DCHS and SPAN Raise Awareness on Ways to Prevent Suicide

DCHS and SPAN encourage residents to educate themselves and others on ways to prevent suicide and strengthen mental health.
Page updated on March 14, 2022 at 2:17 PM
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DCHS and SPAN Raise Awareness on Ways to Prevent Suicide

A DCHS CONNECT NEWS HIGHLIGHT 

 

October 6, 2021--The Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) and the Suicide Prevention Alliance of Northern Virginia (SPAN) encourage residents to educate themselves and others on ways to prevent suicide and strengthen mental health by accessing and promoting resources on SPAN’s website at suicidepreventionnva.org

The mobile friendly site is designed to make finding help, information and resources easy, whether you are in crisis or just interested in learning more. Highlights include:

  • Check-Up from the Neck-Up, a free self-screening tool for mental health
  • Easy to scan lists of Risk Factors, Warning Signs and How You Can Help: Five Steps
  • A "Get Help Now" tab on every page with linked hotlines and text lines
  • SPAN suicide prevention videos for teens, peers and parents

To help community members and professionals navigate the region's resources, the website also has links to local government mental health care through Community Services Boards; links to COVID resources for each jurisdiction; and curated suicide prevention tools, infographics, reports and resources.

DCHS has compiled resources online on how residents can get help and support someone in crisis and support their own and others’ mental health.

City of Alexandria residents can also obtain free firearm locks and medicine lock boxes through SPAN’s Lock & Talk. According to AFSP, firearms accounted for 50 percent of all suicide deaths, and 19 percent of people who complete suicide use poison or medication. 

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call PRS CrisisLink at 703.527.4077 or text CONNECT to 85511.