Page 39 - The EDGE Summer 2025

Addressing the Mental Health Crisis in Arizona's Youth

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Statewide Resources For Mental Health And crisis call support, peer counseling available daily
Suicide Prevention from 3-9 p.m., and text support on weekdays from
Arizona offers several statewide resources to 12-9 p.m. and weekends from 3-9 p.m.
support schools in suicide prevention and youth
mental health. One of the most comprehensive By integrating these statewide resources into
resources is the Arizona Crisis System, which school systems, Arizona can strengthen its
connects individuals in distress wirh trained crisis approach to suicide prevention, providing students
counselors. The Arizona Statewide Crisis Line is with safe, supportive environments where they
available 24/7 at 1-844-534-4673 (HOPE) and the can thrive.
National Suicide and Crisis Line can be contacted
by dialing or texting 988 or visiting the 988 For more information, please visit azhealth.gov/
website for chat options . Schools can promote suicide and azhealth.gov/988.
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988 by displaying posters , integrating crisis
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response protocols, and encouraging students to Bin Suh, PhD, RN
seek help when needed. Senior Epidemiologist
Arizona YRBS & School Health Profiles
The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) Coordinator
offers School Safety and Social Wellness Grants , Arizona Department of Health Services
7
which promote funding for school-based mental bin.suh@azdhs.gov
health professionals. These grants help expand Joshua W. Stegemeyer, MA-MFT; SSG, USA(RET)
access to counselors, social workers, and school Suicide Prevention Program Manager
psychologists who play a vital role in early Office of Injury and Violence Prevention
intervention and crisis response. Additionally, Bureau of Chronic Disease and Health Promotion
ADE can provide schools with training to joshua.stegemeyer@azdhs.gov
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meet the obligations of the Mitch Warnock Act.
Finally, ADE also provides a Telehealth Program —
for Mental Health Services , available to all rural 1 Protecting the Nation’s Mental Health (CDC). Retrieved
9
schools in Arizona. from https://www.cdc.gov/mental-health/about/what-cdc-is-
doing.html
2 Suh B., Kamer R., Pearson C., Celebrano B., Gallegos A.,
Outside of Arizona government resources, Teen Bista M. Arizona Adolescent Mental Health Report: Trends
Lifeline provides evidence-based training for in Mental Health. Phoenix AZ: Arizona Department of Health
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Services; 2024.
educators, staff, and students. Programming deals 3 The 2021 Arizona YRBS did not ask about gender identity
with suicide, depression, self-injury, grief and including transgender.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ADHS). Retrieved from
other offerings, helping to equip schools with the 4 https://www.azdhs.gov/operations/strategic-initiatives/
tools to recognize warning signs, engage students adverse-childhood/index.php
in meaningful conversations, and connect them 5 https://chat.988lifeline.org/
with appropriate resources. Teen Lifeline also 6 7 https://orders.gpo.gov/SAMHSA988/Pubs.aspx
https://www.azed.gov/ssp
offers confidential peer support for youth at 602- 8 https://www.azed.gov/wellness/suicide-prevention
248-8336 (TEEN). Their services include 24/7/365 9 https://www.cartwheel.org/arizona
10 https://teenlifeline.org/

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