Understanding Suicide

Suicide is the act of intentionally ending one’s own life. It’s a complex phenomenon that happens as a result of intense emotional pain. For this badge, earners will learn about suicide warning signs and risk factors, suicide myths, how to talk about suicide, basic risk assessment, and suicide prevention resources. Complete the following activities for a total of 50 points to receive this badge. This badge should take approximately one hour to complete.

NOTE: This content explores themes around suicide. Proceed with care.

If you’re hurting, afraid, or need someone to talk to, please reach out to one of the resources below. Someone will reach back. You are so deeply valued, so incomprehensibly loved—even when you can’t feel it—and you are worth your life.

You can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, Headquarters Counseling Center at 785-841-2345, the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860, or The Trevor Project at 866-488-7386.

If you don’t like talking on the phone, you can reach the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741-741. If you’d like to talk to a peer, warmline.org contains links to warmlines in every state.

** Many of these resources could utilize restrictive interventions, like active rescues (wellness or welfare checks) involving law enforcement or emergency services. A warmline is least likely to do this, but still might have these policies. You can ask if this is a possibility at any point in your conversation if this is a concern for you.

Understanding Suicide

Requirements

Warning Signs, Risk, and Assessment

Language Matters

Myth Busters

Suicide by the Numbers

Save Your Resources