Press Contact: Chris Maxwell

Washington, D.C. (September 5, 2019): Today, on the eve of National Suicide Prevention Week and World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10, 2019), the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) announced the launch of the new National Center for the Prevention of Youth Suicide (NCPYS) resource website. The NCPYS is an ongoing initiative of AAS driven by youth advisors and AAS’s Youth Suicide Prevention Committee, including partnerships with the Boys and Girls Club of America, GoGuardian, Jasper’s Game Day, and the notOK App, among others. 

“The NCPYS has been providing information, resources, and guidance to youth, parents, civic organizations, and others since 2012,” said Amy Kulp, M.S., Director of NCPYS. “Thanks to our Youth Advisors and a committee of experts, we are directly engaging youth in our messaging and creating programs based on best practices and research. With the re-launch of the NCPYS website and recruitment of additional Youth Advisors, we are renewing and broadening our efforts to prevent suicide and suicidal behaviors in young people.”

Most recently, the NCPYS partnered with Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Boys and Girls Club of America in Columbus, OH to launch an innovative suicide prevention training focused on supporting youth in out of school spaces. The purpose of the program is to educate club members about the warning signs of suicide, to empower them to respond if they observe these signs in themselves or others, to learn and practice effective coping strategies drawn from core DBT skills, and to develop a personalized coping plan to manage crises.

“The Youth Suicide Prevention Committee is comprised of a multidisciplinary team of AAS members including clinicians, educators, researchers, loss survivors and people with lived experience,” said Norine Vander Hooven, chair of the committee. “With the overall effort of this team to bring awareness, provide education, support, and assistance to those serving our youth combined with the voices and activities of the NCPYS, we are preventing suicide and suicidal behaviors in youth, teens and young adults.”

Over 47,000 people in the United States died by suicide in 2017. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death nationally, and it is the 2nd leading cause of death for youth aged 10-24. 

For the Media: Responsible reporting on suicide, including stories of hope and resilience, can prevent more suicides. Please visit the Suicide Reporting Recommendations for more information.

About AAS: Founded in 1968 by Edwin S. Shneidman, PhD, AAS promotes the research of suicide and its prevention, public awareness programs, public education and training for professionals and volunteers. The membership of AAS includes mental health and public health professionals, researchers, suicide prevention and crisis intervention centers, school districts, crisis center volunteers, survivors of suicide loss, attempt survivors, and a variety of lay persons who have in interest in suicide prevention. You can learn more about AAS at www.suicidology.org.

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