Student Mental Health Resources

Looking over child's shoulder while she draws different colored hearts on a white sheet of paper.

Suicide Prevention & Crisis Resources

For Emergencies

  • Call 9-1-1
  • Call 9-8-8: If you are experiencing a psychiatric emergency or serious thoughts of self-harm, please call the 988 Crisis Line. Calling 988 connects you to staff prepared to provide compassionate, accessible care and support for anyone experiencing mental health-related distress. Staff at this number also have access to our local crisis teams.

Reporting Concerns About Self & Others

  • Call 9-1-1
  • Tell a trusted adult
  • SafeOregon — students can report anything from vandalism to theft to cyberbullying via text or phone, email, or online
  • Oregon Youthline - students can call a free, confidential teen-to-teen crisis and help line; teens are available 4 to 10 p.m. daily; adults available all other times) 1-877-968-8491 or text teen2teen to 839863
  • Deschutes County Sheriff’s Non-Emergency Number: 541-693-6911

For Ongoing Support

If you or someone you know needs help, take one of the following actions:

  • Reach out to your school counselor. You can connect with each grade level counselor on a range of topics including academics, personal-emotional concerns, social conflicts, college and career information, and referrals to community resources. While school counselors do not provide ongoing therapy, they are available for solution-focused-brief-counseling, collaborative problem solving and positive support through challenging emotions and situations. School counselor contact information is available on each school website, see a list of schools here.
  • Care Solace - We are proud to announce our partnership with Care Solace to support our ongoing commitment to the health, safety, and well-being of our students, staff, and families. If you or a family member are looking for help with mental health or substance use, Care Solace will quickly connect you to community providers matched to your needs. Call 888-515-0595 at any time or search on your own at caresolace.com/bls.
  • Connect with teens. Oregon Youthline (a free, confidential teen-to-teen crisis and help line; teens are available 4 to 10 p.m. daily; adults available all other times) 1-877-968-8491 or text teen2teen to 839863
  • Talk to someone 24 hours a day: Deschutes County Crisis Line available to anyone who is experiencing a crisis or needs crisis support. 541-322-7500 ext. 9.
  • Talk to someone in person: Deschutes County Walk-in Crisis Services provides immediate access to a Master’s level therapist for individuals experiencing a crisis. Open to people of all ages, regardless of ability to pay, in a safe and confidential environment. No appointment necessary. Brief stabilization. Deschutes County Stabilization Center: 63311 NE Jamison Street in Bend. 541-585-7210- Office Line (Non-Emergency)
  • Ask for non-emergency assistance: Deschutes County Sheriff’s Non-Emergency Number: 541-693-6911
  • Receive help with basic needs: FAN Advocates are a great resource to help connect families and students with basic needs.
  • Receive free counseling support: Oregon State University - Cascades has a free counseling clinic in Bend and La Pine 541-322-2047 (services provided by counseling students in training for those ages 14 and older)
  • Find resources online: Mind Your Mind is a website from Deschutes County is an everyday mental health awareness campaign from Deschutes County Health Services and Central Oregon Health Council — which includes providers and health advocates from Crook, Jefferson, and Deschutes Counties.

Additional Resources

  • Reachout - an online mental health information and support website for teens and young adults
  • Suicide Prevention Lifeline - Information and support
  • The Trevor Project - Crisis intervention and suicide prevention for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth ages 13-24
  • Deschutes County Suicide Prevention - Information about local prevention efforts and resources
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness
  • Safe + Strong Helpline: 1-800-923-HELP: Safe + Strong Helpline, in partnership with the Oregon Health Authority, is an emotional support and resource referral line that can assist anyone who is struggling and seeking support. Callers do not need to be in a crisis to contact this line.
  • Racial Equity Support Line: 503-575-3764 The Racial Equity Support Line is a service led and staffed by people with lived experience of racism. Weekdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Reach Out Oregon: This is a resource for parents to receive support and help from other parents. 1.833.732.2467; an online forum, live chat or email: [email protected]. Learn more: https://www.reachoutoregon.org/
  • Deschutes County Short-Term Respite Unit:A voluntary five recliner short-term respite unit for adults experiencing a mental health crisis. Provides a quiet and peaceful environment for individuals to stabilize and get connected to appropriate community resources. 541-585-7210.

First Step Resources for Families

Families — If you haven't yet downloaded the First Step app, we hope you'll take a minute to do so now.

It is our hope that families will spend a few minutes familiarizing themselves with this new tool and talking to your children about it. Inside First Step you will find resources like, “3 Ways to Help a Friend,” “Getting Through Today,” contacts for free counseling and two featured resources: SafeOregon and YouthLine.

Resources include:

  • Free Counseling and Support — connect with links to local resources
  • SafeOregon — students can report anything from vandalism to theft to cyberbullying via text or phone, email, or online
  • YouthLine — a free and confidential teen-to-teen help line.
  • Learn more about First Step on the First Step website.
  • Download the app:

First Step is made possible thanks to the Bend Police Department, Lines for Life, SafeOregon and many other incredible community partners.


Additional Resources

Visit our Family Resources webpage, for help with basic need resources.

Oregon Youth Line Logo

School Based Approaches to Suicide

Partnership with Deschutes County on development of “School Based Approaches to Suicide: A Comprehensive Guide” (Visit the Deschutes County Suicide Prevention page, go to supporting documents at the bottom of the page.)

Youth Suicide Prevention Tips, Warning Signs and How to Help

How to Talk to Students About Suicide (from Oregon Health Authority)

Warning Signs:

  • Talking about hurting themselves
  • Making plans for suicide
  • Expressing severe distress, hopelessness and/or withdrawing from others
  • Displaying worrisome behavior

How to Help:

  • Ask if they are having thoughts of suicide
  • Listen thoughtfully, without judgment
  • Let them know that you care and they have been heard
  • Help them find assistance through a trusted adult and/or by calling one of the resources, such as Oregon Youthline 877-968-8491; Deschutes County Crisis Line 541-322-7500; or National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-TALK

Child Abuse Prevention

Darkness to Light Training

Experts estimate that 1 in 10 children are sexually abused before their 18th birthday (reflects physical contact acts of sexual abuse only) – Townsend, C., Rheingold, A.A., (2003) Learn More About This Study

What is Child Sexual Abuse?

Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) includes any sexual contact between an adult (18 or older) and a minor (younger than 18) or between two minors, when one exerts power over the other. Sexual contact between minors is abuse when physical or psychological coercion is used, or when there is a significant difference in the physical size or developmental levels of the minors, or when there is an age difference of 3 or more years.Child Sexual abuse also includes non-contact acts such as exhibitionism, exposure to pornography, voyeurism, child pornography, commercial sexual exploitation of children and communicating in a sexual manor by phone or internet.

How do I report a suspicion of child abuse?

With any disclosures or suspicion of abuse, you must make a report.

Call local law enforcement's non-emergency number or dial 911 if there is immediate danger. Or call the Department of Human Services-Child Welfare at 541-693-2854.

If you need additional resources or support call KIDS Center at 541-383-5958.

You do not have to know all the details or know for certain abuse is happening to report a concern/suspicion.Follow your instincts and report what you have seen/heard or behaviors that are concerning. When calling to make a report it is important to know that you are not making an accusation, but you are simply making what is called a “good faith” report requesting a professional service to be conducted.

For more information about Oregon reporting laws