Preventing suicide: Links and services

by Chukwuebuka Martins
5 min read

If you are contemplating suicide, or someone you know, you are not alone.

Right now, assistance is available online and over the phone. Here is a list of the online resources and hotlines to help prevent suicide.

A young man having suicidal thought

Hotlines

National Suicide Prevention Hotline (United States)

Crisis Text Line

The Veterans Crisis Line

The service is open to everyone, including those who are not licensed or enrolled with the U.S. Veterans affairs department.

The Trevor Project

This service provides LGBTQ+ youth with crisis intervention and suicide prevention through hotline, online chat , text, and an online support center:

SAMHSA’s National Helpline (Substance Abuse)

National helpline of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration ( SAMHSA) provides confidential referral referrals in both English and Spanish for individuals with mental health problems, drug use disorders or both.

RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline

Online resources

IMAlive

IMAlive is an online crisis center which offers help from volunteers trained in crisis response. Volunteers are able to connect with people in need of urgent assistance with an instant message.

7 Cups of Tea

7 cups of tea is an online resource offering free, anonymous and confidential text chat with trained listeners and online counselors.

ADAA Online Support Group

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America’s (ADAA) online support group is a safe and supportive place to share information and experiences.

Self-Injury Outreach and Support

Self-injury Outreach and Support is also an international outreach organization that provides a range of services for self-injurious individuals.

S.A.F.E. Alternatives

This is a widely recognised approach to treatment , professional network, and educational resource base that is dedicated to helping people end self-injurious behaviour.

Resources for parents, teens, and children

THRIVE app

THRIVE is an app created by the Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine that helps direct parents and caregivers in facilitating critical dialogs on a range of health and wellness issues with their teenage children.

Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide

The online platform helps parents , caregivers, and educators raise awareness of suicide among youth and attempted suicide by creating and supporting educational training programmes. The platform also includes support for teenagers contemplating suicide.

Jed Foundation

The Jed Foundation is a nonprofit organization that works on mental health and suicide prevention among teenagers and young adults in the United States.

Facts for Families Guide

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has an online tool that helps parents and carers determine if the conduct of a child is simply a phase or a symptom of something more serious.

They include resources on a wide variety of conditions and situations which can affect the mental health of a young person, from bullying to a pet ‘s death.

National Institute of Mental Health

The National Institute of Mental Health offers information on mental health and welfare of children, including indicators that a parent or caregiver may seek assistance.

National Alliance on Mental Illness Resource

The National Alliance on Mental Illness is providing support on a range of topics for family members and caregivers including how to help avoid suicide.

Kelty Mental Health Resource Center

The Kelty Mental Health Resource Center provides a broad variety of knowledge on mental health problems that affect children and young adults.

Community resources

Hope For The Day

Hope For The Day is a non-profit, suicide-prevention group. They host peer-to – peer trainings on suicide prevention and provide a range of services at community level to prevent suicide.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention aims to raise support for those affected by suicide and finance medical research. They are now providing tools on suicide warning signs and risk factors, suicide fact sheets and volunteer opportunities to support their efforts.

International hotlines and resources

AASRA Suicide Prevention Hotline (India)

Samaritans Suicide Prevention Hotline (United Kingdom and Ireland)

Crisis Services Canada Hotline (Canada)

Lifeline (Australia)

The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (South Africa)

Smart Suicide Prevention Initiative (Nigeria)

Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (Nigeria)

UMANG (Pakistan)

Samaritans of Singapore Suicide Hotline (Singapore)

Befrienders Kuala Lumpur Suicide Helpline (Malaysia)

Befrienders Kenya (Kenya)

Health Promotion Agency Crisis Helpline (New Zealand)

SAPTEL Crisis Hotline (Mexico)

Ghana Suicide Hotline (Ghana)

  • Phone: 2332 444 71279

Teléfono de la esperanza (Spain)

TelefonSeelsorge (Germany)

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