Ministry of Children and Family Development resources for youth with suicidal thoughts

VICTORIA – The Ministry of Children and Family Development would like to remind young people and their families that if they are feeling alone, sad, or having thoughts of suicide, help is available.
Here are a few numbers youth and families can contact themselves or on  behalf of someone else to get immediate help:
• 1 800 SUICIDE (1 800 784-2433)
• Youth in BC: 1 866 661-3311 (toll-Free). Youth in BC is an online  crisis service, where you can chat 1-on-1 with a trained volunteer 24  hours a day.
• Aboriginal People Crisis Line: 1 800 588-8717
• Native Youth Crisis Hotline: 1 877 209-1266
• Suicide Prevention Lifeline: A free 24 hour hotline in Canada or the U.S. 1 800 273-8255
• Kids Help Phone: 1 800 668-6868. The Kids Help Line is a national  organisation offering bilingual, 24-hour toll-free confidential phone counselling, referral and Internet services for children and youth or their parents in English and French.
Most children and youth having thoughts of suicide show signs of their  distress, although some do not. Some of the changes families and others may see in children and youth who may be at risk for suicide include:
•  Talking about suicide or a plan for suicide.
•  Saying things like, “I’m going to kill myself,” “I wish I were dead,”  “I shouldn’t have been born,” “I won’t be a problem for you much longer,” “Nothing matters,” or “It’s no use.”
• Making statements about hopelessness, helplessness or worthlessness.
• Complaining of being a bad person or feeling “rotten inside,” refusing help or feeling beyond help. Not tolerating praise or rewards.
• Giving away favourite possessions or making a will.
•  Being preoccupied with death.
• Showing a loss of interest in pleasurable activities or things they  once cared about. Always feeling bored.
• Feeling trapped, increasingly anxious, agitated or angry.
• Showing marked personality changes and serious mood changes.
• Withdrawing from friends and family.
• Expressing plans to seek revenge.
• Sleeping all of the time or unable to sleep.
• Having trouble concentrating or difficulties with school work.
• Complaining frequently about physical symptoms often related to  emotions, such as stomach aches, headaches or fatigue.
• Changes in eating and sleeping habits.
• Showing impulsive behaviours, such as violent actions, rebellious  behaviour or running away.
• Increasing or excessive substance use.
• Becoming suddenly cheerful after a period of depression (may mean the  youth has already made the decision to escape their problems through  suicide).

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