Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for youth between the ages of 10 and 24 nationally. It results in approximately 4,400 lives lost each year in this age group.
Washington, D.C. has the lowest suicide rate in the country (51st), with only 6 suicides per 100,000 people. In 2007, suicide was the fifth leading cause of death for youth ages 15-19; and the sixth leading cause of death for adults 20-44. Despite having a low rate of suicide deaths, youth in D.C. are struggling with thoughts of suicide at alarming rates.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (YRBS) results, a survey conducted of D.C. high school youth in 2010 found that in the past 12 months, 25% of high school youth felt so sad or hopeless almost every day, for two weeks or more in a row, that they stopped doing some usual activities; 11% seriously considered attempting suicide; 11% made a plan for how they would kill themselves; and 12% actually attempted suicide. D.C. students report higher rates of making suicide attempts compared to a national sample. Screening programs conducted with D.C. youth find that almost a third of youth screen positive for depression or suicidal thoughts.

National and Local Fatal Injury Data:
http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/fatal.html
http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pub/youth_suicide.html
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr59/nvsr59_02.pdf

Materials and Fact Sheets for Parents, Teachers or Other Adults
Adolescent Health
Stats and Tools
D.C. YRBS Fact Sheets on mental health issues
DMH Capital CARES Suicide Prevention Program
D.C. Youth Suicide Prevention Coalition
Training Opportunities
Community-Based Partners
DMH School Mental Health Program
D.C. Suicide Prevention Conference 2011 links to audio presentations

"I Am the Difference" Print Materials
Poster 1
Poster 2
Poster 1 - Spanish Language
Poster 2 - Spanish Language
Brochure - Youth Suicide: Learn the Signs
Brochure - Suicidio Juvenil: Aprenda los signos (Spanish Language)
Postcard for Youth
Wallet Card

"I Am the Difference" Radio Ads (click link to listen to Audio Files)
1. Be A Friend
2. My Girl
3. Your World vers 1
4. Your World vers 2
5. Life Does Get Better
6. Warning Signs

D.C. Youth Suicide Prevention Conference: Strengthening Communities to Promote Resilience - September 16, 2011 (click link to listen to Audio Files)

Listen Welcome
(Stephen T. Baron, Director, District of Columbia Department of Mental Health Vincent C. Gray, Mayor, District of Columbia)

Morning Plenary: Decoding Myths and Stigma Related to Suicide Prevention and Why Suicide Prevention Matters in the District (Dr. Alex Crosby)

Morning Plenary: From Challenges to Success: The Stories of Two Survivors (Invited Guests: Edward Kittrell, Antoine Quichocho, Discussant: Dr. David Jobes)

Listen Suicide and Homicide Trends: If this is a Progressive Imperative, Then Why Such Conservative Policy Action? (Dr. Sean Joe)

Listen That's not suicide, that's just attention seeking: How to recognize and respond to suicidal behaviors (Dr. David Jobes)

Listen Angry youth and self-destructive behaviors: How to intervene in the community (Dr. Sean Joe, Dr. Alex Crosby, Lieutenant Angela Lewis)

Listen Policies and protocols for suicide risk and postvention: Is your agency ready? (Dr. Richard Scott, Dr. Sally Dorman)

Listen Finding beauty in negative spaces: Using spirituality to promote resiliency (Dr. Sherry Molock)

Listen Using evidence-based programs to create a successful suicide prevention initiative for youth in community settings and schools (Richard White, Melissa Shaw, Luis Morales, Timothy Jones)

Listen Special populations in suicide prevention: Latino youth, LGBTQ, Foster care, Juvenile Justice (Andrew Barnett, Dr. Eleni Getachew, Dr. Sarah Aleem, Patrina Anderson)

Listen What does it mean to access services for someone in a crisis in D.C. and what really happens (Robin Sparer, Luis Vasquez, Dr. Lisa Bullock, Dr. Sandra Rackley, Lieutenant Debra Manigault)

Listen After the crisis: Engaging the family for ongoing treatment for the youth (Dr. Donna Barnes, Heather Bryan, Dr. Sandra Rackley)

Listen A closer look at D.C. suicide numbers: Hospitals, Schools, Churches, College Campuses (Dr. Susan Blake, Dr. Sherry Molock, Dr. Lisa Horowitz, Dr. Donna Barnes)

Listen Sherry Molock and Lisa Horowitz
Listen Sherry Molock and Lisa Horowitz
Listen Sherry Molock and Lisa Horowitz
Listen Sherry Molock and Lisa Horowitz
Listen Sherry Molock and Lisa Horowitz
Listen Sherry Molock and Lisa Horowitz
Listen Sherry Molock and Lisa Horowitz
Listen Sherry Molock and Lisa Horowitz
Listen Donna Barnes
Listen Donna Barnes
Listen Susan Blake
Listen Susan Blake
Listen Susan Blake
Listen Susan Blake

Listen Suicide in the military: Supporting youth entering or coming out of the military (Dr. Elspeth Ritchie)

Listen Wrap-Up: Next Steps for Suicide Prevention (James Wright)