Project STOP

Lifeline is proud to partner with Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and North County school districts this year to launch Project STOP (Suicide Training, Opportunity, Prevention). Our long-term goal is critical: to reduce suicide rates in San Diego County.

Suicide is a significant health concern. North County Lifeline is a member of the San Diego Suicide Prevention Council (SPC), which released data showing that 20% of students seriously considered suicide in 2012. Furthermore, Kaiser’s 2013 needs assessment shows that suicide mortality rates in North County are nearly double the state suicide rate.

As a result, Lifeline’s project STOP implements suicide prevention efforts in coordination with current school district, County of San Diego, SPC, Community Health Improvement Partner, and Kaiser initiatives. Lifeline’s Project STOP is a comprehensive training program for 60 school staff in North County. The goal is to teach key gatekeepers to identify warning signs and understand how to prevent suicide.

Project STOP focuses on students whose risk for suicide is high. There are many factors that affect the prevalence of depression and suicide among teens – hereditary factors, early life traumas, learned patterns of negative thinking, high levels of stress and anxiety in family and school life, and social factors including bullying. For LGBTQ and foster youth, risk factors increase.

Lifeline staff and volunteers are taking steps daily to prevent suicide, yet we know we can do more. For information about what YOU can do to prevent suicide, learn about the statewide Know the Signs campaign.

Know the Signs. Find the Words. Reach out.