Center for Suicide Prevention and Research
The Center for Suicide Prevention and Research (CSPR) at Nationwide Children's Hospital was created in 2015 to address the growing problem of suicide among youth in central Ohio.
Suicide has emerged as the second leading cause of death for children ages 10-19 years old in the United States.
- Nearly one in 6 teens has seriously contemplated suicide in the past year.
- Suicide affects people of all backgrounds. No one is immune.
- Suicide is nearly always complex and tragic, yet often preventable if communities are provided with the right tools.
The Center for Suicide Prevention and Research is a joint partnership with Big Lots Behavioral Health Services and the Center for Innovation in Pediatric Practice in the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's.
Signs of Suicide and How to Respond
Signs of Suicide (SOS) is a nationally recognized suicide prevention program offered by CSPR at Nationwide Children's Hospital. As part of SOS and their overall mission, CSPR also offers information on the warning signs of suicide, how to communicate concern effectively, and support resources.
Blog Posts
The Center for Suicide Prevention and Research has authored a variety of blog posts for parents and families, on myths surrounding depression and suicide, self-injury and how to talk with your children about these difficult topics, as well as resources for treatment and recovery.
Featured Post
ADHD and Youth Suicide: Is There a Link? - Teachers and parents often focus heavily on managing the behavioral and academic challenges experienced by youth with ADHD while paying far less attention to the emotional and social effects ADHD can have. Unfortunately, children with ADHD are at an increased risk of experiencing depression and suicidal thoughts or behaviors throughout their lifetime, which suggests emotional and social factors should be a focus of care for these children.
Research and News
- Study Shows Media Overlook Best Practices when Reporting a Celebrity Suicide Death (November 2019) - Research shows media coverage of a celebrity suicide has the potential to increase the risk for contagion, especially among vulnerable individuals. Research suggests when suicide reporting guidelines are followed and resources for suicide prevention and stories of recovery are shared, risk for suicide decreases. A study published in JAMA Network Open by researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital found some media coverage of the Spade and Bourdain deaths did not adhere to several of the suicide reporting guidelines.
- Young People are Poisoning Themselves at Alarming Rates With Over-The-Counter Drugs (October 2019, Vox) - In May, the journal Pediatrics published some alarming data: In the past decade, there has been a dramatic rise in the number of teens attempting to kill themselves with poison. The trend has been largely driven by increases in poisoning attempts by girls and young women.
Suicide Reporting Guidelines and Resources
The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services engaged Nationwide Children's Hospital and the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University to create tools that could assist reporters and editors. The result includes the resources below and a series of workshops at six Ohio colleges during Spring 2017.
Suicide Prevention Resources
Immediate Crisis Resources
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
- Franklin County Suicide Prevention Hotline: (614) 221-5445
Additional Resources
- Your Child Has Thought About Ending Their Life – What’s Next? (Fact Sheet)
- Suicide Prevention Resources
- Talking With Kids About Suicide
- Preventing Suicide in Youth: What Parents Need to Know
- Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC)
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
- ADAMH Franklin County Suicide Prevention
- Franklin County Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (Franklin County LOSS)
- Suicide Prevention Program at The Ohio State University (OSU)
