Forward from the Connect Program, NAMI New Hampshire:
As students return to classrooms this fall, it’s important to remember that school is about much more than academics. For many young people, school is where they discover belonging, form meaningful relationships, and learn skills that help them navigate life’s challenges. These protective factors—connection, routine, open communication, healthy coping strategies, and visible support—are powerful tools in promoting mental health and reducing suicide risk.
At NAMI New Hampshire, we hear every day from families, educators, and youth themselves about the pressures young people are facing. The 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey confirms what we see and hear: many teens are struggling with stress, sadness, and thoughts of suicide. But the good news is that prevention doesn’t begin in a moment of crisis. Through the Connect Youth Leader Program NAMI NH brings to schools, we witness how empowering students to support one another and foster connection strengthens protective factors in schools and communities. Prevention begins with everyday actions—greeting a student by name, sharing a family meal, asking open-ended questions, or modeling healthy coping.
This following blog is an important and timely reminder that small, consistent steps taken by parents, caregivers, teachers, and communities make a big difference. Together, we can create environments where all youth feel safe, seen, supported, and hopeful.
– Amy M. Cook, MBA, Director of Training,
Connect Suicide Prevention and Postvention Program, NAMI New Hampshire
September is a busy month. Kids head back to school, families adjust to new routines, and teachers welcome full classrooms again. It’s also Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a reminder that the way we support our young people every day can protect their mental health and well-being.
Prevention isn’t only about stepping in during a crisis. It’s about building the habits and connections that help our youth feel safe, supported, and able to handle life’s challenges. Back-to-school season is the perfect time to focus on these protective factors, especially as the most current statewide data shows just how much teens are struggling.
The 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), conducted every two years with high school students, offers a snapshot of health and well-being. In New Hampshire, more than a third of students reported feeling sad or hopeless for at least two weeks in a row, enough to stop doing their usual activities. Nearly one in six said they had seriously considered suicide in the past year, and smaller but still significant numbers reported making a plan or attempting suicide. These findings reflect what many families and schools already see: students are facing high levels of stress and anxiety, and they need steady support.
Building Protective Factors at School and at Home
Create a culture of belonging
Teens who feel connected to their family, school, and community are less likely to experience depression or thoughts of suicide. Simple things make a difference: teachers and staff greeting students by name, noticing when someone seems withdrawn, or encouraging involvement in teams, clubs, or groups. Belonging builds resilience. For practical ideas on how to strengthen school connectedness, explore our School Climate and Connectedness resource.
Keep routines consistent
Predictability lowers stress. Regular sleep, clear expectations, and steady routines at school and at home help teens focus and manage challenges. Even small rituals such as a shared meal or a check-in before class starts provide anchors in an otherwise busy day.
Talk openly about stress and emotions
Avoiding tough topics sends the message that they’re off limits. Instead, normalize conversations about pressure, disappointment, or worry. Ask open-ended questions, listen closely, and validate what students share. When adults treat mental health as part of everyday life, teens learn that it’s safe to ask for help. For more on starting proactive conversations with teens, especially around social pressures, check out our Building Strong Futures podcast episode.
Model and practice healthy coping skills
Teens notice and mimic how adults handle stress. Showing strategies like taking a walk, pausing for a breath, or asking for support demonstrates that challenges can be managed. Schools that integrate short breaks or mindfulness activities reinforce these skills in daily routines.
Make support visible and accessible
Teens need to know where to turn when life feels overwhelming. That could be a trusted adult, a counselor, a peer mentor, or a community resource. Talking openly about available supports, and making them easy to access, can prevent small struggles from becoming bigger crises.
Why Building Protective Factors Matters for Teens
Protective factors like belonging, structure, open communication, healthy coping, and visible support all reduce the risk of suicide. More importantly, they help teens navigate the everyday stress of growing up in healthier, more connected ways.
Back-to-school season is a chance for all of us: at home, in classrooms, and across communities, to recommit to these practices. Prevention happens in the small, consistent actions we take to make sure teens feel seen, supported, and safe.
Resources
SAMSHA: Suicide and Suicide Prevention Resources
NAMI NH: information, education and support for families and communities affected by mental illness and suicide.
drugfreenh.org: Explore free prevention resources for schools, for families, and for communities.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
National School Climate Center: Resources and training to help schools assess and strengthen school climate.
Youth Mental Health First Aid: Free training through UNH Extension that teaches adults how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health or substance use challenges in children and adolescents.
Office of Social and Emotional Wellness: Training and toolkits for educators, schools, and districts to strengthen social and emotional well-being.
Connection – Strong Relationships Prevent Substance Misuse (Video): Hear directly from New Hampshire youth about what really works to build strong, supportive connections.
Helping Youth Navigate Big Emotions (Podcast): Practical guidance for adults on how to support young people in managing and expressing difficult feelings.
Mental Health First Aid for Youth (Podcast): Learn how this training can help prevent, identify, and respond to mental health challenges or crises in adolescents.