In case of an emergency, call 911.

 Durham Public Schools and Durham County Resources

❖     See Something Say Something allows 6th-12th graders to report secure & anonymous safety concerns to help identify and intervene with at-risk individuals BEFORE they hurt themselves or others.

❖     Carolina Outreach Behavioral Health Urgent Care (919-251-9009) provides care for immediate mental health needs, including medication bridges, safety assessments, and crisis counseling.

❖     Freedom House 24/7 Mobile Crisis Team (1-866-275-9552) can come to students and staff homes or other locations and guide them safely through a mental health or substance abuse crisis. 

❖ El Futuro Durham (919-688-7101)  provides culturally responsive mental health care for the Spanish speaking community.

❖     Alliance Health (800-510-9132) provides 24-hour access to a licensed clinician who will assist you in finding the right kind of help.  Taking Care of Your Emotional Health

❖ Duke Child and Family Study Center Triage Line (919-385-3232) houses several different programs and clinics that specialize in a variety of mental health needs.

❖ Center for Child & Family Health Teletherapy Referrals http://www.tinyurl.com/ccfhreferral specializes in the care of those experiencing childhood trauma.

Statewide and National Resources

❖     US Committee for Refugee and Immigrants (919-334-0072) offers a wide range of services for the immigrant community.

❖     Crisis Textline - Text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor 24/7.

❖     SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) (800-985-5990) provides 24/7 crisis counseling for people experiencing emotional distress.

❖     Hope4NC 24/7 helpline (855-587-3463) to connect North Carolinians to mental health support

❖     Hope4Healers 24/7 helpline (919-226-2002)  for first responders, health care workers, and others on the front lines of COVID-19

❖ National Suicide Prevention Lifeline  1-800-273-TALK(8255)

Just want to know more?

❖     DPS Social-Emotional Learning and Responsible Decision-Making Activities

❖     Dealing with Coronavirus Anxiety, Psychology Today

❖     Resources in Spanish for Dealing with the COVID-19 Pandemic

You are NOT alone!

Dear Student,

Let’s be real.  Life is tough, and high school is definitely one of the toughest times in life.  There is so much going on right now, and it is definitely hard to make sense of it all.  And things just don’t go right all of the time.  Maybe you just can’t seem to understand Math 2.  Maybe you get in a fight.  Maybe stuff at home is making you miss school.  And that’s not all, is it?

Well, you may not always know where to turn if you have a problem, but what kind of sense does it make to not try something to help yourself???  Truth is, you are the one person you need to look out for forever.  So if you have trouble with school, why not ask for help?  If you find yourself in situations you don’t want to be in with your classes, drugs, alcohol, friends, gangs, why would you want to stay in that situation???  

So ask yourself:  what is important to me?  How do I want today, tomorrow, and five years from now to be?  The choices you make now determine your future, not your friends', not your parents', YOURS.

There are lots of resources available.  Teachers, counselors, and administrators are here for you.  In addition, we would like to offer our services to you.  We are available to you to provide support and education concerning drugs and alcohol, safety issues, peer mediation, team building, staying in school, making positive decisions, and becoming involved in positive activities within the Riverside and Durham County communities.  We also coordinate any need for community resources, such as treatment or counseling, and we look forward to helping you get the support you need.

The following list of numbers is also available to you so you can get information, find help in the community, or just talk to someone.  There is always someone who can help you if you allow them to help.  Make the decision to help yourself and remember that you are not alone.  Call the numbers listed and feel free to contact us at any time.

Ms. Anderson, Ms. Doherty, Ms. Johnson, Ms. Hague, Mrs. Atlas, and Ms. Jacobs

Riverside High School Counselors

Where can you go for help?

 If you are not sure where to turn, you can call these numbers:

Girls and Boys Town National Hotline 800-448-3000

The Talk Line – National Suicide Prevention Hotline 800-273-TALK

Referral number for Mental Health or Substance Abuse Services 866-875-1757

If you are having emotional problems, such as depression:

Crisis Line Hotline:  Provides 24 hour crisis and suicide intervention. 910-392-7408

Toll Free Hotline:  Provides access to all Coastal Horizons services. 800-672-2903

New National Suicide Hotline 800-SUICIDE

The Nine Line: 24 hour counseling and shelter referrals 800-999-9999

If you have been a victim of abuse or neglect:

Abusive Relationship Hotline 800-799-HELP

Break the Cycle 888-988-TEEN

Domestic Violence Hotline 800-973-3600

National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-SAFE

If you are experiencing difficulty with a family member due to their alcohol or drug use:

 Al-Anon/Alateen 888-4AL-ANON

If you are having difficulty quitting drugs or alcohol:

Prevention Services  910-202-0840

Drug Abuse Hotline 800-662-HELP

Alcohol and Drug Helpline 800-252-6465

Alcoholics Anonymous 910-794-1840

Narcotics Anonymous 818-773-9999

National Clearinghouse for Alcohol & Drug Information 800-729-6686

North Carolina Tobacco Use Quitline 800-QUIT-NOW

If you are having housing issues or are considering running away from home:

National Runaway Crisis Line  800-621-4000

Open House Emergency Youth Shelter 910-392-7408

If you have questions about sexual health issues or require related services:

Center for Disease Control Information Line 800-342-2437

Gay Lesbian National Hotline 888-843-4564

Durham County Health Department  919-560-7600

Durham Crisis Response Center 919-403-6562

Related Websites

Alcoholics Anonymous www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

Alcoholics Anonymous in Durham www.aanc32.org

 (Links to an external site.)

Alcoholics Anonymous for Teens www.alateen.org

Drug and Alcohol Support Group for Teens www.teen-anon.com

Friends and Family of Cocaine Addicts www.co-anon.org

Friends and Family of Alcoholics www.al-anon.org

Suicide Prevention www.yellowribbon.org

Center for the Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence www.nccafv.org

Child Abuse Prevention www.child-abuse.org

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence www.ncadv.org

National Council on Child Abuse and Family Violence www.nccafv.org

National Domestic Violence Hotline www.ndvh.org

 (Links to an external site.)

"Greatness is not in where we stand, but in what direction we are moving. We must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it – but sail we must and not drift, nor lie at anchor." -- Oliver Wendell Holmes