PROVIDER RESOURCE
Spotlighting Youth Voices
in Suicide Prevention
Practical guidance, tools, and youth-informed strategies
for providers supporting young people before,
during, and after suicide-related crises.
Explore the six core elements
Each section highlights a provider takeaway with youth perspective, practical actions, tools, and video content.
01
How to Talk about Suicide
Talking about suicide with a young person is about showing up as a listener they can trust.
02
Third Spaces & Alternative Service Opportunities
Suicide prevention extends beyond clinical settings. It can look like a basketball court, a youth center, or a mentor who shows up.
03
Supporting Family Involvement & Other Supports
Providers should proactively ask about and strengthen youth support systems, but who is involved should always be the young person’s call.
04
Technology & Media Literacy
Young people are turning to screens for support, and providers need to understand both the lifelines and the landmines hiding there.
05
Aftercare/Long-Term Support
Healing doesn’t end when the crisis does. Suicide prevention is continuous and young people need consistent encouragement in maintaining wellness.
06
Supporting with the Loss of a Loved One
Losing someone to suicide carries a grief all its own, layered with stigma, and it deserves care that recognizes just how much weight affected individuals carry.
Building Trust & Support Systems
The first four elements focus on how providers build trust and understand life outside the clinical setting.
01
Create space for honest conversations
Providers need to feel comfortable talking about suicide with youth through actually listening to them and being transparent, authentic, nonjudgemental, and empathetic. This is a conversation that needs to be ongoing, flexible, & should center the individual needs of the young person.
- Pages 9 - 16
Featured Tools
02
Support wellness beyond the clinical space
Youth want to be asked about more than just their mental health symptoms – they want to be seen & heard as whole people. Third spaces and other service opportunities support overall youth development and, as a result, provide suicide prevention care.
- Pages 17 - 22
Featured Tools
03
Build a strong support network the young person trusts
Young people don’t want to feel alone in their struggles and shouldn’t feel alone in their care either. Providers have a responsibility to ask about youth support systems & encourage the utilization & fostering of those relationships. All decisions made about family involvement & other supports should be led by the young person, prioritizing their autonomy.
- Pages 23 - 28
Featured Tools
04
Understand their digital world
Young people utilize technology & the media for all facets of life, but particularly when seeking help for suicide ideation. Tools like AI, social media, and other online communities have significant pros & cons that providers must be aware of. Although it’s a convenient & accessible way to find care, there are serious dangers at play as well.
- Pages 29 - 36
Featured Tools
Supporting Youth Across Their Lives
The last two elements focus on long-term recovery support and grief support.
05
Support recovery beyond the crisis
Long-term care and support around suicidality is just as significant as crisis intervention, and perhaps more difficult to prevent serious attempts. Young people experience a lack of trust from providers to be the experts of their own care while encountering systemic barriers to long-term support. Suicide prevention is continuous and young people need consistent encouragement in maintaining wellness.
- Pages 37 - 44
Featured Tools
06
Stay present through grief and loss
Individuals who have lost a loved one to suicide require thoughtful suicide prevention care that caters to their specific needs and experience. The grief process is an ongoing event that includes carrying greater weight from a stigmatized, violent loss. Providers must acknowledge the extra responsibility & vulnerability of individuals affected by a suicide loss.
- Pages 45 - 52
Featured Tools
Watch Youth Voices
Browse all six videos of the video library.
Core Element 1
How to Talk About Suicide
Core Element 2
Third Spaces
Core Element 3
Family & Other Supports
Core Element 4
Technology & Media Literacy
Core Element 5
Aftercare/Long-Term Support
Core Element 6
Supporting with the Loss of a Loved One
Additional Resources
These are additional helpful resources for individuals looking for support, providers, family, or other supports.
Project YES: A very easy, quick, and youth-centered guide to managing suicidal thoughts, feelings, or other mental health struggles
Safety Plan App: Made by the US Dept of Veteran Affairs (VA), this is a downloadable app to continuously develop & adjust an individual safety plan with additional resources to learn more about suicide
Seize the Awkward: A campaign that promotes finding help or being supportive to someone struggling, even if you show up imperfectly – includes access to real stories, additional resources, and youth-centered language
The Trevor Project: Nationally-recognized organization that provides crisis services, peer support, and public education regarding suicide prevention, specifically for LGBTQ+ youth
Need help finding the right resources?
If you need help finding research-related resources or have questions, contact us.