
- Text 838255 for VA Crisis
- Start a confidential online chat session at Veterans Crisis Chat
- Visit the Veterans Crisis Line website
Mental Wellness & Suicide Prevention Resources
People go through difficult times, and it is not uncommon to explore options to ease or stop the pain. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, there is help available.
It may be surprising to know that talking to someone about suicide does not increase the risk of suicide and the conversation provides an opportunity for connection and support.
These resources can help you or someone you know find hope, get through this moment, build resiliency for later, connect to others, and learn how to help someone.
Apps
- notOK — A free digital panic button to get you immediate support via text.
- Superbetter — Playing SuperBetter improves mood and perceived social support and increases belief in the ability to successfully achieve goals. It promotes new levels of personal growth.
Get Help Through Social Media
- Support on Social Media with Lifeline — If you are worried about someone on social media, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline safety teams, who will reach out through the social media platform to connect the user with the help they need.
- Youth Era — Youth can connect and get virtual support from peer via Twitch, Instagram, Discord or video chat through Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.
Guides, Infographics & Videos
- 5 Action Steps for Helping Someone in Emotional Pain — A quick resource on how to be the one to help someone in emotional pain.
- My Mental Health: Do I Need Help? — Infographic from National Institute of Mental Health to determine if your mental health symptoms are interfering with your daily life.
- I want to Help My Teen / Young Adult: Conversation Guides — Several helpful resources by the JED Foundation.
- Suicide Prevention Resource Center: Older Adults — Information on the risks and how to protect older adults from suicide.
- Teen Suicide Prevention Video — Mayo Clinic video for parents which includes warning signs and how to respond.
- Warning Signs of Suicide — Infographic and list of common behaviors of those thinking who may be thinking about suicide.
Local Resources
- Acres of Hope Youth Ranch — A youth ranch with a mission to share HOPE (Healing, Opportunity, Purpose, Education) with adolescents.
- Care Solace available for SKPS students, staff and families — Salem-Keizer Public Schools, in partnership with Care Solace, is committed supporting the health, safety, and well-being of our students, staff, and families.
- Find a Therapist — Psychology Today provides a list of local therapist based on city and zip code. Includes insurance, specialized issues, and if they offer online therapy.
- iRespect & Protect — Helps children, youth, and adults recognize their self-worth and the influence of device use on their lives. Includes tools, resources, and trainings for parents.
- Start Your Recovery — A comprehensive directory of treatment options and support groups for adolescents and their families in Salem, Oregon.
National Resources
- American Association of Suicidology — We are an inclusive community that envisions a world where people know how to prevent suicide and find hope and healing.
- American Psychological Association: Topic Suicide — What you can do, getting help and other related resources
- Common Sense Media — Parenting, media, and everything in between, including gaming and social media rules and dealing with online harassment. Filterable by age group.
- Jed Foundation — The Jed Foundation’s Mental Health Resource Center provides essential information about common emotional health issues and shows teens and young adults how they can support one another, overcome challenges, and make a successful transition to adulthood.
- 988 Lifeline for Service Members, Veterans, and Families — 988 has been designated as the three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The 988 site has many categories of information that are helpful for those in need of support.
- Suicide Prevention Resource Center — Provides extensive information, effective prevention strategies, online library, and online training. All available for free.
- Teen Line — Provides support, resources, and hope to young people through a hotline of professionally trained teen counselors, and outreach programs that de-stigmatize and normalize mental health.
- The Steve Fund — Dedicated to supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of young people of color. The Steve Fund works with colleges, universities, non-profits, researchers, mental health experts, families, and young people to promote programs and strategies that build understanding and assistance for the mental and emotional health of the nation’s young people of color.
- See The Steve Fund's Resources page for open courseware, podcasts and other educational materials on mental health topics
- US Department of Veterans Affairs Mental Health Resources —Webpage providing information on how Veterans can seek resources and support for a variety of mental health topics.
- To learn about Teen Line and what to expect when you call see the Teen Line PSA video
- See all Teen Line videos here
Cultural-Specific Mental Health Resources
General Cultural Resources
- Racial and Ethnic Disparities — From the Suicide Prevention Resource Center.
- Mental Health America — Mental health resources for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.
- Inclusive Therapists — Find care in English and Spanish.
Asian & Pacific Islander Communities
- Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA) — Advance the mental health and well-being of Asian American communities through research, professional practice, education, and policy.
- Asian American Health Initiative — Mental health resource library.
- Asian Health and Service Center — Portland-based physical and behavioral health services for Asian American communities.
- Asian LifeNet Hotline — Support in Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, and Fujianese is offered 24-hours a day.
- Asian Mental Health Collective — AMHC aspires to make mental health easily available, approachable, and accessible to Asian communities worldwide.
- Asian Mental Health Project — Aims to educate and empower Asian communities in seeking mental healthcare.
- Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO) — Community advocacy organization with opportunities for leadership development and political and community involvement.
- IRCO Pacific Islander and Asian Family Center — One-stop community center providing and promoting culturally relevant services to families.
- National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association — Promotes the mental health and wellbeing of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. NAAPIMHA strives to raise awareness of the role of mental health in an individual’s health and wellbeing.
- South Asian Mental Health Alliance — A non-profit network dedicated to mental health awareness, acceptance, support, and empowerment.
Black & African American Communities
- AAKOMA Project — Their mission is to build the consciousness of Youth of Color and their caregivers to seek help and manage mental health.
- Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM) — BEAM is dedicated to the healing, wellness, and liberation of Black and marginalized communities.
- Black Girls Smile — Encourages positive mental health education, resources, and support geared toward young Black women and girls.
- Black Mental Health Alliance (BMHA) — BMHA's mission is to develop, promote and sponsor trusted culturally-relevant educational forums, trainings and referral services that support the health and well-being of Black people and their communities.
- Therapy for Black Girls — An online space dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of Black women and girls.
- Therapy for Black Men — Break the stigma that asking for help is a sign of weakness. We are here to provide judgment-free, multiculturally competent care to Black men.
- Black Mental Wellness — A community of support and knowledge.
- Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation — Offers Black community resources, connections and support needed to break the silence and stigma around mental health.
- Melanin & Mental Health — Connect individuals with culturally competent clinicians committed to serving the mental health needs of Black and Latinx/Hispanic communities.
- National Alliance on Mental Health’s site for Black/African American — Identity and cultural dimensions.
- Southeast Addiction Center — Top 50 resources for Black men who are struggling with substance use and/or their mental health.
Latino & Hispanic Communities
- Latinx Therapists Action Network — An online platform and network of Latinx mental health practitioners honoring and affirming the dignity and healing of migrant communities marginalized by criminalization, detention, and deportation.
- Latinx Therapists and Speakers
- Latinx Therapy — A national directory to find a Latinx therapist.
- MANA — A National Latina Organization with resources and information.
- Melanin & Mental Health — Connect individuals with culturally competent clinicians committed to serving the mental health needs of Black & Latinx/Hispanic communities.
- National Alliance for Hispanic Health
- Therapy for Latinx — An online database that makes it easy for Latinx people to find mental health professionals in their own communities.
Native American Youth
- Center for Native American Youth (CNAY) — The Center for Native American Youth believes all Native American youth should lead full and healthy lives, have equal access to opportunity, and draw strength from their culture and one another.
- Indian Health Services, Division of Behavioral Health — Serves as the primary source of national advocacy, policy development, management, and administration of behavioral health, alcohol and substance abuse, and family violence prevention programs for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people.
- Stronghearts Native Helpline — Intimate partner violence and sexual assault helpline for Native Americans. 1-844-7NATIVE (762-8483) is a 24/7 safe, confidential, and anonymous domestic and sexual violence helpline for Native Americans and Alaska Natives.
- We-R-Native — A website by and for Native Youth.
Integrated Services Provided by Most Tribes and NARA
- Telehealth
- Behavioral health (substance use/abuse and mental health)
- Prevention
- Wellness
- Peer-delivered services
- Housing
- Emergency services
- Self-sufficiency
- Child welfare
- Crisis services and
- Culturally responsive suicide prevention, intervention and postvention.
Tribal Program Details
- Burns Paiute Tribe
- Confederated Tribes of Coos Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians
- Coquille Indian Tribe
- Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
- Klamath Tribes
- Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians
- Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs
- Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
- Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians
- Native American Rehabilitation Association
LGBTQ+ Gender Identity & Expression
- GLAAD — Trans resources, tips, and frequently asked questions.
- National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network — Organizes mental health practitioners to establish a network where therapists can deepen their analysis of healing justice and where QTPoC community can connect to care.
- Straight for Equality — Resources for allies.
- The Transgender Training Institute — Provides education and training.
- The Trevor Project — Access a counselor if you are struggling or find answers, information and get the tools to help someone else.
- Trans Lifeline
Steps that district staff should take in order to protect the privacy of a student when they wish to affirm their identity at school as two-spirit, transgender, nonbinary, or another gender nonconforming identity.
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Individuals
Grief, Loss & Survivor Resources
The location and sites of support meetings are always changing to accommodate the participants. Here are two key sites to find out more about support groups in your area.
Willamette Vital Health
WVH offers free bereavement support groups and workshops to anyone in our community who has faced the recent death of a loved one – whether or not they used WVH Hospice or Supportive Care services.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (ASFP)
- Get help from AFSP — The Get Help section of the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention lists support opportunities based on your needs.
Other Grief & Loss/Survivor Resources
- Dougy Center Grief and Loss Support — Find support, resources, and connection before and after a death.
- How to Talk to a Child about a Suicide Attempt in Your Family — Guides for families of preschoolers, school age children, and teenagers, by Rocky Mountain MIRECC
- OHA Resources for Crisis and Trauma Response — Oregon Health Authority provides resources for individuals, families, and professionals dealing with traumatic events.
- Suicide Loss Survivors | Alliance of Hope — Alliance for Hope has support resource information for healing and remembrance.
Help for Staff, Students & Families
Complimentary and confidential mental health and substance abuse services available 24/7/365 in any language.
Supporting Yourself & Others
- How to Help Resources
- Breathing Relaxation Techniques
- District Staff Mental Wellness Support & Resources
How to Help Resources
We are glad you are here visiting this site and exploring resources. We honor your courage and strength as you seek to help prevent suicide in our community.
While discussing suicide can be uncomfortable, it is essential in supporting people experiencing suicidal thoughts and/or behaviors. Our school district partners with the school community to provide hope, help, and healing.
- American Association of Suicidology — An inclusive community that envisions a world where people know how to prevent suicide and find hope and healing.
- American Psychological Association: Topic Suicide — What you can do to help, how to get help, and related resources.
- My Friend is Suicidal: What Should I Do? — By National Alliance on Mental Health
- Question Persuade Refer (QPR Institute) — With these three steps, anyone can learn how to help prevent suicide. QPR is an emergency response to someone in crisis and can save lives. Salem-Keizer provides QPR training for all its employees.
- Seize the Awkward — Learn how to talk to a friend about suicide.
- Suicide Prevention Resource Center — Provides extensive information, effective prevention strategies, online library, and online training. All available for free.
- What To Do If You’re Concerned With Your Teen’s Mental Health: A Conversation Guide — By the JED Foundation
- Whatever Gets You Talking – Music Video —Video about reaching out to a friend about their mental health by Seize the Awkward.
Breathing Relaxation Techniques
- 2-Minute Breathe Bubble | Breath Exercises Video — Get your daily calm with this meditation breathe bubble with relaxing sea background.
- Calm 30-second breathing bubble — Whenever you feel like you need to catch your breath, do this 30-second breathing exercise with Calm Breathe for instant relaxation.
- Calm app — For sleep, meditation, and relaxation. Available for desktop or mobile. Account purchase required or available free with some health insurance.
- Help Guide — Relaxation techniques for stress relief
- MindShift CBT app — Free anxiety relief app to help you learn to relax and be mindful, develop more effective ways of thinking, and use active steps to take charge of your anxiety.
- Virtual Hope Box app — Smartphone app designed to help you with coping, relaxation, distraction, and positive thinking.
District Staff Mental Wellness Support & Resources
By visiting this site, you take a critical step toward preventing suicide in our schools and community. The resources here empower you, your colleagues, family, and friends experiencing mental health crises or suicidal thoughts. Though discussing suicide may be uncomfortable, doing so reduces stigma and connects us. Salem-Keizer Public Schools aims to provide hope, help, and partnership on the path to a healthy, resilient community.
- Common Sense Media — Parenting, media, and everything in between, including gaming and social media rules and dealing with online harassment. Filterable by age group.
- Employee Wellness — Wellness programs and resources for district staff and their families
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) — Available to District employees, this service helps people privately resolve problems that may interfere with work, family, and other important areas of life. As Salem-Keizer staff, there is no cost to you or anyone living in your household.
- Find a Therapist — Psychology Today provides a list of local therapist based on city and zip code. Includes information on insurance, specialized issues, and if they offer online therapy.
- Jed Foundation — The Jed Foundation’s Mental Health Resource Center provides essential information about common emotional health issues and shows teens and young adults how they can support one another, overcome challenges, and make a successful transition to adulthood.
- SAHMSA Suicide Prevention Resources — Resources provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Apps
- Headspace for Educators — Whether you’re feeling inspired to connect more with your students or you’re looking for a new way to bring calm to your classroom, Headspace can help students build healthy habits that last a lifetime. Headspace offers free access to K-12 teachers.
- Superbetter — Playing SuperBetter improves mood and perceived social support and increases belief in the ability to successfully achieve goals. It promotes new levels of personal growth.
Tools & Trainings
- Calm School Resources — Free tools for resilient classrooms: 30 Days of Mindfulness in the Classroom, Self-Care Guide for Teachers
- NAMI Parents & Teachers as Allies — National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - slide show on suicide prevention in schools (for teachers).
- National Strategy for Suicide Prevention – Jason Foundation Professional Development Series — Training modules provide information on the awareness and prevention of youth suicide. These training are suitable for teachers and any adult who works with young people or wants to learn more about youth suicide.
- Oregon Classroom WISE: Mental Health Literacy for All Oregonians — Mental health and wellbeing resources including free, online, self-guided modules for adults and youth. It includes a collection of print and video resources, guided tutorials and role plays, and interviews with youth and school personnel.
- Question Persuade Refer (QPR Institute) — With these three steps anyone can learn how to help prevent suicide. QPR is an emergency response to someone in crisis. It can save lives. Salem-Keizer provides QPR training for all its employees.
- Suicide Prevention Resource Center — Provides extensive information, effective prevention strategies, online library, and online training. All available for free.
- Suicide Prevention Webinar (NAMI) — Covers the range of risk and protective factors, the warning signs, and what to do if someone may be at risk for suicide.
Videos
- Alone (video) — Video by Central High School students
- Stuck (video) — Video by Dallas High School Students
This policy covers actions that take place in the school, on school property, at school-sponsored functions and activities, on school buses or vehicles and at bus stops, and at school sponsored out-of-school events where school staff are present.
Cover letter included with INS-A038 sent to students and families.
Healthy Student Relationships
Have you or a friend experienced an unsafe relationship, harassment, or assault? School, local and national resources are here to help.
Safe Student Interactions
Find resources that promote healthy boundaries and safe interactions between your student and both peers and adults.