Preventing Youth Suicide: Strategies for School Leaders

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people in the United States. Notably, 20% of all youth deaths are from a cause that is potentially preventable: suicide. While these statistics are sobering, there is so much we can do to prevent suicide.

The majority of youth who die by suicide come in contact with trusted adults, but many times do not reveal that they are having suicidal thoughts. If someone doesn’t ask them directly, they might not talk about it.

This webinar will go over ways of recognizing and then intervening effectively with youth at risk for suicide. Hands-on skills for adults who work directly and indirectly with youth will be discussed.

Learning Objectives

During this session, attendees will:

• Examine the scope, trends, and national public health implications of youth suicide, with an emphasis on how these challenges affect schools and learning environments.
• Identify and interpret key risk factors, protective factors, and behavioral warning signs of youth suicide to better recognize students who may be struggling.
• Apply practical strategies and evidence-based intervention skills to confidently support and refer students at risk, while fostering a school climate that prioritizes safety, connection, and well-being.

Content Warning

This training will address suicide prevention and postvention, including discussion of:

• Impacts of suicide exposure on individuals and communities.
• Data-driven findings and evidence-based strategies for prevention.
• Evidence-based intervention strategies and practical skills for supporting students at risk.

Because these topics are explored using real data, research, and case examples, some material may feel distressing or triggering.

This content is included because grounding prevention in evidence leads to stronger, more effective outcomes. We are committed to approaching the material with both care and candor.