Immediately contact 911, 988, or visit your nearest emergency room to access support for any current suicidal ideation or crisis needs.
Oregon ranks far above the national average for suicide deaths of youth, and rates have only decreased in the last few years for those who are white, indicating a strong need for additional support for individuals from marginalized racial and ethnic groups.
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) provides suicide prevention and intervention resources and programs by county in Oregon, along with monthly and quarterly data on emergency room and urgent care visits for suicidal ideation/behaviors. Per the most recent data, from July 2025 through June 2026, there was a monthly average of 474 visits to the ER for individuals 17 and under across Oregon. National reporting from The Trevor Project indicates that, due to systemic prejudice and other external factors, including discrimination, suicide behaviors occur significantly more frequently for LGBTQ+ youth, especially those who are BIPOC.
The following resources provide parents/caregivers or any adults working with children and teens with intervention considerations:
- NAMI Suicide Prevention Month (Includes a toolkit and national resources that parents/caregivers can use to help begin a conversation with children and teens on discussing suicidal behaviors.)
- Supporting Kids’ Mental Health: A Guide for Parents (Provides videos to help parents/caregivers talk with their children about mental health needs, models discussing anxiety and depression, and explains how they can seek additional support.)
- Kids Mental Health Foundation (Gives evidence-based, in-depth articles on aspects of suicidal ideation or self-harm, how to help in responding to these behaviors, and ways to support children in building resilience.)
- Suicide Prevention: 12 Things Parents Can Do (Specific strategies for how parents/caregivers can respond in the moment of a crisis, signs to look for, and lived experiences of teens who have survived experiencing suicidal ideation.)
Children and teens can benefit from additional resources, including:
- YouthLine (Gives call, text, chat, and email options for children and teens to seek out peer and adult support for mental health struggles. Teens can also choose to volunteer for peer-to-peer support.)
- We R Native (Provides resources for Native children and teens, including mental health support online and other resources.)
- The Trevor Project (Provides support for children and teens, especially those who are LGBTQ+, in working through anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. Trained counselors are available 24/7. Online community support is also available for teens to connect with other teens in a safe and affirming space.)
- Black Youth Suicide Prevention Coalition (BYSPC) (Provides space, events, and mental health support especially for Black children and teens in Oregon.)
- Save a Friend: Tips for Teens to Prevent Suicide (Through the National Association of School Psychologists, provides strategies teens can use if they are worried about a friend or peer.)
Therapists may especially find the following resources useful:
- Blueprint for Youth Suicide Prevention (Through the American Academy of Pediatrics, this provides prevention and intervention considerations as found through research for recognizing children and teens who may be at risk for suicide and how to intervene.)
- Lines for Life (Includes suicide prevention and postvention programs available locally in Oregon, as well as training resources.)
