September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and the Maine DOE and Maine CDC are here to support you with resources to recognize, address, and support youth mental health. Data from the 2025 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey (MIYHS) shows us that, among other outcomes, about 1 in 8 Maine high school students seriously considered suicide in the past year. This data has shown improvements from the previous survey, but should remind us that more work remains. All of the 2025 data is summarized in our new mental health factsheet.
Suicide is a complex issue, but there are things that schools, individuals, and communities can do to support youth mental health and prevent suicide. Ensuring students feel like they matter in their community, have a trusted adult they can talk to, and that people at their school care about them and encourage them can decrease the likelihood that a young person considers suicide or experiences other mental health challenges. This isn't always easy, but there are resources to support you as you connect with your students. Below is a compilation of graphics, resources, and materials we hope will help you in spreading messages of hope, help, and strength this September.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Campaigns and Shareable Graphics
Filter Out the Noise
The Maine CDC is currently running the Filter Out the Noise youth suicide prevention campaign. This campaign is designed to help young people recognize and remove negative influences, or "noise," from their lives. It offers self-care tips, guidance on recognizing suicide warning signs, and encourages help-seeking behaviors. Visit the campaign website for more information, or reach out to OIVP@maine.gov if you would like posters or other shareable videos, graphics, and content from the campaign.
SAMHSA Toolkits
SAMHSA released 988 Day (9/8) and Suicide Prevention Month toolkits with lots of free messaging, including school announcements, downloadable graphics, and activity ideas designed for a variety of audiences, including youth and schools.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention also released a toolkit including a variety of shareables and resources, along with the Seize the Awkward campaign, which empowers young adults to talk openly about mental health, learn the warning signs that someone might be struggling, and start a conversation with a friend.
988 Maine
988 Maine has materials to spread the word about 988 across Maine.
Physical Resources and Materials
Maine Prevention Store
The Maine Prevention Store is your year-round, one-stop shop for free prevention-related resources. We provide bookmarks, stickers, self-care cards, magnets, and other resources specific to suicide prevention and support after a suicide loss.
Order from the Maine Prevention Store