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988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline – now accessible by calling or texting 9-8-8!
The Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. The Lifeline website also offers live chats and various resources.
Call or text to 9-8-8
The Lifeline is connected with several social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Tumblr. Reports will generate referrals to a counselor with the Lifeline, who will attempt to make contact with the user.
Crisis Text Line
A free, 24/7 support for those in crisis. Text 741741 from anywhere in the US to text with a trained counselor. The Text Line also trains volunteers to support people in crisis.
Text ALOHA to 741-741
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
SAMHSA is the major government-funded agency that specifically focuses on mental health and suicide prevention. The agency’s core functions include releasing and managing block grants and special programmatic funding and providing states, providers, communities and the public with the best and most up-to-date information about behavioral health issues and prevention/treatment approaches.
SAMHSA also sponsors:
Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) – The nation’s only federally supported resource center devoted to advancing the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. SPRC offers an extensive online library of free resources, reports, etc.
Disaster Distress Helpline and Resources – This service offers a 24/7 helpline, as well as a variety of online resources for anyone experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.
Call 1-800-985-5990 or Text TalkWithUs to 66746
Many products and documents are available for free download and order (including shipping) via SAMHSA’s website:
https://store.samhsa.gov/ (and search for “suicide prevention”). Popular items include:
Magnet – “National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK”
Wallet card – “Suicide warning signs: Get the facts and take action”
Wallet card – “Having trouble coping? With help comes hope. Suicide warning signs”
Wallet card – “Having trouble coping after a disaster? Talk with us.”
Wallet card – “Assessing suicide risk: Initial tips for counselors”
Wallet card – “Suicide assessment five-step evaluation and triage (SAFE-T): Pocket card for clinicians”
Brochure – “A guide for taking care of yourself after your treatment in the emergency department”
Brochure – “A guide for taking care of your family member after treatment in the emergency department”
Brochure – “A guide for medical providers in the emergency department taking care of suicide attempt survivors”
Fact sheet – “Recommendations for reporting on suicide”
Report – “Preventing suicide: A toolkit for schools"
Report – “National strategy for suicide prevention 2012: Goals and objectives for action”
Report/toolkit – “SAMHSA’s disaster kit”
Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention and the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
The Alliance is the public-private partnership advancing the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention.
The National Strategy presents a national framework for action. It lists goals and objectives that serve as a roadmap for direction.
The Surgeon General’s Call to Action report is a more recent tool to advance progress of the National Strategy:
American Association of Suicidology (AAS)
Advancing scientific/programmatic efforts in suicide prevention through research, education and training, the development of standards and resources, and survivor support services.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
Initiatives include research, new educational campaigns, innovative demonstration projects, and policy work.
AFSP offers one of the most comprehensive set of resources to support individuals, families, and communities after a suicide loss
– visit the “I’ve Lost Someone” section of their website at: https://afsp.org/find-support/ive-lost-someone/.
Find a Helpline – project of New Zealand-based charity “Live for Tomorrow”
Comprehensive directory of crisis numbers and services across the world. The agency works directly with helplines to ensure data remain accurate and reliable.
See here for further description and endorsement by the American Association of Suicidology: https://suicidology.org/2021/05/19/finda-helpline/.
Friendship Line for Elders – crisis intervention hotline AND warmline for non-urgent calls
The Friendship Line provides round-the-clock crisis and wellness services, including active suicide intervention, providing emotional support, elder abuse prevention and counseling, giving wellbeing checks, grief support through assistance and reassurance, and information and referrals for isolated older adults and adults living with disabilities. The service is run by the Institute on Aging, a San Francisco, California-based non-profit dedicated to preserving the dignity, independence, and well-being of aging adults and people living with disabilities.
(415) 750-4111 or (650) 424-1411
https://www.ioaging.org/services/all-inclusive-health-care/friendship-line
International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP)
Comprised of 800 members from nearly 80 countries, IASP leads the global role in suicide prevention by strategically developing an effective forum that is proactive in creating strong collaborative partnerships and promoting evidence-based action in order to reduce the incidence of suicide and suicidal behaviour.
“Means Matter”
Harvard University’s “Means Matter” campaign is working to increase the proportion of suicide prevention groups who promote activities that reduce a suicidal person’s access to lethal means of suicide, and who develop active partnerships with gun owner groups to prevent suicide.
Mental Health America
Founded in 1909, Mental Health America is the nation’s leading community-based non-profit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with illness, and promoting the overall mental health of all Americans.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization. NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, supports, and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raising awareness and building a community of hope.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH; under the National Institutes of Health)
NIMH is the lead federal agency for research on mental disorders. NIMH is one of 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the nation’s medical research agency.
SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education)
SAVE’s work is based on the foundation and belief that suicide should no longer be considered a hidden or taboo topic, and that through raising awareness and educating the public, we can SAVE lives.
The Connect Suicide Prevention Project
A project of NAMI New Hampshire, Connect is an evidence-based program offering training and resources in prevention/intervention and postvention.
The JED Foundation
JED is a national non-profit, aiming to protect emotional health and prevent suicide for the nation’s teens and young adults. The organization’s three major focus areas are: 1) work with schools to strengthen and evaluate their mental health, substance abuse, and suicide prevention programs; 2) develop resources and create partnerships; and 3) educate and equip students, families, and communities to know when and how to support others who are in distress or struggling with a mental health issue.
Zero Suicide Education Development Center (EDC)
Constructed around evidence-based practices, Zero Suicide is a quality improvement model that transforms system-wide suicide prevention and care to save lives. As a framework, Zero Suicide operationalizes the core components of safer suicide care as seven elements: 1) Lead, 2) Train, 3) Identify, 4) Engage, 5) Treat, 6) Transition, and 7) Improve.
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