Tuesday is Suicide Awareness Day.

Amanda Kerbrat is a research scientist at the University of Washington and is teaching health care providers how to implement a simple but powerful tool to prevent suicide called "caring contacts". Specifically, these are text messages of support to show someone you care about their well-being.

"We found that caring contacts reduce the odds that participants would have a suicide attempt during this year we were following them up, and sending them caring contacts", Kerbrat says. "And, we also found that there was reduced risk of them experiencing any thoughts of suicidal ideation."

"It's usually just a few text messages back and forth before the person seems to be feeling somewhat better, and has clearly got the message that somebody cares about what's going on with them", Kerbat adds.

The suicide rate in the U-S is 13 people in every 100-thousand. In Washington State...it's nearly three people more per 100-thousand.

Suicide is the number-two cause of death in Washington State among 10-to-24 year olds.

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