Mental Health Resources
Youth suicide impacts the safety of the school environment. It also affects the school community, diminishing the ability of surviving students to learn and the school’s ability to educate. Suicide and depression awareness and prevention are important goals of the school district.
General
Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Suicide Prevention Assistance by text: TEXT “GO” TO 741741
CARES (Crisis and Referral Entry Services): CARES is a telephone response service that handles mental health crisis calls for children and youth in Illinois. 1-800-345-9049
Trevor Project (suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth): 1-866-488-7386
PATH 211 (from a smartphone) or 1-888-865-9903
Safe2Help Illinois Link: Safe2Help Illinois | Helpline
Livingston County
IHR 1-815-844-6109
McLean County
Center for Human Services 309-827-5351
Signs and Symptoms of Depression in Teens
Sadness or hopelessness
Irritability, anger, or hostility
Tearfulness or frequent crying
Withdrawal from friends and family
Loss of interest in activities
Poor school performance
Changes in eating and sleeping habits
Restlessness and agitation
Feelings of worthlessness and guilt
Lack of enthusiasm and motivation
Fatigue or lack of energy
Difficulty concentrating
Unexplained aches and pains
Thoughts of death or suicide
Suicide Warning Signs
Talking or joking about committing suicide
Saying things like, “I’d be better off dead,” “I wish I could disappear forever,” or “There’s no way out.”
Speaking positively about death or romanticizing dying (“If I died, people might love me more”)
Writing stories and poems about death, dying, or suicide
Engaging in reckless behavior or having a lot of accidents resulting in injury
Giving away prized possessions
Saying goodbye to friends and family as if for the last time
Seeking out weapons, pills, or other ways to kill themselves