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YouthLine

Suicide Prevention and Intervention for Youth: YouthLine at Lines for Life

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August 8, 2025, 10:30am - 12:30pm CST
Virtual via Zoom
Fee: $10 full members; $25 partial members and nonmembers
Continuing Education Hours: 2.0
Register

Course Description

Suicide is a leading cause of death for youth ages 10-24 across the United States. Mental health struggles fueled by isolation, stigma, and limited support have resulted in an urgent crisis among youth that must be addressed. YouthLine, a service of Lines for Life, provides help and hope to youth who are struggling through a peer-to-peer help, support, and crisis line, classroom education and community outreach, youth development and mentorship, and social media crisis intervention. This session will offer skills and resources for practitioners to support mental wellness for youth and intervene with youth in crisis. Additionally, this session will offer information and recommendations for supporting youth online through the social media sites they access every day.

Learning Objectives:

  • After participating in this session, attendees should be able to recognize the signs of
    youth in crisis and refer them to appropriate resources.
  • After participating in this session, attendees should be able to identify tools and
    resources to support youth experiencing mental health crises.
  • After participating in this session, attendees should be able to describe safety
    practices of social media sites and assess how their organization may leverage their
    social media presence to support youth mental health.

About the Trainer

Craig Leets, MA, YouthLine Deputy Director at Lines for Life

Craig Leets, MA, YouthLine Deputy Director at Lines for Life

Craig Leets began in January 2022 as the first YouthLine Deputy Director at Lines for Life after a short stint at the Oregon State Treasury and almost a decade working in Higher Education, where he led LGBTQ resource centers. He has a Masters in Counseling and Personnel Services from the University of Maryland and a Bachelors in Communication Studies from Chapman University. Much of Craig’s career has focused on advocating for minoritized communities and facilitating organizational development to create more welcoming environments for all people. Outside of work, Craig has served on boards for local nonprofits supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual
assault Craig has been promoting mental wellness and supporting mental health for youth for the entirety of his career.
Mel Butterfield, MA, YouthLine Deputy Director for Central Oregon at Lines for Life

Mel Butterfield, MA, YouthLine Deputy Director for Central Oregon at Lines for Life

Mel Butterfield, MA, is leading the Central Oregon call center expansion of the YouthLine; a peer-to-peer crisis and support line for youth. The YouthLine has served communities throughout the state since 2000, with Ms. Butterfield launching a Central Oregon call center in 2018 and YouthLine Native (a localized resource for native and indigenous youth) in 2021. Ms. Butterfield’s knowledge of the local area, her professional experience in investigating child abuse, expertise with a strong training and clinical background, all work seamlessly in supporting YouthLine’s goal to promote youth wellness, education and access to resources in rural areas of Oregon and nationally.