The Oakland County Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force is launching a year-long prevention and awareness campaign during National Suicide Prevention Week, September 8 through 14. It will include messages on billboards and busses about what signs to look for to prevent suicide and where to get help. The task force will also distribute posters to all Oakland County middle and high schools to encourage teens to seek help for depression and substance use, which can lead to suicide.
It is the third-leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year-olds in the United States.
“The campaign will bring awareness to parents, teachers and students to reach out to kids who need help,” said Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson. “Look for the new ads, point them out to your children and talk. You could save a life.”
In addition, the task force will provide its suicide prevention toolkit to parents of middle and high school students who want to learn the warning signs and prevention steps.
“Suicide is a major public health issue, but it is preventable,” said George Miller, Director of Oakland County Department of Health and Human Services. “It is important for everyone to recognize the warning signs and risk factors for suicide to prevent the loss of lives.”
Warning Signs:
- Talking about, or making plans to die
- Talking about “ending the pain”
- Persistently feeling sad, lonely or “empty”
- Insomnia or excessive sleeping
- Social isolation and withdrawal
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
Risk Factors:
- Previous suicide attempt(s)
- Depression or other mental illness
- Substance use
- Family history of suicide
- Physical illness and /or chronic pain
If you or someone you know is in crisis, do not leave the person alone and do not isolate yourself. Call your 
doctor, 911, go to a hospital emergency room for immediate help, or ask someone to help you. The phone number for Common Ground’s 24-hour Crisis and Resource Helpline is 800-231-1127 and is available 24 hours a day.
For more information, go to Oakland County Health Division online at oakgov.com/health and click on “Youth Suicide Prevention.”
Additional Resources:
Common Ground – commongroundhelps.org
Oakland County Community Mental Health – occmha.org
Easter Seals – mi.easterseals.com
Suicide Prevention Resource Center – sprc.org
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration – samhsa.gov
National Alliance on Mental Illness – nami.org
About the Oakland County Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force
The task force is a partnership of Oakland County Department of Health and Human Services, Common Ground, Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority, Easter Seals, Training and Treatment Innovations, and Oakland Schools. Its mission is to raise awareness and provide the necessary tools and resources to schools, families, and youth to prevent suicide.
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