Dear relative,
Thank you for writing in.
The Ask Auntie site is not a crisis line and we don’t monitor it 24/7.
If you or a loved one are thinking about suicide or in crisis there are resources that are available for you. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text NATIVE to 741741 to chat with a crisis counselor. You can also reach out to a trusted adult like your school counselor, teacher, or family member. When someone has suicidal thoughts, it is an emergency!
We all struggle and sometimes feel down. If you would like regular texts to remind you how awesome you are, you can text CARING to 65664 to receive caring messages
If you want to be involved in suicide prevention. You can check out We R Native’s website and the International Association for Suicide Prevention’s (IASP) or the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s (AFSP) webpages for more information, factsheets, and Suicide Prevention events worldwide: iasp.info or afsp.org.
Here’s what you can do:
- Organize a cultural or spiritual event to raise awareness about suicide (maybe an Out of the Darkness Walk).
- Organize a training at your school on suicide and depression… host a Question, Persuade, Respond (QPR) training or TeenScreen event.
- Watch We R Native YouTube video’s on suicide prevention.
- Create a video about suicide prevention and post it on We R Native.
- Check out these additional resources: Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (org) or the get involved page of the Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
- Create and share hopeful message by using the #WeNeedYouHere blank sign. This small message can remind a friend, a family member, or even a person across the country that We Are Connected and #weneedyouhere.
- Apply for a We R Native mini grant of up to $475 to host a World Suicide Prevention month activity. Learn more and apply here
I hope that these resources and tips help you, wherever you are at. Remember you are loved and you are important.
Take care,
Auntie Manda
