"It may feel like it but you are not alone"
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We're committed to improving crisis services and advancing suicide prevention by empowering individuals, advancing professional best practices, and building awareness. After dialing 1-800-273-TALK, the caller is routed to their nearest crisis center to receive immediate counseling and local mental health referrals. The Lifeline supports people who call for themselves or someone they care about.
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Warning Signs and Risk and Protective Factors Websites
National Organizations and Federal AgenciesAmerican Association of Suicidology
AAS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the understanding and prevention of suicide. This site is designed as a resource for anyone concerned about suicide, including AAS members, suicide researchers, therapists, prevention specialists, Survivors of Suicide Loss, and people who are themselves in crisis. You will also find a National Directory of Support Groups for Survivors of Suicide Loss on this site at Suicidology Suicide Support Group Directory
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
AFSP was founded in 1987 by concerned scientists, business and community leaders, and Survivors of Suicide Loss in an effort to support the research and education needed to prevent suicide. This organization also offers educational programs and conferences for survivors, mental health professionals, physicians, and the public. This site contains a section dedicated to survivor support including a current list of support groups throughout the United States.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of America affected by mental illness. NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raise awareness and build a community of hope for all of those in need.
National Institute of Mental Health
The mission of NIMH is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery, and cure
Suicide Awareness Voices of Education
The mission of SAVE is to educate about suicide and to speak for suicide survivors.
Suicide Prevention Resource Center
Provides technical assistance, training, and materials to increase the knowledge and expertise of suicide prevention practitioners and other professionals serving people at risk for suicide. Also promotes collaboration among a variety of organizations that play a role in developing the field of suicide prevention.
Local ResourcesNational Alliance on Mental Illness/ San Diego
Sharing of information and striving to end the stigma associated with mental illness. We offer a Helpline, support groups, educational meetings, newsletters, a lending library and a number of classes on mental illness held at various locations throughout San Diego County.
UMTR2ME
You Matter to Me, is a life changing and lifesaving not for profit organization that provides quality hope, support, encouragement, education and resources to individuals struggling with depression, mental health challenges, thoughts of suicide as well as those who’ve attempted suicide, in addition to supporting their family and friends.
The Compassionate Friends
Compassionate Friends is an international self-help support organization that offers friendship, understanding, and hope to bereaved parents, grandparents and siblings. There is no religious affiliation and there are no membership dues or fees. The mission of The Compassionate Friends is to assist families toward the positive resolution of grief following the death of a child of any age and to provide information to help others be supportive.
Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program
The Light For Life International is dedicated to saving lives through the use of the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program to eliminate youth suicide.
Help Outside the United StatesBefrienders Worldwide
To find a suicide helpline outside the U.S. Site down intermittently. Check back
International Association for Suicide Prevention
The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) is dedicated to: preventing suicidal behavior, alleviating its effects, and providing a forum for academics, mental health professionals, crisis workers, volunteers and suicide survivors.
Email Support Groups and Chat RoomsGriefNet.org
GriefNet.org is an Internet community of persons dealing with grief, death, and major loss.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Suicide Prevention
Helpguide.org
How to help someone who is suicidal.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
From time to time you may encounter a person who is expressing thoughts of suicide on your social media sites. What you can do to help someone else online
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for the Hearing Impaired
Suicide Prevention Resource Center – Suicide Prevention Basics
Suicide Prevention Resource Center
Provides technical assistance, training, and materials to increase the knowledge and expertise of suicide prevention practitioners and other professionals serving people at risk for suicide. Also promotes collaboration among a variety of organizations that play a role in developing the field of suicide prevention.
Warning Signs and Risk and Protective Factors
Know the Warning SignsHow do you Remember the Warning Signs of Suicide?
Here’s an Easy-to-Remember Mnemonic:
IS PATH WARM?
I – Ideation
S – Substance Abuse
P – Purposelessness
A – Anxiety
T – Trapped
H – Hopelessness
W -Withdrawal
A – Anger
R – Recklessness
M – Mood Changes
A person in acute risk for suicidal behavior most often will show:
Warning Signs of Acute Risk:
- Threatening to hurt or kill him or herself, or talking of wanting to hurt or kill him/herself; and/or,
- Looking for ways to kill him/herself by seeking access to firearms, available pills, or other means; and/or,
- Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide, when these action are out of the ordinary.
Additional Warning Signs:
- Increased substance (alcohol or drug) use
- No reason for living; no sense of purpose in life
- Anxiety, agitation, unable to sleep or sleeping all the time
- Feeling trapped – like there’s no way out
- Hopelessness
- Withdrawal from friends, family and society
- Rage, uncontrolled anger, seeking revenge
- Action reckless or engaging in risky activates, seemingly without thinking
- Dramatic mood changes.
These warning signs were compiled by a task force of expert clinical researchers and ‘translated’ for the general public.
What To DoHere are some ways to be helpful to someone who is threatening suicide:
- Be direct. Talk openly and matter-of-factly about suicide.
- Be willing to listen. Allow expression of feelings. Accept the feelings.
- Be non-judgmental. Don’t debate whether suicide is right or wrong, or whether feelings are good or bad. Don’t lecture on the value of life.
- Get involved. Become Available. Show interest and support.
- Don’t dare him or her to do it.
- Don’t act shocked. This will put distance between you.
- Don’t be sworn to secrecy. Seek support
- Offer hope that alternatives are available but do not offer glib reassurance.
- Take action. Remove means, such as guns or stockpiled pills.
- Get help from persons or agencies specializing in crisis intervention and suicide prevention.
Be Aware of FeelingsMany people at some time in their lives think about completing suicide. Most decide to live because they eventually come to realize that the crisis is temporary and death is permanent. On the other hand, people having a crisis sometimes perceive their dilemma as inescapable and feel an utter loss of control. These are some of the feelings and thoughts they experience:
- Can’t stop the pain
- Can’t think clearly
- Can’t make decisions
- Can’t see any way out
- Can’t sleep, eat or work
- Can’t get out of depression
- Can’t make the sadness go away
- Can’t see a future without pain
- Can’t see themselves as worthwhile
- Can’t get someone’s attention
- Can’t seem to get control
If you experience these feelings, get help!
If someone you know exhibits these symptoms, offer help!
Contact:
- A community mental health agency
- A private therapist or counselor
- A school counselor or psychologist
- A family physician
- A suicide prevention or crisis center
Risk FactorsA combination of individual, relational, community, and societal factors contribute to the risk of suicide. Risk factors are those characteristics associated with suicide – they may or may not be direct causes.
Risk Factors
- Family history of suicide
- Family history of child maltreatment
- Previous suicide attempt(s)
- History of mental disorders, particularly clinical depression
- History of alcohol and substance abuse
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Impulsive or aggressive tendencies
- Cultural and religious beliefs (e.g., belief that suicide is noble resolution of a personal dilemma)
- Local epidemics of suicide
- Isolation, a feeling of being cut off from other people
- Barriers to accessing mental health treatment
- Loss (relational, social, work, or financial)
- Physical illness
- Easy access to lethal methods
- Unwillingness to seek help because of the stigma attached to mental health and substance abuse disorders or to suicidal thoughts.
Protective Factors for SuicideProtective factors buffer individuals from suicidal thoughts and behavior. To date, protective factors have not been studied as extensively or rigorously as risk factors. Identifying and understanding protective factors are, however, equally as important as researching risk factors.
Protective Factors
- Effective clinical care for mental, physical, and substance abuse disorders
- Easy access to a variety of clinical interventions and support for help-seeking
- Family and community support (connectedness)
- Support from ongoing medical and mental healthcare relationships
- Skills in problem-solving, conflict resolution, and nonviolent ways of handling disputes
- Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide and support instincts for self-preservation
From CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/suicide/riskprotectivefactors.html