September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month: Illinois DCFS offers supports to at-risk youth in care
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
Safety First. Safety Always.
There is no doubt that teen suicide is a growing area of concern for young people across all walks of life. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that individuals between the ages of 10 and 24 account for 15% of all suicides and that suicide is the second leading cause of death in this age group (CDC, 2024). One of the first steps in addressing this issue is to identify risk factors that increase the likelihood of suicide in young people. Youth who experience childhood abuse or neglect are at an increased risk for suicide, and research indicates that youth who are involved in the child welfare system are at an even greater risk. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), some additional risk factors include serious family problems, prior suicide attempts, substance misuse, history of mental health conditions and history of traumatic experiences.?
SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) published their “National Guidelines for Child and Youth Behavioral Health Care Crisis Care” in 2022, which outlines what they refer to as the “Core Principles for Delivering Crisis Response to Children, Youth and Families.” It is suggested that when programs and resources for crisis response are developed, that out-of-home placements be avoided (when possible), services be provided on a developmentally appropriate level, family and peers be integrated into service delivery and services be provided in a culturally competent manner. Ideally, crisis care systems for youth should consist of a three-pronged approach similar to systems that have been implemented for adults: someone to talk to, someone to respond and a safe place to be.
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) recognizes that the youth and teens in our care are at increased risk for suicide and we provide many supports to our youth and their families, including clinical consultation and linkage to community resources. Plans are also underway for a new training for field staff that will help them identify red flags related to potential suicide risk in youth as well as how staff can support families and caregivers in accessing the resources and services that are available to them.?
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There are many resources available that professionals can share with youth and their support systems, including:?
- NAMI Suicide Prevention Toolkit (available at www.nami.org): This toolkit offers information on identifying warning signs and what to do if someone tells you they are thinking about suicide, as well as links to additional resources.?
- Crisis Text Line (https://www.crisistextline.org/): The Crisis Text Line provides free emotional support to teens in any type of crisis, including feeling suicidal.?
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (https://988lifeline.org/): The Lifeline is a 24-hour toll-free phone line for people in suicidal crisis. There is also an online chat option available through the website.?
Pandora Grey, MA, LCPC, is the downstate mental health services coordinator in the Illinois DCFS Office of Clinical Practice.