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Awareness Ribbons
What purple and teal, yellow and orange, and red and black ribbons mean, and how each is used to raise suicide awareness.
Suicide awareness ribbons are symbols of remembrance, hope, prevention and support for people affected by suicide. Different ribbon colors have been used by organizations and awareness campaigns to represent suicide prevention, suicide loss and specific communities.
In the United States, purple and teal are widely recognized as suicide prevention awareness colors. Other organizations use different ribbon combinations, including yellow and orange for World Suicide Prevention Day.
Red Star Foundation also uses a distinctive red-and-black Veterans Suicide Awareness Ribbon to raise awareness of suicide among current military, veterans and first responders while remembering those we have lost.
This guide explains what these ribbons mean, how they differ and how awareness symbols can encourage conversations and connections to support.
The widely recognized U.S. suicide prevention awareness ribbon is purple and teal (also described as turquoise). Other awareness campaigns use additional colors, including yellow and orange for World Suicide Prevention Day. Red Star Foundation’s Veterans Suicide Awareness Ribbon uses red and black.
Purple and teal (turquoise)
Widely used in U.S. suicide prevention awareness campaigns for awareness, prevention, support and remembrance of people affected by suicide.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline describes the purple and turquoise ribbon as a symbol of suicide awareness and prevention.
Yellow and orange
The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) launched this universal suicide prevention awareness ribbon in 2016 for World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10).
Its two tones evoke the light of a candle flame, a symbol of hope and a life-saving light.
Red and black
Created by Red Star Foundation to raise awareness of suicide among current military, veterans and first responders.
Red is the universal warning and stop sign. It is meant to warn and stop veteran suicide. Black is in remembrance of those we have lost to suicide.
The meaning given to individual colors can vary among organizations. No single organization owns every use of the purple-and-teal ribbon, and the yellow-and-orange ribbon is one of several recognized suicide prevention symbols.
| Ribbon | Colors | Primary association |
|---|---|---|
| Suicide Prevention Awareness Ribbon | Purple and teal | Suicide prevention and awareness |
| World Suicide Prevention Day Ribbon | Yellow and orange | International suicide prevention awareness |
| Veterans Suicide Awareness Ribbon | Red and black | Suicide awareness and remembrance for current military, veterans and first responders |
The purple-and-teal ribbon is the suicide prevention symbol most often seen in the United States. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline describes the purple and turquoise ribbon as a symbol of suicide awareness and prevention and offers it for people to share as a sign of support. The ribbon is used to:
Organizations commonly connect the pairing with prevention, healing, support and remembrance. There is no single official meaning for each individual color, and campaigns describe them in different ways. What the colors share is a message that suicide can be talked about openly and that help is available.
Yellow is often associated with hope and with youth suicide prevention. A plain yellow ribbon usually points to youth-focused campaigns, while the two-tone yellow-and-orange ribbon is the International Association for Suicide Prevention’s ribbon for World Suicide Prevention Day. Not every yellow-ribbon campaign shares the same organization or origin.
According to the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program, it began in 1994 after the death of 17-year-old Mike Emme. His family’s words, “please don’t do this, please talk to someone,” were printed on yellow cards with phone numbers for help, and teens pinned yellow ribbons to them. Yellow honored Mike and his cherished yellow 1968 Ford Mustang. The cards became the program’s Ask 4 Help! card, and the program grew into a youth-focused suicide prevention effort.
World Suicide Prevention Day is observed every year on September 10. It was established in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention in conjunction with the World Health Organization.
In 2016, the International Association for Suicide Prevention and its partners launched a universal suicide prevention awareness ribbon. After a review of ribbons used around the world, yellow and orange stood out as the two predominant colors. The two-tone ribbon evokes the light of a candle flame, which ties in with the IASP “Light a Candle” campaign and the candlelit walks held for World Suicide Prevention Day.
Communities use the ribbon at educational events, candle lightings, remembrance walks and school or workplace awareness activities around September 10.
Red Star Foundation’s Veterans Suicide Awareness Ribbon is a red-and-black symbol created to raise awareness of suicide among current military, veterans and first responders.
Red is the universal warning and stop sign. It is meant to warn and stop veteran suicide. Black is in remembrance of those we have lost to suicide.
The ribbon encourages awareness, conversation, connection and support for the people and families affected by suicide, including Red Star Families who have lost a loved one who served.
Red Star Foundation uses the Veterans Suicide Awareness Ribbon in its awareness activities and programs, such as the Red Star Pledge. Families who have lost a loved one to suicide can also learn about the Red Star Service Banner.
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in the United States. According to the 988 Lifeline, the month includes:
Common activities include wearing or sharing awareness ribbons, community walks, candle lightings, school and workplace education, and sharing reliable crisis resources. The SAMHSA Suicide Prevention Awareness Month toolkit offers messages and graphics for sharing. Awareness activities help start conversations, but they do not replace professional support or evidence-based prevention programs.
Wearing a ribbon can communicate solidarity and invite someone to ask what it means. Ribbons are often used at:
A ribbon is a symbol. On its own, it is not suicide prevention treatment or crisis intervention.
For guidance on safe messaging, see the Recommendations for Reporting on Suicide. To learn more about risk and warning signs among veterans, read our veteran suicide statistics and prevention guide.
If you or someone you know is struggling, trained support is available any time.
Call or text 988 in the United States.
Call 988 and press 1, or text 838255.
Immediate danger
Call 911.
Find support organizations, peer programs, crisis resources and family assistance for current military, veterans, first responders and their families.
In the United States, the widely recognized suicide prevention awareness ribbon is purple and teal (also called turquoise). Yellow and orange are used for World Suicide Prevention Day, and Red Star Foundation's Veterans Suicide Awareness Ribbon is red and black.
It stands for suicide awareness and prevention, support for people who are struggling, and remembrance of people who have died by suicide. Organizations describe the individual colors in different ways.
Both are used. Purple and teal is the ribbon most often seen in U.S. campaigns. Yellow is linked with youth suicide prevention, and the two-tone yellow-and-orange ribbon is the International Association for Suicide Prevention's ribbon for World Suicide Prevention Day.
A yellow ribbon is often associated with hope and youth suicide prevention, including the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program, which began in 1994 in memory of Mike Emme.
The International Association for Suicide Prevention's two-tone yellow-and-orange ribbon, launched in 2016. World Suicide Prevention Day is observed every year on September 10.
Red is the universal warning and stop sign. It is meant to warn and stop veteran suicide. Black is in remembrance of those we have lost to suicide.
Yes. Red Star Foundation's red-and-black Veterans Suicide Awareness Ribbon was created to raise awareness of suicide among current military, veterans and first responders.
Awareness helps people recognize that suicide is a serious public health issue and encourages open conversation. Prevention includes the actions, services and support that help reduce risk and connect people with help.
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in the United States. It includes 988 Day on September 8 and World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10.
Call or text 988 for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline; veterans and service members can press 1. You can also search Red Star Foundation's National Resource Directory for crisis, peer, family and grief support.
Yes. Anyone can wear a ribbon to show support, remember someone or start a conversation. A ribbon is a symbol of support; it is not a substitute for professional help or crisis care.
Learn the warning signs, check in with the veterans and service members in your life, share the Veterans Crisis Line, wear the Veterans Suicide Awareness Ribbon and take the Red Star Pledge.
