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988, Safe2Help Illinois, and Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Resources

For many, the holidays are full of joy and wonder but, for others, the holidays and the cold winter days that follow can be the hardest. If you know someone who is struggling, or just want to promote general awareness, consider sharing information on 988 - the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, as well as Safe2Help Illinois. When individuals contact 988, "they will be connected to trained counselors that are part of the existing Lifeline network. These trained counselors will listen, understand how their problems are affecting them, provide support, and connect them to resources if necessary." Safe2Help Illinois "offers students a safe, confidential way in which to share information that might help prevent suicides, bullying, school violence or other threats to school safety. This program is not intended to suspend, expel, or punish students. Rather, the goal is to get students to 'Seek Help Before Harm.'” Additionally, the Illinois School and Campus Safety Resource Center website includes resources on its K-12 Mental Health and K-12 Suicide pages and Higher Ed Mental Health and Higher Ed Suicide pages.