Hotlines and Suicide Prevention Organizations

I personally contacted these hotlines and organizations and asked them to describe their target audience, goals and directives as well as provide their telephone and fax numbers, postal, e-mail, and website addresses. Those marked with   are geared specifically toward youth. All are confidential and the hotlines are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. I thank the many people who embraced this project with enthusiasm and support.

For Internet access, most libraries offer free Internet use at public terminals. (Some require a simple sign-up.) There are also Internet cafés that give patrons access to the web for a minimal fee. Colleges and universities have computer labs as well.

CRISIS HOTLINES

Note: If you ever get a busy signal when dialing a crisis hotline, hang up, keep your hand on the phone, and try again, or try another crisis number.

911

If you have already acted on suicidal thoughts and need immediate medical assistance or ambulance transport to a hospital, call 911. If you are considering acting on suicidal thoughts, please note that 911 is not staffed by trained counselors. To reach a trained listener sensitive to the needs of suicidal thinkers, call 1-800-SUICIDE or another hotline number.

HOTLINES IN CANADA

ORGANIZATIONS

Included in this section are self-descriptions of various suicide prevention organizations and my comments on their websites. All of these organizations are available to people of any age, sex, race, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or spiritual belief. Please note that the telephone numbers listed below are not crisis hotlines. If you are experiencing a crisis, please call 1-800-SUICIDE or one of other hotline numbers listed here. Most of the following organizations are linked with other resources on the Web. The youth-oriented organizations help people of any age find the resource they need.

 

American Association of Suicidology (AAS)(www.suicidology.org) “National membership organization with mission to understand and prevent suicide as a means of promoting human welfare. Five divisions: research, clinical, crisis centers, prevention programs, and survivors. Publishes quarterly peer-reviewed research journal and two quarterly newsletters (one for and by survivors), sponsors annual Suicide Prevention Week, holds annual national conference, distributes public and media education materials, participates in collaborative research and prevention projects, etc.”

This is a thorough, user-friendly site for those considering suicide or people wanting to understand and help suicidal thinkers. Provides links to crisis centers, hotlines, resources, and specialized organizations.

American Association of Suicidology

4201 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Suite 408

Washington, D.C. 20008

202-237-2280 (not a crisis hotline)

Fax: 202-237-2282

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) (www.afsp.org)

“AFSP is the only national not-for-profit organization solely dedicated to funding suicide prevention research, initiating treatment and projects, and offering educational programs and conferences for survivors, mental health professionals, physicians and the public.”

This excellent site has many links to domestic and international chapters of the AFSP. Like the AAS site, it includes book lists, warning signs, tips on how to help a suicidal thinker, and more. It also lists a national directory of survivor support groups (for families and friends of a suicide) and answers commonly asked suicide-related questions.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

120 Wall St., 22nd Floor

New York, N.Y. 10005

1-888-333-AFSP (not a crisis hotline)

212-363-3500, (not a crisis hotline)

Fax: 212-363-6237

E-mail: inquiry@afsp.org


American Psychological Association (APA) (www.helping.apa.org)

At this informative and user-friendly site, click “Site Map” and you’ll get a listing of everything offered: access to free brochures published by the APA HelpCenter such as “Change Your Mind About Mental Health: A GetHelp Guide for Teens and Young Adults,” information about the benefits of therapy and exercise, about the mind-body connection, and more. Click on “search” and you can access the HelpCenter for specific mental health information. For a referral to a psychologist in your area, call 1-800-964-2000 (not a crisis hotline).


Befrienders International (www.befrienders.org)

“Befrienders International has a network of 361 centers in 41 countries, providing a free, confidential, and nonjudgmental listening service to people who are lonely, despairing and suicidal. Its centers are run by 31,000 volunteers.”

With services available in ten languages, Befrienders International befriends people by telephone, in face-to-face meetings, by letter, and by e-mail. It provide an excellent site for anyone who is depressed or suicidal, and for loved ones wanting to help. With links to international online support, crisis hotlines, and more, this site presents extensive, user-friendly information.


Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention (CESP) (www.gioa.org)

Part of the Goldman Institute on Aging (GIOA), the CESP provides a Friendship Line: “Seniors, family members, caregivers, and advocates can call and receive emotional support, crisis intervention, and information and referral. The 1-800 number is available to anyone calling within the United States, either at home or on a public pay phone.”

For information about the CESP Friendship Line, you’ll need to scroll down to the bottom of the homepage to access a listing of the various programs offered by GIOA.

Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention

3330 Geary Blvd., 3 East

San Francisco, Calif. 94118

415-750-4180, x232 (not a crisis hotline)

Fax: 415-750-4136

U.S. Friendship Line: 800-971-0016

San Francisco Friendship Line: 415-752-3778


Center for Mental Health Services Knowledge Exchange Network (KEN) (www.mentalhealth.org)

“National information and referral center for mental health consumers, their families, professionals, and the general public. We offer referrals to mental health organizations and facilities on the local, state and national levels. Over 200 free publications on mental health.”

This site provides a huge variety of mental health information that is highly organized and user-friendly (available in Spanish). The many offerings include: access to mental health agencies and advocacy organizations by state; selected mental health publications—fact sheets, pamphlets, newsletters, posters—for browsing, reading, and ordering; the Center for Mental Health Services Mental Health Services Locator.

Center for Mental Health Services Knowledge Exchange Network

P.O. Box 42490

Washington, D.C. 20015

Helpline: 800-789-2647 (not a crisis hotline)

Fax: 301-984-8796

E-mail: Ken@mentalhealth.org


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Violence Prevention (www.cdc.gov)

“CDC’s Division of Violence Prevention is working to raise awareness of suicide as a serious public health problem and is focusing on science-based prevention strategies to reduce injuries and deaths due to suicide.”

This site is recommended for the media and mental healthcare professionals. It has links to suggestions that will “help guide the media to educate readers and viewers about the steps they can take to prevent suicide.” It also links to “The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent Suicide,” “The National Suicide Prevention Strategy,” the Suicide Prevention Research Center, SafeUSA, and more.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

4770 Buford Hwy., Mailstop K-60

Atlanta, Ga. 30341-3724

770-488-4362 (not a crisis hotline)

Fax: 770-488-4349

SafeUSA information line: 888-252-7751; 800-243-7012 (TTY) (not a crisis line)

  • Covenant House (www.covenanthouse.org)

“Covenant House is the largest privately funded childcare agency in the United States, providing shelter and service to homeless and runaway youth in fourteen cities across the country. Founded in New York City, it also has established programs abroad. In addition to food, shelter, clothing, and crisis care, Covenant House provides a variety of services to homeless youth, including health care, education, vocational preparation, drug abuse treatment and prevention programs, legal services, recreation, mother/child programs, transitional living programs, street outreach, and aftercare.” Please see Covenant House Nineline listing under “Hotlines.”

The site is sort of wordy. When you get to the homepage, go to the far left of the screen and click on the bottom option, “Site Map,” to get a listing of what’s offered. If you are looking for a Covenant House center near you, scroll to the bottom of the next page for a listing of locations. For immediate assistance, I recommend calling the 1-800-999-9999 Nineline over the website.

Covenant House

346 W. 17th St.

New York, N.Y. 10011

Crisis hotline: 1-800-999-9999

212-727-4036 (not a crisis hotline)

Fax: 212-727-4992
  • Focus Adolescent Services (www.focusas.com)

“Internet clearinghouse of resources for families with troubled teens. State directory of family help, hotlines, and helplines; information on teen and family issues, schools and programs.”

This site offers a vast array of information related to teen suicide, including links to Web resources such as: the homosexuality factor in the youth suicide problem; family skills—recognizing your teen’s cry for help; bipolar disorder; preventing teen suicide; and more.

Focus Adolescent Services

1113 Woodland Rd.

Salisbury, Md. 21801

877-362-8727 (not a crisis hotline)

Helpline (toll-free): 1-877-362-8287 (not a crisis hotline)

Fax: 410-341-7470

E-mail: help@focusas.com

  • Girls and Boys Town (GBT) (www.girlsandboystown.org)

Girls and Boys Town National Hotline (hotline@boystown.org)

“Highly trained counselors provide free confidential services twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Calls range from relationship and parental discipline to depression and suicide. In crisis situations, counselor assists callers and provides community resources and emergency intervention.”

I recommend this hotline for immediate assistance. On the website are links to GBT programs, services, and parenting assistance; if you are being hurt right now, they suggest calling the crisis hotline 1-800-448-3000.

Girls and Boys Town (national hotline)

14100 Crawford

Boys Town, Neb. 68010

Fax: 402-498-1875

Crisis hotline: 1-800-448-3000

  • Kids Help Phone (kidshelp.sympatico.ca)

“Kids Help Phone is a national bilingual and anonymous phone counseling and referral service for children and youth [of Canada]. Their professional counselors answer an average of 1,000 calls every day. Kids call about a range of concerns, including relationships, substance abuse, violence and suicide. Any problem, big or small, they are here to help you through.” Please note that this number works only in Canada. If you are in the United States, dial 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433).

This is an excellent interactive and comprehensive site for youth, available in English and French. It provides links to a variety of websites on other topics: parenting tips, family, diversity, abuse, sexual abuse, violence, STDs, AIDS, friendship and love; online discussion groups on suicide, violence, family, eating disorders, drug abuse, sexuality, and more; interactive videos about bullying, dating violence, targeted violence, and gang issues; information on abuse in amateur sports. Highly recommended.

Kids Help Phone

439 University Ave., Suite 300

Toronto, Ont. M5G 1Y8

416-586-5437 (not a crisis hotline)

Fax: 416-586-0651

Crisis hotline (for Canada use only): 1-800-668-6868

Parents’ hotline (for Canada use only): 1-888-603-9100


Kristin Brooks Hope Center/National Hopeline Network (www.hopeline.com; www.livewithdepression.org)

“The National Hopeline Network links the caller to the certified crisis hotline nearest to them. You can expect to reach a trained crisis line worker who will do a lethality assessment, make appropriate referrals, and provide intervention if needed. You can also expect to reach a nonjudgmental empathetic listener.”

In the year 2000, the National Hopeline Network routed over 250,000 calls. The website www.hopeline.com provides descriptions of and links to a variety of suicide prevention organizations, state prevention programs, and information on crisis centers and hotlines. The website www.livewithdepression.org “gives you a personal glimpse into depression, and how it affects you and those around you. In addition, you will find a clear, step-by-step path to follow out of the darkness.”

Kristin Brooks Hope Center/National Hopeline Network

609 East Main St., #112

Purcellville, Va. 20132

1-800-422-HOPE (4673) (not a crisis hotline)

Fax: 540-338-5746

Crisis hotline: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)


Lifekeeper Foundation (www.lifekeeper.org)

“The Lifekeeper mission is to raise awareness for the great need of suicide prevention in the United States. Efforts are directed toward providing resources for survivors of suicide, encouraging them to participate in their own healing process through involvement therapy, and affirming life through art with the Lifekeeper Memorial ‘Faces of Suicide’ National Memorial Quilt Project.”

The website provides moving photos of the National Memorial Quilt Project, as well as guidelines and tips on how to make your own quilt and join it with other quilts statewide. Lifekeeper jewelry and poetry are available for sale; a portion of the proceeds is donated to various suicide prevention organizations.

Lifekeeper Foundation

3740 Crestcliff Ct.

Tucker, Ga. 30084

E-mail: Lifekeeper@aol.com

  • Lite for Life Foundation—Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program (www.yellowribbon.org)

“Community-based prevention with curriculum and intervention tools. Yellow Ribbon [YR] cards are being used internationally to help save lives. The organization was started in 1994. The cards are a ‘voice’ for youth when they can’t find the words to say ‘I need help.’ Teens who have attempted suicide tell that they were so overwhelmed at the time of their crisis that they did not know what to say to ask for help! The program is two-fold: Get cards to youth and inform adults what they are. This is very important so that adults can respond appropriately and immediately if they receive a card from a teen/youth. Learn how to start the program in your area so youth will be able to get cards locally. YR cards can also be customized to include local crisis information. This allows youth to find help in their home area.”

It’s a little hard to get around the site, but it’s excellent for learning about the Yellow Ribbon program. The site provides instructions on how to start a program in your school or community and lets you print free copies of Yellow Ribbon cards directly off the site, and more.

Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program

P.O. Box 644

Westminster, Colo. 80036-0644

303-429-3530 (not a crisis hotline)

Fax: 303-426-4496

E-mail: ask4help@yellowribbon.org


National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) (www.nami.org)

“NAMI is a non-profit, grassroots, self-help, support and advocacy organization of consumers, families, and friends of people with severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anxiety disorders…. Working on national, state, and local levels, NAMI provides education about severe brain disorders, supports increased funding for research, and advocates for adequate health insurance, housing, rehabilitation, and jobs for people with serious psychiatric illnesses…. Consumers, family members, friends, and the public are encouraged to call the toll-free helpline for information and referral to the NAMI affiliate group in their area. The NAMI Helpline is staffed by trained volunteers, Monday through Friday, 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. (Eastern time), and has a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week message line.”

The NAMI website is an excellent resource. Hold the cursor over the items listed down the left-hand side of the homepage and you’ll see that the site offers information on illnesses and treatments (available in Spanish), education and training programs, book reviews, research news, and more.

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill

Three Colonial Place

2107 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300

Arlington, Va. 22201-3042

703-524-7600 (not a crisis hotline)

NAMI Helpline: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) (not a crisis hotline)

Fax: 703-524-9094


National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (www.ncptsd.org)

“Since its inception in 1989, the National Center for PTSD has been at the forefront of efforts to study the effects of psychological trauma. National Center staff have been involved in over 500 research studies and 200 educational projects. The website services veterans and other survivors of traumatic experiences, clinicians, researchers, journalists, family members, students, policymakers, lawyers, librarians, and more.”

This is a thorough, informative site offering a huge amount of information about PTSD—causes, treatment, research, and so on—in the form of articles, resources, and links.


National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association (NDMDA) (www.ndmda.org)

“Patient-focused advocacy organization facilitates over 400 nationwide patient/family support groups and publishes numerous materials about depression, manic-depression, treatment and suicide prevention.”

It’s a little hard to read the homepage, which offers a support group directory, success stories, a bipolar disorder screening tool, and information on adolescent depression, manic-depression, depression, and suicide prevention. It also provides patient-consumer support, information on pharmaceutical company patient assistance programs, and more.

National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association

730 N. Franklin St., Suite 501

Chicago, Ill. 60610-7204

800-826-3632 or 312-642-0049 (not crisis hotlines)

Fax: 312-642-7243

E-mail: letusknow@ndmda.org


National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (www.nimh.nih.gov)

“The mission of the NIMH is to reduce the burden of mental illness through research on mind, brain, and behavior. This public health mandate demands that NIMH harness powerful scientific tools to achieve better understanding, treatment, and eventually prevention and cure of mental illness. The NIMH Office of Communications and Public Liaison carries out educational activities and publishes and distributes research reports, press releases, fact sheets, and publications intended for researchers, health care providers, and the general public.”

A publications list may be obtained by calling NIMH. The website is excellent, easy to use, and chock-full of valuable information on mental health for the public, practitioner, and researcher.

National Institute of Mental Health

Office of Communications and Public Liaison

6001 Executive Blvd., Room 8184, MSC 9663

Bethesda, Md. 20892-9663

301-443-8431 (not a crisis hotline)

TTY: 301-443-8431

Fax: 301-443-4279

E-mail: nimhinfo@nih.gov (not a crisis address)

For anxiety information: 1-888-ANXIETY (not a crisis hotline)

For depression information: 1-800-421-4211 (not a crisis hotline)


National Mental Health Association (NMHA) (www.nmha.org)

“The NMHA is the country’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization addressing all aspects of mental health and mental illness. With more than 340 affiliates nationwide, NMHA works to improve the mental health of all Americans, especially the 54 million individuals with mental disorders, through advocacy, education, research and service.” The twenty-four-hour information line has a lengthy recorded message available in English or Spanish. Through a series of prompts, the caller can gain access to any number of topics, including information on mental illness, local referrals, merchandise, and publications. To speak to a human being, try calling on Thursday or Friday.

This is a good resource. The site gives access to a confidential depression screening; message boards for people with mental illness and “compassionate friends” (those affected by someone else’s mental illness); boards on advocacy, the media, stigma, children’s mental health, and more.

National Mental Health Association

1021 Prince St.

Alexandria, Va. 22314

703-684-7722 (not a crisis hotline)

E-mail: infoctr@nmha.org

TYY: 1-800-433-5959

Fax: 703-684-5968

Information line: 1-800-969-6642 (not a crisis hotline)


National Organization for People of Color Against Suicide (NOPCAS) (www.nopcas.com)

The NOPCAS website is user friendly and offers suicide facts and statistics—some dealing specifically with the black community; a large number of crisis hotline numbers, a photo gallery of NOPCAS conferences, board member profiles. To access links, be sure to scroll to the far right, where you will find links to prevention organizations around the country, the Surgeon General’s “Call to Action to Prevent Suicide,” and more.

National Organization for People of Color Against Suicide

P.O. Box 125

San Marcos, Tex. 78667

512-531-5067 ext. 2190 (not a crisis hotline)


National Resource Center for Suicide Prevention and Aftercare (www.thelink.org)

The National Resource Center was founded by the Link Counseling Center, a nonprofit family counseling center in Atlanta, Georgia. Services include information and referral, consultation, community education and awareness, speakers and training on suicide prevention, intervention and aftercare, support groups for survivors (both adult and children), group facilitator training, a survivor’s journal called The Journey, management of a Survivors of Suicide Support Team providing home visits to the newly bereaved by trained survivors, and participation as a member of the National Council for Suicide Prevention.

The NRC is the only national organization providing regular Support Team Training in Atlanta and in other cities across the country.

The Link and the NRC maintain a website with links to major sources of help in the nation and Canada.


Not My Kid, Inc. (www.notmykid.org)

“Dedicated to promoting healthy families by empowering parents to make educated decisions about their children’s behavioral health. This interactive website provides immediate, confidential recommendations, articles, and community resources. We believe that parents can make a difference in the quality of their kids’ lives.”

The site is excellent for parents looking for positive ways to relate to their children. Informative articles describe warning signs, treatment options, how you can help, anxiety and panic disorders, ADHD, bed-wetting, Internet addiction, eating disorders, children of divorce, substance abuse, PTSD, self-esteem issues, and more. Helpful books, videos, and other products are also suggested. Links are provided to other parenting sites.

Not My Kid, Inc.

3040 E. Cactus Rd.

Phoenix, Ariz. 85032

602-652-0163 (not a crisis hotline)

Fax: 602-494-3131


Organization for Attempters and Survivors of Suicide (OASSIS) (www.oassis.org)

“OASSIS’ mission is to enrich the lives of those who have been and will be touched by suicide. It seeks to achieve this goal by working with six major systems: businesses, corporations, colleges and universities, health care delivery systems, law enforcement, military and religious communities.”

OASSIS publishes the biannual “Enriching Lives” newsletter. The website discusses educational programs and training for professional caregivers, interfaith resources, and more.

Organization for Attempters and Survivors of Suicide

4541 Burlington Pl., N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20016

202-363-4224 (not a crisis hotline)

Fax: 202-363-1468


QPR Institute (www.qprinstitute.com)

Developed by psychologist Dr. Paul Quinnet, who has specialized in the treatment of suicidal people for thirty years, QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer, “three simple steps,” according to the institute, “that anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. People trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. QPR Institute offers a full array of suicide prevention training for both private citizens and mental health professionals. QPR is both an awareness raising and a skill building program. It is theory-based and is supported by research on gatekeeper effectiveness.”

The site provides a comprehensive presentation on QPR—theory, effectiveness, training programs, and much, much more. It’s highly recommended for caregivers, schools, mental health professionals, health-care providers, and others.

QPR Institute

P.O. Box 2867

Spokane, Wash. 99220

1-888-726-7926 (not a crisis hotline)

509-536-5100 (not a crisis hotline)

Fax: 509-536-5400


Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE) (www.save.org)

“SAVE is a grassroots nonprofit organization founded by survivors. Its mission is to educate about suicide prevention and speak for survivors. Focusing on building public awareness and community education, SAVE teaches people the knowledge and skills they need to help prevent suicide. SAVE is a resource of information; community action ideas; speakers; and public awareness tools such as billboards, print ads, and radio public service announcements.”

The site provides straight-talking explanations on common misconceptions of suicide; information on hospitalization; questions and answers about suicide; information on symptoms and danger signs; book lists; depression facts; access to a community action kit and public service announcement ad campaign, and more.

Suicide Awareness Voices of Education

7317 Cahill Rd., Suite 207

Minneapolis, Minn. 55439

1-888-511-SAVE (not a crisis hotline)

952-946-7998 (not a crisis hotline)

Fax: 952-829-0841

ORGANIZATIONS IN CANADA

Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP/ACPS) (www.suicideprevention.ca) “CASP is a national association of professionals and volunteers who saw the need to provide information and resources to communities to reduce the suicide rate and minimize the harmful consequences of suicidal behavior. CASP facilitates, advocates, supports and advises.”

This site is another source for facts, brochures, and information on crisis centers and how to help.

Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention

301 11456 Jasper Ave.

Edmonton, Alb. T5K OM1

780-482-0918 (not a crisis hotline)

Fax: 780-488-1495

E-mail: casp@suicideprevention.ca (not a crisis address)


Suicide Information and Education Center (SIEC) (www.suicideinfo.ca)

“SIEC [pronounced “seek”] is a library and database on suicidal behaviors, prevention, intervention, and postvention. The library of more than 27,000 print materials is also available for on-line access. Library provides literature searches, document delivery and a free publication, ‘SIEC ALERT’.”

The site has a wide focus, from information about suicide prevention training programs to multicultural training manuals, print resources, a youth suicide awareness package, information kits, and a library and resource center. (A membership fee is required to access the online database.) It also provides numerous links to mental health organizations. SIEC Alert is a free, quarterly quick-reference guide to some of the newest resources in the field of suicide prevention.

Suicide Information and Education Center

201-1615 Tenth Ave., S.W.

Calgary, Alb. T3C OJ7

403-245-3900 (not a crisis hotline)

Fax: 403-245-0299

Twelve Step Organizations

I include Twelve Step organizations as a suicide prevention resource because substance abuse or addiction is often associated with suicidal behavior and mental illness. Also, my own spiritual growth and understanding were profoundly influenced by Twelve Step philosophy and practice. Through exposure to the Twelve Steps, I found that I was no longer alone in my struggle, that there are many alternatives to self-harm, and that people—many people—do have the ability and willingness to listen.

Most Sunday newspapers have a help calendar that lists local meetings and contact numbers. If you need access to a newspaper, libraries have newspapers for the public to read. The phone book is another place find contact numbers.

One note of caution: Twelve Step meetings are very focused, centered on a particular topic such as alcoholism, overeating, or gambling. Some meetings discourage sharing about anything other than the topic at hand. I was lucky; I found places to vent all my feelings and thoughts. I’ve since learned that this is not always the case.

Book Lists

When caught in suicidal ideation, I searched high and low for self-help books on suicide prevention written from the point of view of a suicidal thinker. I found none. That was the primary reason I wrote this book.

I’ve divided this book list into six sections: titles that have been useful to me; a general list of readings on suicide prevention; youth-related readings; readings geared toward the elderly; books and other works for professionals; and resources for survivors (those left behind after a completed suicide).