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Access the complete Youth & Family Toolkit.
Building a Strong Foundation: Suicide Prevention At Home
Discover eight steps to help families build a strong foundation for wellbeing everyday.
Suicide prevention at home starts with taking small actions everyday to create an environment where children have healthy routines and feel safe, heard, and supported before a crisis arises. Families can reduce risk by fostering open conversations about emotions, modeling healthy coping strategies, and maintaining routines that promote sleep, physical activity, and overall well-being.
For a full overview of suicide prevention at home, view the Youth and Family Toolkit.
1. Educate yourself and your family about suicide and related experiences.
Understanding suicide, its warning signs, and associated risk factors can help you recognize when a young person may need support. It’s important to know how to talk about suicide openly and in a way that reduces stigma.
Suicidal risk often intersects with other experiences, such as bullying, sleep deprivation, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, struggles with identity or sexuality, and learning challenges. Educating yourself about these topics can help you provide informed and compassionate support. Or find answers to common questions in our FAQ.
2. Build a healthy sleep routine in partnership with your family.
Good sleep is essential for mental wellbeing and can reduce the risk of suicide in youth. Parents can work with their kids to build healthy sleep routines by creating a calm bedtime atmosphere, encouraging relaxing wind-down activities, and setting limits on screen time and stimulants like caffeine in the evening.
Together, they can establish consistent sleep schedules—even on weekends—while incorporating exercise and natural light to support a well-regulated body clock. Get more tips for how to help create a healthy sleep routine.
3. Prioritize healthy habits.
Supporting your child’s mental health starts with promoting overall wellbeing. Encourage good nutrition, regular exercise, and stress management techniques to build resilience and emotional wellbeing.
Integrating mindfulness and self-care practices into your family’s routine—whether through deep breathing exercises, journaling, or quiet time—can help create a foundation for emotional balance.
4. Foster open communication and connection.
Supporting your child’s mental health starts with promoting overall wellbeing. Encourage good nutrition, regular exercise, and stress management techniques to build resilience and emotional wellbeing.
Integrating mindfulness and self-care practices into your family’s routine—whether through deep breathing exercises, journaling, or quiet time—can help create a foundation for emotional balance.
5. Keep tabs on social media use and its effects.
Social media can have both positive and negative effects on mental health. Monitoring your child’s screen time, discussing online experiences, and encouraging healthy digital habits can help them navigate social media in a way that supports their well-being. Learn more and find resources to help your family have a healthy relationship with social media.
6. Pay attention to changes, particularly during moments of major transition.
Life transitions—such as starting middle school, high school, or college—can feel overwhelming for young people. These changes often bring new academic, social, and emotional challenges. Learn how families can support their child by staying engaged, offering guidance, and seeking resources tailored to these transitional moments.
7. Check in with schools to learn how they’re promoting well-being.
Schools play a key role in shaping a child’s mental health. Connecting with teachers and administrators can help you understand what resources and programs are available to support students’ emotional and psychological well-being both in and outside the classroom. Find out about the steps schools should be taking to promote student wellbeing.
8. Be prepared to intervene if you think a family member is at risk.
If you notice warning signs of distress, don’t wait to take action. Trust your instincts, reach out for support, and connect with professionals who can guide you in ensuring your child’s safety and well-being. Learn about the steps you can take during crisis moments.
