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Suicide Prevention

In partnership with Mountain Brook Schools, All In Mountain Brook offers this resource guide to the prevention of youth suicide. This page is intended as a starting point for those young people struggling with suicidal feelings, their families, and their friends.

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Struggling Yourself?

If you are here because you are struggling with suicidal feelings, we urge you to reach out to the trusted adults in your life. Know that you can get help. Please fight any feelings you have that there is no help and no hope. One of the most common causes of suicidal feelings is clinical depression. Depression alters your thinking and convince you that there is no hope, that your friends and families will be better off without you, that the pain you are experiencing can never get better. Those thoughts are symptoms of depression–a true illness that ANYONE can get.
 

Know that the vast majority of people who struggle with suicidal feelings, do not die by suicide. They live on to learn that there is hope. In turn, awareness of hope allows many to survive the hardest of times.

 

The stigma facing those who have depression, mental illness, and suicidal feelings may not be entirely gone, but it has been greatly reduced. So we strongly encourage young people who struggle in these areas to reach out to those who can help.
 

In addition to reaching out to trusted adults, there are resources listed below where you can seek support and help.

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Concerned about a young person?

If you are here because someone you know is struggling with suicidal feelings, please do not keep silent. Sometimes we make promises to keep secret things that are said to us and then realize that secrecy may prevent someone from getting help. If you have made a promise to keep secret a friend’s struggle with suicidal feelings, please put that aside. Insist that your friend talk to his or her parents, school counselor, doctor, youth minister, or some trusted adult. If he or she won’t reach out, please reach out yourself. Immediately seek advice from your parents, from your school counselor, or speak to one of the resource agencies or persons below.

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IN AN EMERGENCY: CALL 911 or 988.

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Youth Suicide Warning Signs:

  1. Talking about or making plans for suicide

  2. Expressing hopelessness about the future

  3. Displaying severe/overwhelming emotional pain or distress

  4. Showing worrisome behavioral cues or marked changes in behavior, particularly in the presence of the warning signs above. Specifically, this includes significant:

  • Withdrawal from or changing in social connections/situations

  • Changes in sleep (increased or decreased)

  • Anger or hostility that seems out of character or out of context

  • Recent increased agitation or irritability
     

If you know someone who has any of the warning signs, there are things that you can do to help:
 

  1. Ask them if they are okay and listen to them like a true friend.

  2. Tell them you are worried and concerned about them and that they are not alone.

  3. Talk to an adult you trust about your concerns.
     

If you are the parent of someone who has

warning signs:
 

  1. Ask if they are having thoughts of suicide

  2. Do all you can to prevent access to methods of suicide, particularly guns.
    Firearms should be removed from premises, or securely locked away.
    There are multiple online resources for information on securing firearms.

  3. Express your concern about what you are observing in their behavior

  4. Listen attentively and non-judgmentally

  5. Reflect on what they share and let them know they have been heard

  6. Tell them they are not alone

  7. Let them know there are treatments available that can help

  8. Guide them to professional help

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The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale

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This is the Columbia Protocol Community Card.  How do you help someone who is suicidal? The first step in suicide prevention is awareness — knowing when someone is in crisis. That’s often not obvious, because many people suffer in silence or give no sign that they might harm themselves. As a family member, friend, neighbor, or colleague, you can make a difference by using the Columbia Protocol — also known as Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) — to help determine when someone is at risk for suicide and how to help.

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The Columbia Protocol Community Card is the one best suited for use by family members, friends, and others who have a relationship with a person who may be at risk. It involves asking just three to six questions, but the answers provide enough information to determine whether someone needs help and if immediate action is needed. The questions’ plain language also may make it easier for you to talk to someone who may be suicidal.

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You do not have to memorize these questions. You can say to someone you are concerned about that you heard about these questions to help determine if someone might be feeling suicidal and that you would like to look at the questions together. Then look them up! 

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Get Help

Get Help

For Emergencies Related To Suicide Danger

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  • Call 911 or 998

  • Go the nearest hospital emergency department. UAB and Children’s of Alabama are among the emergency departments that are staffed to deal with suicidal emergencies at all times.

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Crisis Center (Birmingham)
 

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National Suicide Prevention Hotline

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  • 1-800-273-8255 or 988

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Prevention of Youth Suicide: Tips for Parents & Educators

 

For Mental Health Care

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  • If you or your friend/family member is not in immediate danger, seek out mental health evaluation and care.
     

  • Start with your pediatrician or physician. Your doctor will be able to assist in getting an appointment with a psychologist, psychiatrist, or other licensed mental health professional.

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Children’s Of Alabama Psychiatric Intake Response Center

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Phone triage services are provided to anyone with a youth-oriented mental health concern. Staff assesses the mental health needs of the child or teen based on the adult caller’s description or in-person intake assessment and determines the appropriate level of care needed.

 

8:00 am – 11:00 pm

Call 205-638-7472 (PIRC)

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Mountain Brook City Schools Contacts

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While not able to handle emergencies, the following professionals in the Mountain Brook School System can often assist with referrals and for assisting with supportive services at school.

 

Certified staff (administrators, teachers, counselors) at Mountain Brook Schools are trained in awareness of youth suicide. If we are aware that a student may be struggling with suicidal feelings, we hope to be able to work with the student and parents to do what we can to be helpful and supportive.

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Students and parents may contact the following individuals regarding students who are struggling with suicidal feelings.

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Mountain Brook City Schools: 205-877-8349

  • Amanda Hood, Director of Student Services


Mountain Brook City Schools: 205-414-3800

  • Carrie Busby, Principal

  • Eric Hollis, Assistant Principal

  • Lars Porter, Assistant Principal

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Mountain Brook High School Counseling Department: 205-414-3847

  • Kenneth Harkless (Student Assistance Counselor)

  • Ellanor Dukes 

  • Elizabeth Tiley 

  • Rebecca Goodson 

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Mountain Brook Junior High: 205-871-3516

  • Donald Clayton, Principal

  • Derek Kennedy, Assistant Principal

  • Brook Gibbons, Assistant Principal

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Mountain Brook Junior High Counseling Dept: 205-877-8346

  • Casey Lancaster 

  • Katherine Jankowski 

  • Rachel Proctor

  • Marjee Frier

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Brookwood Forest Elementary: 205-414-3700

  • Nathan Pitner, Principal

  • Ashley Crossno, Assistant Principal

  • Ashley Elliott, Counselor

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Cherokee Bend Elementary: 205-871-3595

  • Brannon Aaron, Principal

  • Carla Dudley, Assistant Principal

  • Laura Witcher, Counselor

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Crestline Elementary: 205-871-8126

  • Christy Christian, Principal

  • Josh Watkins, Assistant Principal

  • Catherine Waters, Assistant Principal

  • Liz Fry, Counselor

  • Leah Treadwell, Counselor

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Mountain Brook Elementary: 205-871-8191

  • Ashley McCombs, Principal

  • Heather Mays, Assistant Principal

  • Anna Carlisle, Counselor

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