b'CHARITY OF THE MONTHTeen LifelineS eptember is Teen Suicide Prevention Awarenesssuicide. That means that two out of three calls are from Month, which means the prevention staff at a teen who isnt suicidal but is struggling with other the nonprot Teen Lifeline will mobilize once problems. Over 80% of all calls have a positive outcome again to engage students, schools, and parents inwhere the problem is now manageable as a result ofadministrators at your childs school now and askfostering supportive communities to prevent teentalking to a teen peer counselor. Most callers reportto have it added. suicide in Arizona. that they feel better as a result of the call and are more hopeful for the future. Ask about thoughts of suicide. If you are This year, Teen Lifeline staff will visit more than 30concerned about your child, it is important to ask if schools and speak with more than 60,000 youth andTEEN VOLUNTEERS they are having thoughts of suicide. It is a common adults across the Valley.Teen Lifeline teen volunteers receive a minimum ofmisconception that you can give someone the idea of 72 hours of training before they begin answering thesuicide if you ask about it. Openly asking the question Since our inception in 1986, we have had one goal,hotline. The hotline is supervised by a masters levelgives your teen permission to talk about their feelings, says Phoenix-based Teen Lifeline Executive Directorclinician at all times to provide support to the teenincluding the emotions, frustrations or challenges they Michelle Moorhead. Everything we doevery schoolcounselors and ensure safety for the callers.are going through. we visit, every new program we implement and every call we answer is with the single mission of preventingOur teen peer counselors are truly superheroes,Form connections. Strong connections to family, teen suicide.says Moorhead. They literally save lives as they listenfriends and community support are a protective factor without judgment and provide hope to the callers theyfor teens. To help prevent teen suicide, form a stronger TEEN LIFELINE HOTLINE speak with every day.connection with a teen in your life today. Teen Lifeline is most well-known for its statewide peer hotline for teens. The hotline provides a safe way forTeen Lifeline was the rst teen peer counseling hotlineEncourage positive relationships. Many times, a teens to talk to other teens about thoughts of suicide,to be accredited through the American Associationteens friends help them feel supported and cared for. depression, trouble at school, ghts with a signicantof Suicidology certifying that the services meet bestThese friendships can come through school, sports other or family issues. practice standards for hotline services nationwide.teams, clubs, church groups, and even social media. Encourage connections with peers and adults who are The hotline is answered 24/7/365. Trained, volunteerGET INVOLVED a positive influence in a teens life. If the teen needs peer counselors between the ages of 15-19 answer callsIn addition to the peer hotline, Teen Lifeline staffto be disciplined, think twice before cutting off all for help from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily. The hotline reached more than 334,000 teens, parents andcontact with friends or social media, which can actually is answered before educators in Arizona through theincrease risk. Instead, opt for allowing some connection 3 p.m. and after 9 p.m. organizations prevention servicesto continue but limit the time or duration.by an adult crisislast year. counselor at the CrisisIf you know a teen who is struggling, encourage him or Response Network. Parents, educators andher to call or text the Teen Lifeline hotline at (602) 248-community members who wantTEEN (8336) between the hours of 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. In 2018, Teen Lifelineto help reduce teen suicide inany day of the year to connect with another teen who received more thanArizona are asked to rememberwill listen and help. 23,000 calls and nearlyand follow the acronym SAFE. 1,400 text messages to itsParents who are concerned their teen may be crisis line. Most of thoseSearch the back of yourstruggling with thoughts of suicide and need help calls came from Arizonateens school ID. If you have aidentifying the signs or knowing what to do are also adolescents ranging in agechild in middle school or highencouraged to call. from 10 to 19.school, check the back of your students school ID to make sureFor more information about Teen Lifeline, On average, one outit has the Teen Lifeline phone of every three calls isnumber. If you dont see theor to donate, visit TeenLifeline.org. from a teen consideringhotline number listed, contact ArizonaRealCountry.com September 2019 57'