Do you have an emergency?
When there is an imminent concern call 911.
The Anaheim Union High School District is dedicated to ensuring the success of all students. Through our vision and mission, we pursue equity and justice for all students with multidisciplinary initiatives that provide diverse options to help students reach their full potential. Our "Unlimited You" vision recognizes the importance of teamwork, including student voice and input, to address various student academic and social/emotional needs.
Programs like the Pledge, AIME, and Career Pathways, combined with our comprehensive support services and the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) stakeholder input process, demonstrate our commitment to advancing equity and justice for all students.
Need help? Know someone who does?
Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
- Languages: English, Spanish
- Hours: Available 24 hours
- Chat at 988lifeline.org
Connect with a trained crisis counselor. 988 is confidential, free, and available 24/7/365.
Visit the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for more information at 988lifeline.org
Additional Resources
- Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention - 714-547-0885 - Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- The Trevor Project
- TrevorLifeline - 1-866-488-7386 (/24/7/365)
- TrevorChat - Instant messaging with a Trevor counselor (24/7)
- TrevorText - Text "Start" to 678678
Dear Parents, Caregivers, and Community Stakeholders,
Suicide prevention efforts and initiatives have increased within the school community. AUHSD recognizes that suicide is serious health problem that, with comprehensive services and programs, can be prevented. Our school district is committed to supporting larger state and local community efforts in suicide prevention and intervention. By collaborating and communicating with local crisis and safety first response systems, as well as the behavioral health care community, we can work towards effective prevention strategies.
Our commitment to ensuring all students succeed with their academic goals are ready for life requires us to take a whole child approach.
Where schools can not meet all the needs of students and families, we do play collaborative role in supporting this important efforts. Suicide prevention is a community effort, and each of us has a role to play. The district fully supports these efforts and remains dedicated to providing ongoing support to students and families in need.
Together, we can make a difference.
AUHSD Team
Suicide Prevention and Intervention at School
AUHSD understands the role the schools play in suicide prevention and works towards building capacity within the organization that leads to early prevention and intervention. Were we understand the not all students with mental illness, trauma, or toxic stress will develop suicidality, many will in their lifetime. We also acknowledge that our suicide prevention efforts are grounded in working directly with larger community crisis and safety response systems.
Screening for risk. School social workers, school counselors, and school psychologists are to screen students and work with parents and firs responders to ensure the safety of the youth. Please know that although suicide screening and assessment is not an exact science, our staff work diligently to screen students, work with parents, and support youth at school.
Risk Screening vs. Psychiatric Hospitalization
Risk Screening
With proper training and resources a professional or caring adult can ask questions to determine if the person needs help. This work is grounded on the understanding that we can measure for levels of risk. The higher the risk the more intensive the intervention. Please visit the resources below to learn more.
Psychiatric Hospitalization
Persons Authorized To Perform Involuntary Holds (Personas autorizadas a realizar retenciones involuntarias)
- County Of Orange, Health Care Agency Crisis Assessment Team (CAT)
- Police officers
- Parole or probation officers in cases where they have legal responsibility
- Other professionals designated by the county of orange health care agency
Parents/legal guardians can take their child to the nearest emergency room and request assistance (Please make sure you inquire about costs)
Please know that school based mental health staff are available only during work ours. The schools are not open after hours or during the weekend for emergency or crisis response services.
Teen Suicide Prevention
How do you ask someone about suicide? First Responder Screening Demonstration
Follow these links to learn more:
NAMI: 5 Common Myths about Suicide
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
What role to schools play in suicide prevention?
Overview of AB 2246 & AB 1767: School district’s role and responsibility in suicide prevention
Increasing protective factors is an important in prevention.
Follow the links below to learn more.
5 Action Steps for Helping Someone in Emotional Pain
5 medidas que puede tomar para ayudar a una persona con dolor emocional
How can you make a difference in suicide prevention? Learn about what to do if you think someone might be at risk for self-harm by reading these 5 Action Steps for Helping Someone in Emotional Pain: https://go.usa.gov/xyxGc
¿Cómo puede marcar la diferencia en la prevención del suicidio? Aprende lo que debe hacer si cree que alguien podría estar en riesgo de hacerse daño. Lea estos 5 pasos que puede seguir para ayudar a alguien con dolor emocional: https://go.usa.gov/xyJAd
DISCLAIMER REGARDING THE MENTAL HEALTH INFORMATION ON THESE PAGES
The contents of the AUHSD website, such as text, graphics, images, and other material ("content"), are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. AUHSD does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, efficacy, or timeliness of information posted on its site, whether by AUHSD, our employees, users of our site, or third parties. Always seek the advice of a mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your child’s needs or condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the AUHSD website!
Please note that AUHSD and staff are not available 24/7, and our schools are not emergency response centers. If you are in crisis or you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. If you, your child, or a loved one is having suicidal thoughts, call 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). If you are located outside the United States, call your local emergency line immediately.
AUHSD does not recommend or endorse any clinicians, counselors, psychiatrists, social workers, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the website or linked through an outside agency or provider. AUHSD has developed partnerships with community-based mental health care providers. However, it is up to the consumer (parent/legal guardian) of the child to accept or decline services and to ask questions about eligibility, costs, and insurance coverage. Any links to other websites are provided only for the purpose of convenience or information and do not constitute a referral or endorsement of any of these sites or the owners, services, products, or content on those sites.
AUHSD is not responsible for any aspect of any third-party service providers or websites that may be linked from the AUHSD site, including without limitation the accuracy of the content on those services or use of information you may provide to those services. Your use of third-party websites is at your own risk and subject to the terms and conditions of use for such websites.
With input from a multidisciplinary team of administrators, social workers, school counselors, and school psychologist, the contents of this webpage are managed by:
Dr. Adela Cruz, LCSW
- Director of School Mental Health & Wellness
- McKinney-Vento Homeless & Foster Youth Educational Liaison
- Section 504 District Coordinator (504Coordinator@auhsd.us)
If you have questions or comments regarding its contents, please send an email to cruz_ad@auhsd.us.