Every September, Suicide Awareness Month shines a light on an issue that affects families, schools, and communities across the nation. Suicide is preventable, and through education, awareness, early intervention, and community support, we can help save lives. At Ocean Partnership for Children (OPC), suicide prevention is not just a monthly conversation. It is a year-round commitment to supporting children, youth, and families throughout Ocean County.

The need for awareness and action remains critical. In New Jersey, suicide was the 16th leading cause of death in 2023. Among children, teens, and young adults aged 10 to 24, it was the third leading cause of death. Certain populations face even greater risks. Males die by suicide at a rate approximately four times higher than females, while LGBTQ+ youth experience suicide attempts at rates nearly five times higher than their peers. Additionally, 9% of students in grades 9 through 12 reported attempting suicide within the past 12 months.

Closer to home, the impact is deeply felt. Between 2019 and 2023, Ocean County recorded 304 suicides. In the Ocean County and Shore region, there were 25 youth suicides between 2020 and 2022. These numbers represent more than statistics. They represent children, loved ones, classmates, neighbors, and friends whose lives were affected by unimaginable loss.

Today, OPC serves 1,110 youth, of those, 357 youth identified as being at risk due to previous suicide attempts, suicidal ideation, or suicide plans. These numbers reinforce the importance of proactive support, early intervention, and strong community partnerships.

Understanding Suicide Risk Factors

Suicide is complex, and there is rarely one single cause. Instead, a combination of circumstances, experiences, and mental health challenges can increase risk.

Some common risk factors include:

1. Depression, bipolar disorder, and other mental health conditions
2. Substance use disorders
3. Unstable or unhealthy relationships
4. Serious physical health concerns
5. Access to lethal means
6. Prolonged stress, including bullying and harassment
7. Childhood abuse, trauma, or neglect
8. Previous suicide attempts
9. Poor mental health awareness and cultural stigma around seeking help
10. Underreported depressive symptoms
11. High levels of parental conflict
12. Exposure to neighborhood violence
13. Economic insecurity or unemployment within the family
14. A family history of suicide

While risk factors do not automatically lead to suicidal behavior, understanding them helps families, educators, and community members recognize when additional support may be needed.

Recognizing the Warning Signs

One of the most important aspects of suicide prevention is learning to recognize warning signs. Often, individuals who are struggling show signs that they need help.

Warning signs may include:

1. Giving away prized possessions
2. Sleeping significantly more or less than usual
3. Talking about wanting to die, feeling hopeless, being a burden, or having no reason to live
4. Noticeable mood changes, including anxiety, depression, anger, or irritability
5. Increased substance use
6. Withdrawing from family, friends, or activities they once enjoyed
7. Isolating themselves from others

If you notice these signs in anyone, take them seriously. Listening without judgment and connecting them with professional support can make a significant difference.

Building Protective Factors That Save Lives

Just as risk factors can increase vulnerability, protective factors can reduce risk and build resilience. Communities play a vital role in strengthening these protective factors for children and families.

Key protective factors include:

1. Access to quality mental health services
2. Strong problem-solving and stress-management skills
3. Concrete support during times of need
4. Social and emotional competence
5. Limited access to lethal means
6. Positive connections to family, peers, and community supports
7. Healthy, supportive relationships with caregivers
8. Beliefs and values that encourage help-seeking behaviors
9. Caring adults who are actively involved in a young person’s life

When individuals feel connected, supported, and understood, they are more likely to seek help during difficult times.

How Ocean Partnership for Children Helps Prevent Suicide

At OPC, our goal is to reduce risk factors while strengthening the protective factors that help youth thrive. Through our Care Management and Wraparound approach, Family Crisis Plans (FCPs) are developed with youth and family voice at the center. Plans are individualized and revised as needs change, ensuring families receive meaningful and responsive support.

OPC Care Managers maintain regular weekly contact with families, because showing up consistently matters. Families enrolled in OPC’s Care Management services also have access to OPC’s 24/7 after-hours on-call support, providing assistance whenever a crisis arises.

Collaboration is another key component of suicide prevention. OPC partners closely with Psychiatric Emergency Screening Services (PESS), Children’s Crisis Intervention Services (CCIS), hospitals, and community providers to ensure coordinated care. Youth record reviews, incident reporting, and ongoing quality improvement efforts help strengthen prevention practices across the system.

As part of the Zero Suicide Initiative, OPC continues to enhance staff training and intervention strategies. Recent efforts include training includes the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), which helps professionals assess suicidal risk and connect youth with appropriate care. Continuing, OPC’s commitment to evidence-based suicide prevention also includes a strong focus on lethal means counseling and intervention. Research has shown that lethal means interventions used within the first 20 minutes of someone articulating suicidal ideation can significantly reduce the risk of suicide. During this critical window, the screener helps interrupt the suicidal thought process, assess the individual’s level of risk, engage them in an honest and supportive conversation, and work with the individual and family to limit access to lethal means. These timely interventions create opportunities for safety planning, connection to resources, and life-saving support when it is needed most.

Through this integrated, holistic approach, OPC continues to achieve meaningful outcomes for youth and families. Today, 97% of families report satisfaction with services, 92% of youth demonstrate improvement and stability in risk behaviors, 92% of youth remain safely in their homes and out of institutional settings, and 95% of youth attend school regularly. These outcomes reflect the impact of coordinated care, strong family engagement, timely crisis intervention, and ongoing community support that help young people build resilience and thrive.

OPC also engages directly with community members through awareness initiatives such as Dare to Care, a judgment-free outreach event that connects individuals with resources, crisis hotline information, and support services. This year’s Dare to Care event will take place on September 30th outside of the OPC Office (36 Washington St. Toms River, NJ) during school lunch periods, creating opportunities for Toms River High School South students and the Downtown Toms River Community at-large to learn about mental health and resources available.

Additionally, OPC’s Access Navigator helps to bridge families with PerformCare, the Contracted Systems Administrator for the New Jersey Children’s System of Care, to access critical behavioral health services. To become connected to OPC’s Access Navigator, contact 732-202-1585.

How the Community Can Help

Suicide prevention is everyone’s responsibility. Parents, caregivers, educators, coaches, neighbors, and community members all have the power to make a difference.

You can help by:

1. Learning and recognizing the warning signs of suicide
2. Staying connected and checking in on youth regularly
3. Listening without judgment
4. Referring individuals to professional support when needed
5. Encouraging conversations about mental health
6. Supporting local mental health initiatives and fundraising efforts
    

This Suicide Awareness Month, let us commit to being informed, compassionate, and proactive. Together, we can create a community where every child, youth, and family feels supported, connected, and valued. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, for immediate support. Help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.