by Ian D Scofield

Suicide is a serious topic that is becoming increasingly more acceptable to talk about. Almost 45,000 Americans alone die from suicide every year. This statistic pales in comparison to the number of suicide incidents that are intervened and the number of people who consider suicide every year.  All of this goes to make suicide within the top 10 causes of death in the world.

Recently, 13 Reasons Why has brought attention to both suicide and bullying. Shows like this have given people a pathway into talking about their suicidal ideation (the clinical term for suicidal thoughts).

If you or a friend is in crisis and needs suicide prevention resources there are many different options out there. In this article, we are going to explore some of the resources. Even if you aren’t in crisis, it is always a good idea to be aware of the resources that are out there.

Suicide Prevention Hotline

1-800-273-8255

The suicide prevention hotline is available around the country for those who are in crisis.  You call and can speak with a professional. All calls are confidential. You can use this number to speak with someone or get resources that you might need.

Crisis Text Line

Text START to 741-741

Similar to the Suicide Prevention Hotline, the Crisis Text Line is a 24/7 text phone line that you message when you are in crisis. Anyone can use this hotline and it may be easier then calling a phone number if you don’t like talking on the phone.

The Trevor Project

1-866-488-7386 – https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

Unlike the Suicide Prevention Lifeline the Trevor Project is a specialized number with people who are there to help prevent suicide among those in the LGBTQ community.  The Trevor Project has counselors available around the clock and you can also access chat and texting with counselors from their website.

Veteran Crisis Line

1-800-273-8255 or text 838255

An ever-increasing number of veterans are having mental health conditions. For those who are veterans, you might have trouble connecting with others who didn’t serve. The Veteran Crisis Line takes this into mind and is dedicated to providing those who served with crisis resources.

Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE)

Save Website – https://save.org/

Helping people with suicide doesn’t always mean providing someone to talk to. Sometimes it means providing education and raising public awareness. SAVE helps to provide resources, education, and public awareness along with many other aspects of suicide prevention. They also provide training for suicide prevention so that others can be prepared to educate and respond to suicidal thoughts.

Suicide Prevention Resource Center

SPRC Website – https://www.sprc.org/ 

Suicide Prevention Resource Center is a nationally (USA) funded source for suicide prevention resources. The center provides a large number of resources and also supports the federal government’s effort to reduce suicide statistics. In addition to resources such as educational information, they also provide resources in the form of training classes.

American Foundation For Suicide Prevention

AFSP Website – https://afsp.org/about-suicide/suicide-statistics/

Since 1987 The American Foundation For Suicide Prevention has been working to provide a community for those who have been affected, or are being affected by, suicide. The main reason that AFSP made this list is not because they provide a hotline or any emergent resources. What they do provide is plenty of information about suicide and suicidal ideation. They also help to arrange programs for schools and organizations to educate people about suicide.

Anyone and everyone can have suicidal thoughts. No matter how strong you believe you are or what you do for a living, suicide is something that can affect you, a friend, or family member. The resources that I have listed here are just a few of the options that are available to you. Any emergency department can also provide crisis resources. You are not alone.

This article is modified for one I wrote for my staff writing position at The American Police Training Institute. I changed the article to be more generalized on suicide prevention resources instead of focused on resources for officers.

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